When Khyree Zienty brought his EKKSTACY project to Studio Milwaukee on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, there was no mistaking when he took the stage. While we’ve welcomed plenty of musicians who can hold an audience’s attention, not many of them look like they could play strong safety for the Packers.
Then he stepped up to the microphone, steel-toed boots ringing out with every step, and shared a voice packed with sweetness that stood out from the hard-edged sound blasting from the amps. It hit my ears with shades of Robert Smith as Zienty led the way through three tracks from EKKSTACY’s recently released FOREVER.
During the mid-set interview, he took a moment when asked what fueled the new album and replied, “I guess it was about my ex,” before eliciting a laugh from the audience by adding a very knowing “like usual.”
While the ghosts of relationships past are well-trodden subject matter in the music world, EKKSTACY put it in their own combo package of Cure-esque vocals and driving guitar to tell soul-baring stories. Zienty also took just a little time during the session’s interview portion to connect that music to his grandmother’s encouragement, a mystery poet friend and a relocation from Vancouver to L.A.
Studio MKE: EKKSTACY set list
- “if i had a gun”
- “shoulders”
- “head in the clouds”
