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P​.​O​.​C (Proof of Concept)

by Zenizen

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of P.O.C (Proof of Concept) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD or more 

     

  • Cassette + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of P.O.C (Proof of Concept) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    1st press ~ /300

    Includes unlimited streaming of P.O.C (Proof of Concept) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $22 USD or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    1st press ~ /400

    Includes unlimited streaming of P.O.C (Proof of Concept) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $22 USD or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    1st press ~ /300

    Includes unlimited streaming of P.O.C (Proof of Concept) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $22 USD or more 

     

1.
Intro 01:35
CONGRATULATIONS you’ve got a delightful little girl she’s happy and easily entertained and has a really sweet disposition she’s really inquisitive and will wander all over the house she squeals a lot when she’s playing you can tell when she’s tired when she gets real cranky real quick she likes to be in bed to go to sleep she likes to hug a blanket or stuffed toy and take her thumb when she goes to sleep and she sleeps all night she has a very good appetite she loves her baby cereal with fruit she eats all kinds of baby food and she eats table food i’ve put through the processor she’s on enfamil with iron and she takes a bottle on demand about three times a day now because she eats so well good luck! and enjoy her.
2.
Coming Home 03:38
all I want to know is when you are coming home you played some games too much wasting what you touched the pain it seems too much wasted what you’ve touched
3.
Aja 03:50 video
like a whisper reaches to the flame bent and flickering with no intent stir in silence on gossamer waves I bend down sway down twisting with no sound fool the gullible with shifting lens hide the twisting darkness lays within winding steps and creaking floors below I trip down stumble down on uneven ground Something told me to get away far away from you pack my bags and just run away out into the gloom just as fast as my legs could take racing blindly through the squall its thick and icy white lightning thunderous steps still right behind me bright white ahead it’s the end in sight she’s still gaining catches plank and i go flying
4.
Come Around 03:14
When the days come around Reeds they whisper without sound Misty field and silent crowd Sun it glistens off our crowns So when the days come around Find your fire and get loud Shake the pain off and get loud Days seem so nice When you comin round? When you come around When you come around When you come around When you comin round? When you comin round? When you come around When you come around
5.
Get Out 03:27
you told me that we would speak but you couldn’t get out told me that you could hear me but you couldn’t get out here you told me that you would call me but you’re running around i gave you all of my money and you’re running around with it b̶̯̓̔͌̏̕r̸̤̠̖͇̘͂e̶̡̛͓̙̱͚̞͖̱̜͕̓̇̆̉͂̍̓̕à̷̘̼̬͉͛͆͑̎ķ̵̛̳̙̌́͂̈̃̆̉̊̈́̚ you can’t be what you can’t be or say what you can’t see can’t be full when you’re empty or hear when you can’t breathe can you understand me we need to get out this place has now forsaken we can you carry us out of here you know that we hate asking but we need you now to bring back our self agency and empower us once again b̵̢̛̼̜͓͔͖̝̞̮̘̤̣̟͍̙͉̏̇̀̏̅̏̂̉̄͜͝͠͝r̷͖̘͉̖̍̿̊͑̀̀́̅̔͘͝͝ͅe̵̡̜̭̮̼̅̀́á̴͔̮̟͇͉̼͉͚̪̤̳̼͓́̎̀̏̓͋͋́̌͑̆̍̚͠k̷͚̗̞̮̱̯͎̻̀̀͗̆̇̃ͅ you can’t be what you can’t be or say what you can’t see can’t be full when you’re empty or hear when you can’t breathe
6.
we were tight back in the day then we saw you rise away tell me how you did it was it master waves that were dripping in your veins tell me how you did it did you feel a spark rise up in the dark did you feel a charge wrap you up in stars don’t want it to finish don’t want it to end don’t want it to start back up or begin again when you seek the brightest star in all the sky you can see what it do only you can feel what it do you can feel that spark rise up in the dark you can feel that charge wraps you up in stars
7.
Berth 03:05
oh you know you made it you can see all your dreams out loud scrawled across the pavement like a sea for a platinum mile never dreams of fading forever whats here now polished bright and stainless your reflection it won’t come down when you see all your company make it look so easy pick up and come to me and we’ll make believe It’s as simple for you and me fake it til we reach it Take a minute if you need GO! when it’s done and you’ve done your time and you start to wind down cold and its hard to find time to light your fire sit and relax your mind platinum doesn’t matter just a quiet night would be fine you can walk away from all the flashing lights, ever rushing tides never miss a night on it eyes are open wide, forever in flight looking for the next get down now you’re getting tired, you’re craving for the dark and a silent place for your mind GO!
8.
How Hard 04:11
You walk small Show them that you’re kind Stand down give them some peace of mind act coy show off your giving side they don’t know how hard you try try to be ok how hard it is to be ok for you how hard it is to be you and free and easy well you had to put her in her place she didn’t see how hard you tried she didn’t care what was inside of you she’s just not loving kind, maybe that’s why it’s hard to be ok it’s so hard to be ok for you so hard to be you and free and easy you had to put her in her place =
9.
tell me anything you want tell me anything that you want even if its not fine you don’t have to be shy to look me in my eyes you can sell me what you want sell me anything that you want left or the right side there is something to hide it can all be left behind from the temples to your feet let it outside for a walk let it outside let it breathe take it down la la la la la la talk to me la la la la la la baby everything’s alright baby everything’s kawaii baby speak your mind it will all come around in time it’s not always clear we both know for sure it’s all good you don’t have to say you would la la la la la la talk to me la la la la la la
10.
breaking down these walls of mine lay me out in fields of heather let mists roll and lightning strike hold my elements together and I feel it melt velveteen and felt molded smooth and fine I could wield it close and it could be mine and it would be right on time I don’t know where these days go it’s driving me crazy don’t want to be here with you i would be what you want but you want me down i would do what you want but you want me out I could see what you want but you wore me down I could be what you want but you want me down Still don’t know where these days go still driving me crazy still don’t want to be here with you /// break /// i would be what you want but you want me down i would do what you want but you want me out I could see what you want but you wore me down I could be what you want but you want me down
11.
it slows me down head underwater wash me out fall down and keep me under all waste and doubt trip and surrender will’s run out full weight that could keep me down sedate me now thicker and colder this leaden crown push down upon my shoulders please slow it down add friction to boulder grind slower now there’s no more to give right now it slows me down head underwater wash me out fall down and keep me under all waste and doubt trip and surrender wills run out full weight that could keep me down post flood comes the drought... pain runs out... and you put your hands up to the clouds... just to fall back once again another year from now
12.
Is It? 03:14
I wasn’t sober I said it anyway Now it’s all over and you’re coming down with me Once in a lifestyle Shake off the past crumbling It’s stubborn and tactile I do think I know shouldn’t be I wanna be somebody new Take just a minute Ask for a minute more Melodies glisten A soft mirage on the floor Tell me I’m crazy Lock me up throw out the key Real life is lazy I want to feel evergreen I wanna be somebody new

about

“This record is a representation of everything that has led me to this point. It’s been a long, bizarre path,” says Zenizen’s Opal Hoyt of both her life and her journey to make this record. Like Peter and the Wolf, the Russian symphony Hoyt used as a creative framework, P.O.C (Proof of Concept) is a series of vignettes—the collection of which mirrors Hoyt’s long journey, from her adoption in Alaska to her many moves between DC, Jamaica, Vermont, and New York.

Along this unconventional path, Hoyt met the talented cast of musicians who would go on support her in the recording of P.O.C: variegated bass by Jonathan Maron (Erykah Badu, D’Angelo); drums by Vishal Nayak (Nick Hakim, Empress Of); moments of magic on horns by Sly 5th Ave (Prince); guitars by Benamin (IGBO); intricate mixing by Nick Herrera (Hiatus Kaiyote), Benamin, and Jon Bap; with mastering by Heba Kadry and Davy Levitan.

Then there’s Hoyt herself, whose rich alto pierces through with poetic lyricism, supported by her contributions of Rhodes, synths, and sample arrangements (think: babbling brooks and birdsong). In other words, Hoyt isn’t just a songwriter in the classic sense. She’s also a skilled producer with an ear for excellent arrangements—the kind of musician who enjoys meandering and allowing her artistic vision to percolate. Likewise, P.O.C is a record that blooms in beauty over time—the kind of record that you can take anywhere in any season, as any version of yourself.

credits

released July 27, 2022

Opal Hoyt: vocals, synth, samples, drum programming, misc percussion, rhodes
Vishal Nayak: drums (1, 5 - 12), synth bass (4)
Jonathan Maron: bass (1, 5 - 12)
Taja Cheek: synth bass (2)
Aja Grant: keyboards, synth bass (3)
Sly 5th Ave: tenor sax, alto sax (4, 5, 12)
Benamin: guitar (5 - 9, 12), bg vox (8)
Daniel Schlett: synth (8)
Felicia Douglass: bg vox (8)
Veto Money: bg vox (9)
Nappy Nina: vocals (10)
Helado Negro: vocals (11)

The album was recorded by Daniel Schlett (The War on Drugs, Amen Dunes, Mr Twin Sister), founder of the Brooklyn based Strange Weather recording studio, Liam Eagleburger at Melbourne’s One Year studio (most vocals), and Brad McGrath at The Lab Studios in Denver, CO (Drought) and MIXED by R&B/jazz innovator Jon Bap, as well as Nick Herrera (Hiatus Kaiyote) and Benamin (Princess Nokia, Phony Ppl, Wiki, IGBO).

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Zenizen Brooklyn, New York

Songwriter, producer, singer, keyboardist for myself and others <3

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