Brooklyn-based duo Gardenia have released their debut album, Knowing You Know Nothing today. Through eight tracks, the duo aims to tell listeners one thing – “We’re pissed, and you should be too.” They push the idea that it’s okay to be angry at the state of things, that although every story might not have a happy ending, it doesn’t mean that you can’t try to find yours.
“There’s a ton of songs out there about cheating, but I noticed that most of them took the stance of being cheated on, and I thought it would be interesting to write about it from the instigator’s perspective,” explains vocalist Ry Zakin on “Believe Me (Or Don’t)”. “When I first heard SZA’s ‘The Weekend’, I remember how that was such a wild position to take in a song, and I wanted to do the same. I pulled stories from every friend about people they’ve dealt with, and the result was this song.”
Alongside the announcement, Gardenia have announced a hometown show to celebrate the release of Knowing You Know Nothing at Alphaville Brooklyn on June 10 with special guests BEND, Nostranders, and the Villains. Tickets are on sale now.
One bass, one drum, and one vision. These are the ingredients that NYC-based rock duo Gardenia needs to bring about their singular and massive sound. Meeting first as co-workers at a local studio, Ry Zakin (vocals/bass) and Tamir Malik (drums) quickly became longtime friends and bandmates, starting the band in the very same studio in 2018. Their music is a cohesion of not only the sights and sounds of the city that raised them but of the bands they perform with at clubs and theatres all over the country.