Zambonie
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Zambonie

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Zambonie"

After going through a drastic line-up change and steering their music in a completely new direction, Zambonie is promising to have a bright future. The band recently put the finishing touches on a cover of the Beatle’s “Penny Lane”, and the outstanding interpretation proves that they are a band that has to be reckoned with.

Originally a three-piece that played music along the lines of Weezer and Foo Fighters, the addition of a keyboard player, Chris Sjoquist, and a new drummer has added depth and experience to the band. The new drummer, Jon Wert, has a background in jazz, and has introduced Zambonie to different techniques they hadn’t used before.

“Rock music is pretty limited today”, Erik Widman said. “We’ve reached this limit in commercial music, so there has to be a new direction for music to go”.

Kent Widman said they’ve always written music for a five-piece band, even during the time they were only a three-piece. Therefore, they transition to more complex writing wasn’t difficult at all.

On the “Penny Lane” cover Zambonie has several guest musicians, including two violin, and two cello players.

In the songwriting process Erik and Kent initially use the piano to write the different parts. When the song comes to a closer completion, they convert it to a rock song. “A lot of our songs on the next album are really melodic because they originated on the piano” Erik said. “We try to approach our songs as a classical music song, similar to the way Queen approached their songs.”

The new album shows a lot of growth, and will have little resemblance to their old, self-titled 11-song CD. “I believe there is a mathematical formula to an album” Erik said. “You need to have energetic songs, reach a peak, and then you need sad songs, go down, and then go back up again – that’s what makes an album interesting.” The new CD is scheduled to be released by the end of the summer.
- Kalamazoo Today Magazine


Discography

Penny Lane Single (Beatles Cover) (2004)
Selftitled Album (2002)

"Penny Lane" is receiving airplay throughout Southern Michigan and Northen Indiana.
"California Man" Has recieved extensive comercial radio airplay throughout Michigan.
"Here's Today" & "California Man" are Streamed on the internet radio show "The Sonic Cronicles"

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Years ago in the cold suburbs of Sweden, two brothers discovered alternative rock. Classically trained on the piano, Erik and Kent Widman turned away from their formal music background and ventured towards guitar driven rock. “I remember hearing ‘Smells like Teen Spirit’ for the first time” Erik recalls. “After that I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. Like an infection, Erik and Kent began writing songs together combining influences from pop music from their childhood, with alternative rock from bands like Nirvana and Bush.

The Widman brothers left Sweden in 2000 and made the trek across the big pond. Shortly thereafter they enrolled at Western Michigan University where they met up with Jackson native drummer James Haldane. The trio started writing music together and making a name for them selves in Kalamazoo. In 2002 they released their first full length self titled album. The CD got great reviews and established them as one of West Michigan’s top alternative rock bands.

In early 2004 Haldane decided to leave the band to be able to spend more time with his newly born son. Percussion major Jon Wert filled the drummer position in Zambonie shortly thereafter. Wert resides on a jazz background and brings a whole new dimension to the band with his creative rhythms and style. Since Zambonie was going through a band member change, Erik and Kent decided to add a piano/moog player. Chris Sjoquist joined the band on the Keys, and the new 4-piece band advanced to a new level in musicianship and creativity.

Throughout the years Zambonie’s growth has been evident in their music. Zambonie has always had a unique style of songwriting consisting of powerful music, amazing lyrics, and addictive melodies. Erik communicates to the audience on a very personal level to the audience through heart wrenching lyrics. “The music is a form of therapy for me…and the songs seem to become much more emotional and interesting when I put my heart on my sleeve” says Erik. Zambonie plans to release their second CD in the near future and tour shortly thereafter. “We just want to have fun and spread the good word of rock’n’roll.”