Jestamang ’s new interview delves into the creative essence behind the visuals for “Zoo,” a track from their psychedelic pop album Jestawomang. The group emphasized the importance of preserving one’s inner child and sense of wonder, resisting societal pressures to conform. This theme is reflected in the video’s blend of pastoral, science fiction, and mythical elements, challenging the norms set by the intelligentsia. The circular frame, initially an aesthetic choice, is open to various interpretations such as limitation or unity.
Jestamang also touched upon the theme of timelessness in “Zoo,” inspired by a phase of introspection and realignment. The song symbolizes the interconnectedness of life and the cyclical nature of existence. Sci-fi and mythical elements in the song encourage thinking independently and trusting one’s intuition, standing against societal indoctrination. The track addresses the challenges faced by the younger generation in maintaining innocence in an era dominated by social media and external influences.
Finally, Jestamang revealed their future plans, which include more music videos and the release of a Christmas single, “23rd Xmas,” and a compilation album, ‘Revolution Epilogue: 2K2123 & 2K2323‘. These projects underscore the band’s commitment to originality and breaking free from traditional molds.
In the “Zoo” video, you’ve combined pastoral imagery with science fiction and mythical elements. How did you conceptualize this blend, and what was the process like to visually integrate these diverse themes into a cohesive narrative?
It’s all about being free really. Jestamang simply refuses to grow up. The dragons you once knew have been crushed by the concept known as growing up. The society we live in can and will enforce their power on you and it is your job to keep that inner child intact. That doesn’t mean we can’t mature, but we keep our eyes humbled for what shoots in our direction.
All the folklore listed in the song have been dubbed as fairy tales by the “intelligentsia.” Our view is that we would rather make our own decisions for what’s possible and impossible. For example, there could be a magic gnome society underneath our fingertips for all we know! That might sound ridiculous to the bored and tired. If you’re still hesitant, at least consider the benefits to holding on to that spirit and have hope that anything can and will happen with the will to power. All of a sudden you find yourself off to greater pastures academically, creatively, and spiritually.
Can you share more about the symbolic significance of the circular frame used in the video and how it relates to the song’s message?
I’ll be honest and say the circle doesn’t have a lot of personal meaning behind it. It was an aesthetic choice and it’s something we’ve rarely used in videos. Next year there will be more of a focus on making visuals, so we’re going to experiment with certain characteristics and looks. I suppose you can make your own interpretation for the circle. You could say it represents a limitation, a oneness, or a vulnerability. That’s just a few off the top of my head. Maybe it’ll reveal itself to me one day.
The lyrics of “Zoo” suggest a vast scale of time, with lines like “I’ve been here for a couple of hundred and million, billion, trillion, zillion centuries.” What inspired this theme of timelessness, and how do you think it resonates with the audience?
One day I happened to stumble upon writing a heavy set of lyrics. It was during the end of my stint in Boston, and me and other members of Jestamang were in a tough spot. The objective was finding out what the next step should be. I was in a moment of omniscience and psychedelia when I wrote “Zoo.” The ego took a back seat, as egos caused Jestamang’s tension at the time.
The song represents infinity and timelessness. It’s the idea that we are all one puzzle piece. It’s a confident song that brings strength every time I sing it. A trusty warm blanket about the life cycle. That particular lyric hints at the fact that there is nothing new under the sun. It has to be that way in order for our species to survive. We need that guidance and familiarity, or else we succumb to the chaotic void.
What inspired you to mix sci-fi elements with mythical references to “Zoo,” and how do they complement each other in the context of the song?
A lot of the cryptids and legends represent a perspective of thinking for yourself. People tend to jam their thoughts and opinions down our throats, and it’s easy to follow that crowd. These misfit cryptids earn a sense of sympathy that maybe we are getting some information that doesn’t fit us. We should start to believe or dismiss things with as much input and intuition from ourselves as possible. It’s something that was planted in us as children, with the motions of society tending to erase our wonder, mysticism, and gut feeling. This raises the risk of your first death kicking in. To sum it up, the cryptids are an inspiration for rebirth and self discovery.
“Where are the kids off to? Are they afraid of you?” hints at generational shifts or the loss of innocence. Can you elaborate on the significance of this theme in the song and the video?
Kids should have no use growing up. Teachers, parents, and the media are just a few hurdles that they will have to jump over. These folks will test them and try to rip their innocence out of their souls. It’s become even more difficult maintaining that innocence with the introduction of social media and the internet. Parenting and guidance need to be prioritized to the utmost degree in order to protect their creative world.
A lot of so-called “leaders” want the next generation to be confused, dependent and misguided. As I stated above, “Zoo” represents confidence in oneself, and a search for validation of one’s own thoughts and perspective. With success, this often brings the magic to adulthood. Going back with timelessness, it gives a security that life has been going on forever and that doubt is a test. For example, if you were to talk about planes in the 1800s, you would be thrown in a loony bin. It sounds a bit familiar to our educational system. Impossibility is a myth, so it’s possible that we can do what the pioneers and cryptids represent.
With “Zoo” being a part of the Psychedelic Pop album ‘Jestawomang,’ can you share some insights into the creative process behind the album? How does “Zoo” fit within the broader context of the record’s themes and soundscape?
The album ‘Jestawomang’ mainly explores the theme of love, with bits and pieces sought to other topics. “Zoo” is an outlier, but still ties in the concept of letting go of negativity and restriction. “Zoo” in a way represents the aftermath of a lost love. One line in particular, “Goodbye, goodbye. Said I didn’t wanna see you die, I say goodbye,” shows that you refuse to sink with them if that’s what it comes down to.
I have an objection to wasting people’s time, as you can not beat the clock. People tend to stay in bad relationships, because they don’t want to enter the unfamiliar or pull the trigger. We humans love our patterns, but patterns can be broken. If you know deep down it’s the end, you should follow your heart. All things considered, it’s a robbery of someone’s precious time, bringing them falsehood and deadness. You’re also hurting yourself too! It’s unfair.
Are there plans to release more music videos from the tracks in the ‘Jestawomang’ album? Also, are you currently working on any new projects or music that fans can look forward to in the near future?
Starting next year, we will begin to shift towards performance and videos, so expect to see more Jestamang songs turn visual. We’re closing off the end of the year with a Christmas single, “23rd Xmas,” and a compilation album, ‘Revolution Epilogue: 2K2123 & 2K2323,’ on New Year’s Eve. The latter is you hearing one song per artist from our 23rd project, which is an album released every 23rd day of the month. It’ll be a great introduction for us!
Listen to the full album below:
