With their new 5 track set, titled Rebuilding Heaven, Zachary Ross and The Divine present energetic punk with a pop edge, featuring brilliant lyrics and powerful performances. Formerly of Man Overboard, front man Zac Eisenstein reinvents himself for this new project and their debut EP on Smartpunk Records.
Punk Rock Beat: Congrats on the awesome new album. The production on the new single ‘Push Start’ is somehow different. It’s a new kind of punk. What was involved in making a new sound?
Zac Eisenstein: Oh wow, thank you! Not to be too pretentious sounding but I kind of wanted to do something like that. I really just let my 80s and pop influences shine through and this is what came out! It came out very Me.
Punk Rock Beat: ‘Weapon’ sounds confessional, as does ‘Light Over Massachusetts.’ Where do you draw the line between being aggressive in the punk tradition, and being vulnerable?
Zac Eisenstein: Good question. Honestly though for me there’s no line between the two, they both fall on the side of being real. I think in my mind as long as I’m being real then it seems pretty punk to me. Sometimes being vulnerable takes the form of aggression.
Punk Rock Beat: With the concept of Rebuilding Heaven, are you questioning faith or creating a new paradigm? Did the loss of your friend as told in “Light Over Massachusetts” compel you in this direction?
Zac Eisenstein: I could see how it appears that way absolutely. Never questioned faith or anything like that. I have always been fascinated with religious imagery and angels. The title I think is referring to me getting my life as a musician back together. Rebuilding my own little slice of heaven I once had. When Man Overboard took a ‘break’ it wasn’t really what I wanted to do at all. So we’re getting my musical career back on track and we are Rebuilding Heaven. Being on stage, making records, touring, that’s my heaven.
Punk Rock Beat: On ‘Push Start’ and ‘Panic Button’ there’s limited use of synthesizers. Do you see your band using synths more in the future?
Zac Eisenstein: I do honestly. I love the 80s and I love pop music and I love EDM, honestly so yes I don’t think it will ever go away in our music
Punk Rock Beat: How about a U.S tour?
Zac Eisenstein: YES YES YES. Keep your eyes peeled! ; )
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