Michael Zucker, Working Both Sides of the Tracks

by Charlie Sullivan

photo credit: Tyler Rollins

I’m always amazed when I find a talent like Michael Zucker (guitars, vocals) operating somewhat unnoticed on the local music scene. I was shopping at Absolute Vinyl and noticed a Zucker record on the wall. The cover grabbed my attention; I took a chance, gave it a spin, and discovered a guitar virtuoso among other talents. Zucker has been busy crafting some of the finest experimental alternative rock that this writer has heard in years. The man has amassed 14 or 15 solo projects in a ten-year span; even he’s lost count. Zucker’s music pushes the listener into another realm.

“I’ve always got lots of ideas and want to keep the music coming,” shares Zucker. “I got my first big push on the music scene from the video game music community. I was performing with various bands and stepped into the solo scene and things started rolling along.”

And the music he’s creating has been consistently good; simple melodies, layered sounds, and great musicians tracking it all. Zucker released his last full-length record in late August of 2012, Technocracy (the term technocracy was originally used to designate the application of the scientific method to solving social problems, in counter distinction to the traditional economic, political, or philosophic approaches). The album is the culmination of previous thought processes from other works. Zucker has a message that he wants to spread with his music. The laws of man are not in concert with nature. Technology is eliminating the labor force. Resources aren’t being distributed properly.  Things need to change.

Zucker has released two EPs since August, Inner Demons and Clean, and has another album in the works.

“The new material has a lot of break beats and pop sounds that will grab the listener’s attention,” states Zucker.

Through all of Zucker’s musical efforts, he has also started his own record label (2011), Differential Productions, in Boulder. The label has blossomed with six additional acts jumping on board.

“I’m engineering, I’m mixing, I’m producing,” remarks Zucker. “We use several different studios but I’m partial to Immersive Studios and Decibel Garden.”

“I’ve also invested in equipment and set up a post-production studio at home,” he adds.

Zucker likes working with other artists and pushing them has far as he can. He tries to see the end result immediately. He wants the artists to show him where they want to take their music.

“I’ll have the band show me a CD or album that has the vibe their looking for,” Zucker states. “I push where they’ll let me push and help them see the end result.”

Zucker hasn’t been playing a lot of live shows lately because he’s been in the studio working on solo projects and various side projects. He does plan on getting some live dates on the schedule for the band Dark Matter, an outfit he performs with. Check out the Differential Productions website and see what’s happening.

Were it not for music, we might in these days say, the Beautiful is dead.  -Benjamin Disraeli

www.differential-productions.com

Tags: michael zucker, absolute vinyl, inner demons, clean, differential productions, immersive studios, decibel garden, dark matter

Category: localnews2