MUSIC — ZeaLouS 1: Unabashedly Nerdcore

Being hailed as ‘the King of the Boss Fights’ carries with it a certain connotation, and after nearly five years on the burgeoning nerdcore scene – a highly competitive one at that – ZeaLouS1 should be used to having to fight his way to the top. Like a lot of his cohorts, ZeaLouS1 (also known as Beau Fa’asamala) developed an interest in a wide variety of nerd pastimes at a young age, extending from referencing Coleridge (Rimes of the Hip Hop Mariners), to playing World of Warcraft (“Level Up”).

But Z’s also firmly dedicated to the nerdcore scene he’s a part of, and he calls it like he sees it and doesn’t shy away from self-degredation. During the bridge portion of “LevelUp”, he advises listeners to do what most humans with working ears would love to do during a bridge: “now’s the time in the song…if you need to take a break…check your voicemail, check your messenger…”

Later, he struts through the clearly upper-class suburbs saying he’ll “pass on that ass” cause he’s on level 14 in WOW.

“Why can’t she see she’s not for me/she can’t even res or help with XP.”

This is clearly not your older brother’s hip-hop; still, it speaks the truth for a lot of nerds — dating girls who aren’t into the same nerdy sh*t can be a pain. And ZeaLouS1 immediately comes across as a quiet, affable kinda guy — but still walks the walk and talks the talk, without the pretensions that some underground music scenes encompass.

JHS: Why did you drift towards nerd music instead of more “popular/mainstream forms of hip-hop?”

Most rap and hip hop I grew up listening to always felt like it was missing something.When I first started making music I set out to lace my lyrics with references that I thought only some people would appreciate such as mentioning certain aspects, environments or situations that derived from video games, comic books or movies/anime I was heavily into.

I also had this idea that I would sample certain video games or movies/anime and fuse them with heavy hip hop drum beats which again I thought only a certain crowd would recognize. After crafting a few tracks on my own an old friend showed me an online community where artists were already utilizing the same techniques and I was blown away! Ive been in love with nerd music ever since!

JHS: What in your eyes does it mean to be a nerd? Why is it often considered a bad thing, and do you make a point of it in your music to prove anyone wrong/change their mind?

I think being a nerd may have had a negative stigma attached because nerds are considered to be into things that didn’t used to be popular or mainstream (computers, D&D, etc.). Its funny to me though because today’s culture and nearly all aspects of everyday life is directly influenced by “nerds” (Smartphones that can do nearly anything a desktop can do, all in the palm of your hand — that still blows my mind, lol).

In my music I make it a point to reference and mention things that I am very passionate about and it just so happens that many of those things are nerdy. I believe that peoples’ minds have already changed as far as what a “nerd” is in todays culture. I’d like to think that alongside Dr. Awkward, I am one of the many new faces who represent the Next Gen and that is something I am very excited about!

(See More: Dr. Awkward Speaks the Truth about Nerd Music)

JHS: Which artists have you always looked up to?

Aloe Blacc of Emanon has been my favorite lyricist ever since I heard the Acid Nine cassette in 1999. His story telling, his swag and his content were all things that drew me in and mesmerized me. In the nerd music scene YTCracker was a huge inspiration for my first free album release Assimilation Process: Complete back in 2006. Nowadays, I am inspired by my close friends and fellow band mates from The Bossfights, especially Dr. Awkward and Jay Bishop. Those two pump out music non stop and it motivates me to always work harder. To me, they are some of the best at what they do so as long as I can stay in a friendly competition with them I’ll always be on top of my game.

JHS: Is there a common theme you seem to want to communicate in all of your music?

The common theme would be to express and share the same nerdy passions in my life with anyone willing to listen. Everyone has an inner nerd that should be embraced and bullies will not be tolerated!

Click Below for Free Downloads off of his latest album

ZeaLouS1 – 04 – Next Gen 2.0 (feat. Dr. Awkward)

ZeaLouS1 – 03 – Rezsickns

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