West-Sydney rap star Zion Garcia drops “FIGHTBACK”

Ascendant Pasifika, Western Sydney-based rapper, producer, and filmmaker Zion Garcia returns with the rampant new single “FIGHTBACK“.

Having firmly marked his place across Gadigal/Sydney’s music circuits, Zion Garcia’s breakthrough was built by a heart-on-his-sleeve approach to life, drawing from his own identity, self-assuredness, and indispensable commentary. Embracing a DIY rap volatility margined by his endless creativity, Zion Garcia has steadily cultivated an apex of next generation hip-hop –– shaped by how he chooses to show up. 

A culmination of the last two years, “FIGHTBACK” sets a new tone for Zion Garcia. Taking anecdotal cues from time spent on the bus ride home from school listening to N.E.R.D’s Seeing Sounds through a pair of dodgy earphones, the track filters out every pessimistic, angst-powered thought by way of heavy bass and percussion. Striking an intersectional approach to music, “FIGHTBACK” was recorded in close collaboration with Church from Aotearoa/NZ hip-hop collective Church & AP to propel Zion Garcia’s trademark energetic delivery with erratic hip-hop-meets-punk elements. 

On the track’s process, he reveals that “‘FIGHTBACK’ is the perfect culmination of where I’ve been since the last EP, and a good indicator of what’s to come. I made the first demo for the song back in 2021, and was performing it sporadically across shows in 2022, slowly tinkering away at it with different verses, new hook ideas, structure changes. It didn’t really see its final form until Church (Church & AP) came through to the studio while he was here in Sydney, and essentially Rick Rubin’d the song. It was way longer, but he came and helped me see what the song actually was supposed to be. He cut a good 2 verses worth from the song, and thank God he did. It was the boost I needed to realise the importance of collaboration.”

A preview into his propulsive artistic streak, “FIGHTBACK” marks the first release in two years for Zion Garcia –– following his debut 2023 project ZION GARCIA: (THEATRICAL VERSION), a sonic diary transfixed by Garcia’s bold, brash, and eclectic exploration of story and culture through alternative hip-hop. Supported across CABBAGES, triple j, triple j Unearthed, fbi radio, 3RRR, PBS FM, RTR FM, he has performed across prolific stages including Listen Out Sydney and the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid LIVE, and is also a member of Full Circle –– the Western Sydney collective re-writing history through collaboration that’s authentic to their own experiences. 

With much of his influence composed around his Tongan-Spanish heritage, the music of Zion Garcia is an unbound world of his own devising. Seamlessly weaving through disparate genres, his stream of new music sits like the middle ground between a blockbuster and cult classic of his own making. Take a seat and let the credits roll.

 

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