One of Zach Hill's most defining characteristics as a drummer is his footwork. Many drummers are surprised when they realize that he only uses one bass drum and a single bass drum pedal when he plays. For example, in the song Imaginary Friends from Hella's Church Gone Wild record, Hill employs his characteristic double-stroke bass drum method throughout much of the song, leading many to believe he is using more than one foot to do so, when he is only using his right foot. Zach Hill's set thus far had had generally very low-tuned tom-toms and floor-toms. When playing rhythms back and forth between his bass drum and these tom-toms, it often sounds as if it is all being created by the bass drum. His snare drum sound is often a contrasting highly tuned "crack" sound.
A unique aspect of Zach's style is his liberal use of unconventional sounding cymbals, often referred to as "trash" cymbals. His most commonly and characteristically used trash cymbal consists of broken cymbals (usually between 3 and 4) stacked on top of each other, mounted just to his right of his high tom. This setup produces a harsh sound similar to that of a China cymbal, but with much less sustain. This is easily heard on almost every single Hella release.
In addition Zach has a custom made cymbal with a very warped shape that can be heard on the Holy Smokes album Masculine Drugs (clearly audible starting at 1:36 on the song Masculine Drugs (Tri-Duplex Edit)) the Hella album Church Gone Wild, The Ladies' first album, They Mean Us, and the Zach Hill & Mick Barr album Shred Earthship.
Zach also utilizes complex time signatures into his drumming. Zach has developed these time signatures through playing, and goes by feeling a beat rather than figuring it out "traditionally".
Another notable aspect of Hill's playing is that he is an extremely hard hitter. His equipment tends to wear down very fast due to the combination of the speed and power of his playing, which has been known to break lug casings and bend the top hoops of his drums from the sheer force of his technique.
In addition to music, Zach is also a visual artist. His art has been featured in the packaging to many of his musical releases. One of the most notable examples is his fully illustrated book Destroying Yourself is Too Accessible which included the Zach Hill and Holy Smokes album Masculine Drugs, released in 2004 on TNI books and Suicide Squeeze Records. The cover art of the Hella album The Devil Isn't Red, the artwork to There's No 666 in Outer Space and The Bitches Ain't Shit But Good People EP, and drawings in The Ladies They Mean Us are all credited to Zach; as well as art direction credits on many releases such as Hella's debut full length, Hold Your Horse Is, and their Total Bugs Bunny on Wild Bass EP, and the eponymously titled Nervous Cop record. He receives photography credit in addition to his many musical contributions on the debut Team Sleep album. He has also designed t-shirts and promotional posters for Hella and Team Sleep.
The Sacramento, California art space Fools Foundation ran an exhibition of Zach's art, titled Poltergeist, from April 1 to April 29 in 2006. Parts of the exhibit are visible in the photos accompanying Zach's article in the August 2006 issue of Modern Drummer and on the Fools Foundation.
Second Life
Zach Hill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
take me with you
take me with you
take me with you
she will take you when she leaves
turn your thoughts to energy
summer freezes when she speaks
she will take you when she leaves
turn your thoughts to energy
the black hat she lives beneath
she needs no identity
turning all your blood to bleach
i love when she shatters me
she's so violent, i cant see
she will take me when she leaves
she will put you underground
turn the ocean upside down
she will take you when she leaves
turn you into energy
The song Second Life by Zach Hill might seem cryptic at first, with its repetitive lyrics and the mention of a character who seems both alluring and dangerous. However, it's possible to interpret its meaning as a depiction of a relationship between two people who have a powerful connection, but one of them is also destructive and unpredictable. The invitation to "take me with you" could be seen as a plea to follow that person, wherever they go, despite the risks involved. It's possible that this person is so captivating that they can turn "your thoughts to energy," meaning that they can make you feel alive and electric, but also cause you to lose control and become irrational.
The lines "she will put you underground, turn the ocean upside down" suggest that this person has the power to completely upend someone's life. They can take over their thoughts and make them lose touch with reality. The repetition of "she will take you when she leaves" highlights the idea that this relationship is not sustainable, and that the singer is aware of this. However, they are also drawn to their lover's intensity, even if it means being destroyed by them. The themes of darkness and chaos in the song evoke a sense of danger that is both thrilling and terrifying, much like the kind of passion that can be all-consuming.
Line by Line Meaning
take me with you
Requesting to go along with someone else
take me with you
Repeating the request to go along with someone else
take me with you
Again, requesting to go along with someone else
take me with you
Once more, requesting to go along with someone else
she will take you when she leaves
Describing how the person being sung to will be taken by someone else
turn your thoughts to energy
Advising to turn thoughts into productive action
its satanic how she breathes
Metaphorically describing how someone breathes
summer freezes when she speaks
Using poetic language to describe the power of someone's words
the black hat she lives beneath
Describing the mysterious, enigmatic nature of someone's persona
she needs no identity
Suggesting that someone is so strong they do not necessarily require a sense of self-identity
turning all your blood to bleach
Using a violent metaphor to describe how someone else can have a profound impact on you
i love when she shatters me
Describing the emotional relationship the singer has with someone
she's so violent, i cant see
Using imagery to describe the impact someone else has on their surroundings
she will take me when she leaves
Repeating the notion that the singer will be taken by someone else
she will put you underground
Continuing to describe the dark, powerful nature of someone else
turn the ocean upside down
Using hyperbole to suggest someone else has the power to control vast natural forces
she will take you when she leaves
Once again repeating the notion that someone else will take the person being sung to
turn you into energy
Emphasizing the importance of productive action by suggesting it will lead to becoming a force in the world
Contributed by Alexandra K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
O.H. Westberg
I can't believe Zach Hill invented vaporwave.
cosmic bug loaf
They used some bits from old minds eye videos, watched them when i was a kid and then watched em again not too long ago. Still mind bending. Interesting to listen to the early days of Dolby Digital sound with music made by Thomas Dolby himself. Even more appreciation to Zach Hill for using the video and a little dissapointed he got it done before me...
Axel
wow he started vaporwave
Spacegrass
@This is a dumpster don't you mean a chll pll?
OsirisKing
It was really sunsetcorp that started it, their channels still up.
AL.
@stephanie Eccojams is a dope ass album
stephanie
Nope. SunsetCorp did it.
internettoughguy
holy fuck.....
Kassie Dearest
Oh gosh, this is trippy.
samu
this song is so loud dude