Zola Turn
Encyclopedia
Zola Turn was a power pop/alternative rock band from Burlington, Vermont
. They were one of the most well known bands to come out of the Burlington area besides the jam-rock band Phish
. The band became a hit with its 1999 single "Tastes Like Nothing" off their album Ninja Jane (originally featured on an earlier 7" record) which landed them MTV
tours, national exposure and eventually a big time record deal.
Zola Turn formed in late 1995 when guitarist Alice Austin and her sister Julia Austin joined up with vocalist/guitarist Jenn Karson
and drummer Ann Mindell. In 1995 the band recorded "Side Saddle," and got immediate local radio play. In 1996 Ann left to pursue a masters degree in social work and drummer Rachel Bischoff joined. After two more recording projects including Cousin Battie and a self-titled 7" record, Jenn Karson left the band to work with music and sound in other artistic formats. Alice and Jenn had shared songwriting and lead singing roles up to this point.
The band moved on as a trio with Alice now writing all songs and taking over all lead vocals. After years of successful touring and top 10 Radio Airplay alongside bands such as Blink 182, Marcy Playground
, Green Day
and Sugar Ray
, Zola Turn was suddenly getting noticed by the record industry.
In January 2000, Zola Turn was signed by Randy Gerston, the music-film mogul who had just completed work on the massive sound for the 'Titanic (1997 film)
' for Gold Circle Films
. They were signed to Gold Circle Enternament, Inc., the parent company of Gold Circle Films
, a Los Angeles based company that was formed in 1996 by Norm Waitt, one of the founders of Gateway 2000 computers.
Ninja Jane was to be re-mixed and touched up by legendary producer
Andy Wallace
and then distributed by Sony-BMG's RED Distribution
.
During this time, drummer Rachel Bischoff parted ways with the band and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist
Jeff Moxley, formally of the Boston band Ms. Pigeon.
After playing the Gold Circle Films
showcase at South By Southwest
2001 in Austin, Texas
with label-mate Glen Phillips
of Toad The Wet Sprocket
, the band started working on new songs as well as preparing for a national tour.
Very soon after, and before any work was done on Ninja Jane, serious corporate changes had taken place at Gold Circle almost overnight. A new president was appointed and declared that Rock n' Roll was out and he wanted to focus solely on R & B music.
This meant that Gold Circle Films
had breached their contract with Zola Turn and were still obligated to honor it. With that, the band then headed to Chicago, IL. in the summer of 2001 to record an album with Flaming Lips producer
Keith Cleversley. Unsatisfied with final result, the album was printed and then shelved while the band searched for a new direction.
Zola Turn officially disbanded in 2002.
In 2005, the three remaining members formed The Lavas, a new band with a heavier sound than Zola Turn, but just as catchy and melodic. Their 2007 album Wall to Wall, which was recorded entirely on their own at their studio the Bottling Company
, is currently getting rave reviews from all over the world.
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
. They were one of the most well known bands to come out of the Burlington area besides the jam-rock band Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
. The band became a hit with its 1999 single "Tastes Like Nothing" off their album Ninja Jane (originally featured on an earlier 7" record) which landed them MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
tours, national exposure and eventually a big time record deal.
Zola Turn formed in late 1995 when guitarist Alice Austin and her sister Julia Austin joined up with vocalist/guitarist Jenn Karson
Jenn Karson
Jenn Karson is an artist and musician living in San Francisco, CA and Burlington, VT. She received a Masters of Fine Arts in Design and Technology from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2009. Her album "Bad Ju Ju" was released in 2001...
and drummer Ann Mindell. In 1995 the band recorded "Side Saddle," and got immediate local radio play. In 1996 Ann left to pursue a masters degree in social work and drummer Rachel Bischoff joined. After two more recording projects including Cousin Battie and a self-titled 7" record, Jenn Karson left the band to work with music and sound in other artistic formats. Alice and Jenn had shared songwriting and lead singing roles up to this point.
The band moved on as a trio with Alice now writing all songs and taking over all lead vocals. After years of successful touring and top 10 Radio Airplay alongside bands such as Blink 182, Marcy Playground
Marcy Playground
Marcy Playground is an American alternative rock band consisting of three members: John Wozniak , Dylan Keefe , and Shlomi Lavie . The band is best known for their 1997 hit "Sex and Candy".-Early years:...
, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
and Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray is a band from Orange County, California. The band, starting off more as an alternative metal band, first gained fame in 1997 with their release of the song "Fly". This song's success, coupled with its pop rock sound that was quite different from the rest of their material at the time,...
, Zola Turn was suddenly getting noticed by the record industry.
In January 2000, Zola Turn was signed by Randy Gerston, the music-film mogul who had just completed work on the massive sound for the 'Titanic (1997 film)
Titanic (1997 film)
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
' for Gold Circle Films
Gold Circle Films
Gold Circle Films is an American independent film production company, mainly focusing on horror and romance films, founded in 2000. Titles released by Gold Circle include White Noise, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Wedding Date, and The Man From Elysian Fields.-Films:*Double Whammy *The Man From...
. They were signed to Gold Circle Enternament, Inc., the parent company of Gold Circle Films
Gold Circle Films
Gold Circle Films is an American independent film production company, mainly focusing on horror and romance films, founded in 2000. Titles released by Gold Circle include White Noise, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Wedding Date, and The Man From Elysian Fields.-Films:*Double Whammy *The Man From...
, a Los Angeles based company that was formed in 1996 by Norm Waitt, one of the founders of Gateway 2000 computers.
Ninja Jane was to be re-mixed and touched up by legendary producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Andy Wallace
Andy Wallace (producer)
Andy Wallace is a Grammy Award-winning music studio engineer with a long track record of successful productions, beginning with the 1986 production of the Run-DMC/Aerosmith collaboration on "Walk This Way" with Rick Rubin...
and then distributed by Sony-BMG's RED Distribution
RED Distribution
RED - An Artist Development Company is a Sony Music Entertainment-owned sales and marketing division that handles releases for over sixty independent record labels....
.
During this time, drummer Rachel Bischoff parted ways with the band and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
Jeff Moxley, formally of the Boston band Ms. Pigeon.
After playing the Gold Circle Films
Gold Circle Films
Gold Circle Films is an American independent film production company, mainly focusing on horror and romance films, founded in 2000. Titles released by Gold Circle include White Noise, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Wedding Date, and The Man From Elysian Fields.-Films:*Double Whammy *The Man From...
showcase at South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
2001 in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
with label-mate Glen Phillips
Glen Phillips
Glen Phillips is a songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of 1990s alternative rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket.-Personal life:...
of Toad The Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in 1986. The band consists of singer/guitarist Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss. The band enjoyed chart success in the 1990s with the singles "Walk on the Ocean," "All I Want,"...
, the band started working on new songs as well as preparing for a national tour.
Very soon after, and before any work was done on Ninja Jane, serious corporate changes had taken place at Gold Circle almost overnight. A new president was appointed and declared that Rock n' Roll was out and he wanted to focus solely on R & B music.
This meant that Gold Circle Films
Gold Circle Films
Gold Circle Films is an American independent film production company, mainly focusing on horror and romance films, founded in 2000. Titles released by Gold Circle include White Noise, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Wedding Date, and The Man From Elysian Fields.-Films:*Double Whammy *The Man From...
had breached their contract with Zola Turn and were still obligated to honor it. With that, the band then headed to Chicago, IL. in the summer of 2001 to record an album with Flaming Lips producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Keith Cleversley. Unsatisfied with final result, the album was printed and then shelved while the band searched for a new direction.
Zola Turn officially disbanded in 2002.
In 2005, the three remaining members formed The Lavas, a new band with a heavier sound than Zola Turn, but just as catchy and melodic. Their 2007 album Wall to Wall, which was recorded entirely on their own at their studio the Bottling Company
Bottling company
A bottling company is a commercial enterprise whose output is the bottling of beverages for distribution.Many bottling companies are franchisees of corporations such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo who distribute the beverage in a specific geographic region...
, is currently getting rave reviews from all over the world.
Albums
- Side Saddle, 19961996 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
- Cousin Battie, 19971997 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...
- Zola Turn, 19981998 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...
- Ninja Jane, 19991999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
- Queen Tangerine, 20012001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....