PREMIERE: Dublin artist Zach James Douglas explores shame on 'Anyone Else', feat. Manamon

Dublin songwriter Zach James Douglas is set to release his third single tomorrow, August 19th. 'Anyone Else' - premiering below - is taken from the producer's forthcoming debut EP 6x3.

The genre-fluid song features vocalist Manamon, a childhood friend of Zach's and lead singer of their old band Little One.

Exploring the shame that can take you by surprise after a break-up, Douglas touches on mental health, self-esteem and guilt on the rich offering, overlain with rich synths and harmonies.

About the song, Zach says "In 'Anyone Else', I consider the unexpected feeling of self shame that ensues once you have been broken up with. It is a retrospective comparison of the sentiment felt by both parties in the aftermath, with a focus on the bitterness and resentment that I had to deal with. This resentment is not, as some may presume, towards her new partner, but instead is directed towards how seamless the transition was for her. It describes my struggle to come to terms with how quickly she was capable of moving on and meeting someone new, while to this day, I still struggle to engage in a conversation with a woman without feeling an insurmountable sense of guilt, shame and sadness."

A recurring theme throughout Douglas’ first foray into the moody abyss of a solo songwriter, is the concept of nature versus technology. This is best illustrated through the stark contrast and combinations of natural, conventional instrumentation and synthetic glitchy soundscapes.

However, it is also seen through the Dubliner’s desire to dispel the natural feelings of shame, anxiety and depression and instead compartmentalise and methodically process these emotions in a way that humans are generally not capable of. It's a refreshing take on a generally unspoken topic for a male Irish artist.

With the promise of lots more music to come, and the much anticipated return of live music on the horizon, 2021 has been an exciting year for Zach James Douglas - even if the first half of it has been enjoyed through his ageing laptop screen while sitting at his parent’s kitchen table.

The indie-alternative artist hails from the South Dublin suburb of Tallaght, raised by a pint of Guinness and a packet of crisps in any number of city centre dive bars.

Having previously had the pleasure of playing festivals such as Glastonbury and Electric Picnic with former band Little One, Douglas is ready to step out alone with his debut EP 6x3. 'Something / Anything' and 'Even As The Knife Went Through' have set the stage for the multi-talented creative's solo success.

Within 6x3, Douglas documents the rebuilding process of his personal psyche, after suffering a visceral rejection from someone who he loved deeply. It looks introspectively at the mental and psychological changes that occur within the receiver of such rejection and how these changes are processed.

With musical elements reminiscent of Sylvan Esso, Grimes, Maribou State, and The Knife, the forthcoming 6-track EP featuring three guest vocalists and is the first of a trilogy of EPs: 6x3, 4x2 and 2x1. The triple release will land each in the coming 12 months.

Pre-save 'Anyone Else' here.

Listen to the new single from ZJD below:

Photo credit: Jack Farrell