Spotlight On... Rudi Zygadlo

Rudi Zygadlo is a curious character. He's spent a lot of the last ten years working away on other projects, living in London and Berlin, but during the pandemic returned to Glasgow. On his latest album, Doggerland, the singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer packages up all manner of disparate themes, inspirations and ideas into one enjoyable, theatrical, indie-pop package that sounds like it couldn't have been conceived anywhere other than in Glasgow. Ahead of its digital release this Friday 30 June, we catch up with Zygadlo to find out more. 

This is your third solo album, but your first in ten years, so it’s been a long time in the making. What else have you been working on alongside this record, and what prompted your return to Scotland?
A decade-long drought! What the hell have I been doing? The small print is... I released a couple of Bandcamp albums in that time and there have been a bunch of other non RZ bits'n'pieces. Under the name Lully I released an EP called Wow Esme; under the name Golden Ratio Syrup I released an EP called Golden Ratio Syrup; I’ve produced several other artist projects, done remixes, soundtracked two films, written screenplays (to no avail) AND held a number of minimum wage part-time jobs – including pouring champagne for Kiefer Sutherland and the Tory cabinet, framing, and mowing the Sultan of Brunei’s lawn. Sorry, total CV fest. Why the move home? During the pandemic I woke up to the inequities of London, wanted to make a band with my buddies and walk some hills.

Doggerland takes its name from an area of land that used to connect the UK to Europe, but is now submerged under the North Sea. What was it about ‘Doggerland’ that fascinated you so much you decided to use it as inspiration for your forthcoming record?
It just seemed like a fertile metaphor for the crises of our time; political obscurity and environmental collapse. I read this morning: China has met its 2030 renewable target five years ahead of schedule. The UK is expected to miss its own. Hooray for private enterprise! I always liked the absurd poetry of the shipping forecast. Doggerland – I guess I like the canine pun of it too. 

Halfway through the record, in an interlude you list all the things already covered as well as what’s still to come, those short 40 seconds or so highlighting just how packed the record is. How did you manage to fit so many disparate ideas and themes – from climate celebs in Finnieston to VR escapism, train crashes to living in landfill, dating apps and more – into one record? 
Ha. I dunno. I reckon most albums by most people contain a multitude of themes and ideas. I just had the pomposity to list them. I do think of myself as a maximalist though.  

Despite some of the themes being on the bleak side, the record is really well balanced, and threaded with humour – it’s remarkably upbeat in feel. How hard was it to keep it light? And was that something you wanted to do from the start?
You know, I’m not sure. I didn’t prepare for making an upbeat album. If anything I was down in the dumps for a lot of it. That said, my therapist told me I use humour as a defence mechanism, which may explain something. I am quite shy most of the time and a massive coward in conflict situations. When the heat is on, my fear of conflict is so great that I either retreat into silence or make a joke. Silence doesn’t make for a great album, Mr Cage. Dunno if that answers your Q. Thinking about it, most of my favourite music is serious and funny.

The album comes out digitally on Friday, and then on vinyl later in the year. What does the rest of the year look like for you?
Working the day job. Touring in November, though I hope there will be a show or two in the meantime. Finishing the next album. Creative writing. Reading. Being a good human. Seeing my family. Seeing my friends. X