Zion Garcia is done waiting
With the release of FIGHTBACK—a bruising, bass-heavy collaboration with Church from NZ’s Church & AP—the Western Sydney artist sharpens his sound and sense of self with an unruly kind of elegance. A disciple of honesty and the everyday, Garcia weaves personal mythology from late-night Ubers, Penrith Hoyts, acid trips, cold brew rituals, and PS2 nostalgia.
A true student of the world around him, Zion speaks to Astrophe about finding inspiration in movement, building sonic worlds from his bedroom to the Inner West, and unlearning the idea of needing to be “ready.” Vulnerable, grounded, and quietly explosive—this is an artist on the rise, on his own frequency.
Outside of your art form, where do you find inspiration?
I try to be a sponge in my everyday life. Conversations with strangers, seeing movies without knowing the synopsis, finding new food and coffee spots around Western Sydney and beyond- I’m quite easily inspired. Even just being in transit, getting from one place to another, whether by train, bus, or spending all my money on Ubers- I get inspired seeing the people, the weather, there’s never a time I’m not open to soaking in the life around me. I always try to stay curious, beyond everything. Even with my friends- I always act like I got something new to learn in every sentence. I always want to maintain a sense of wonderment about everything- It’s something that’s easy to lose in our generation. I catch myself still getting defensive in random moments when I don’t know something, and even that inspires me- Where does this desire to know everything and be on top of everything come from? What’s so bad about constantly learning? I’m still young. I got plenty of time to actually become an old soul. Speaking of old soul even- I’ve been labelled that since I was a kid. I think I had to grow up quite fast, just the way things in my life influenced me. I get influenced by the things that I’ve been labelled across my lifetime, and I like to dissect them. As you can see, my brain never runs out of places to get inspiration from.
Where do you think you get your personal power from?
There’s too many places to just boil it down to one or a few places I get my personal power from. The first place that comes to mind as I write this is my Mum, Dad, and Sister. Especially my mum. She’s always been the glue in my family. She’s the strongest being I know. You just can’t mess with her. I’ve never seen her not just completely go for it if she wanted to do something. She waits for no-one. You just can’t get in her way. I aspire to have her essence. I think to survive in my pursuits, I gotta implement her lessons big time. Also, I have this absurd just emotional connection to so many little things in life. I’ve always been quite sensitive, and for most of my life, it never felt like a superpower. But as of late, I’ve been really trying to embrace it in me. I can’t help it, I’m just a big thinker. I got a big heart. I’m on my path to just really accept every ounce of my being, and just realise man, I’m powerful in myself. You never have to wait for someone or something else to validate you. We belong here. We belong in these rooms. Our ideas and dreams are valid. Everything we need is in us already.
What is your favourite space?
If we’re talking about places right now- I’ve actually become a cold brew fiend. As I write this, It’s getting colder so I’ve had to functionally stop drinking such cold coffee before I get even more sick, but I love cafe’s. Maybe this is the part of Australian Culture that I’ve actually fully embraced. Such a privilege just to sit inside a cafe, sip coffee, and do all this random ass work. Favourite coffee spots as of right now- CCC (of course, shoutout Jayemol and the gang), TNB Cafe (Best coffee in the west), Circa Espresso (Also the best coffee in the west), Maeda, Double Tap Coffee- too many spaces I love right now. In terms of other spaces- I love Commonhouse out in Glendenning of course, that’s home, Penrith Hoyts (most nostalgic for me), kicking it round Regents Place in Town Hall with FC & co (shoutout iPod), and I’ve been renting out this studio at Offbeat Collective for the last few months. Been a game changer. Also love kicking it at Fried Brothers Blacktown (that location is actually better than the mounty one in my opinion). Also, I love my bedroom. That’s my heart. I keep it clean and smelling immaculate there. It’s so hard not to just sleep all day in there and be unproductive. I love chopping samples all day too. Listening to random shit off Soundcloud.
Is there something you learnt early in your career that you have now disproven?
There’s so many things I’m subconsciously unlearning everyday that I wouldn’t even be able to catch, but I’ve definitely had to come to terms with the fact that due to how I like to be a student of my craft and stay curious on things, I rarely feel like I really know what I’m doing a lot of the time. I always sit down to make music, and It’s like it’s my first time all over again. Even performing- After Sydney Opera House, Archie Party, Listen Out- I still get nervous and feel like I’m learning and finding my way. One day, I’ll hopefully learn to just enjoy it in the before and after moments instead of stressing about everything. I’ve also disproven the notion in my head that I’ve gotta be ready for things. Sometimes, you just gotta do the thing in whatever state you’re in. If you’re tired, just do it tired. If you’re too nervous, just do it nervous. If you feel like it’s super out of your depth, DEFINITELY do it.
Within your immediate circle of friends and family or chosen family who is your hero and why?
They’re all my heroes. I can’t boil it down to one person. I’m the culmination of so many close friends and family members. FC, my Garcia family, my grandparents on both sides, aunties and uncles, my cousins; There’s too many to mention. If they’re reading, they know they’re my heroes.
How much of a role do other musicians play in inspiring your work?
Only as of late have I truly been looking outside of myself to start discovering new grounds for my music to develop. I write and produce everything myself. My process is quite introspective. However, as of late, I’ve been getting my talented friends to leave their magic in my music. It’s been a game changer. For example, I can play guitar enough to get ideas out on my records, but the moment I got my bro J2THOU (who plays in my live band when I get to jam with a band) to play my guitar ideas instead, my whole shit switched. I think it’s subconscious ego shit I gotta unlearn. There’s a whole world of art to access if I just let those who influence my desire to create to actually just help me make my stuff.
Is there a specific sonic theme, genre or instrument that you draw pure joy from?
Oh man. Drums. Quick tangent- I did acid for the first time ever in LA in 2024, and I felt this tangible sense of happiness during it that I had never felt before. Fast forward later that year, and I was at a friends birthday at Lazybones out in Marrickville. It was a jam session, and I got to play the drums for the first time in a while. I oddly know how to play despite not really being formally exposed to it outside of jamming at recess and lunch time in High School. Anyway, while I was jamming, I felt that same level of happiness as the Acid made me feel. It got me so emo. Now, I’m the designated drummer for my bro Tahkoe in his band The Willows. It feels good man. Music man.
How does visual aesthetic come to play in your work?
It’s truly 50/50 with the music. I’m getting more into the act of really trying to visually build my world up for my music. Film and visuals mean the world to me. However, being “aesthetic” to be honest, doesn’t really interest me. In our generation, everyone’s got a 4K camera in their pockets. Social media is simultaneously beautiful and ugly. Games are so realistic looking- yet I still prefer playing my PS2 emulator with no real upscale in resolution. Yeah It might not look great, but the heart, soul, and story of the games make up for it. My heart always leans more towards the intent of things, and never really just doing things to be “visually aesthetic”. Probably why I leaned more towards being a Writer/Director/Editor at Uni during my film degree, as opposed to cinematography. I was more concerned with characters, dialogue, and plot lines, as opposed to the overt look of things.
What are the core values behind your art?
Honesty, community, always striving to be fresh, the “feel”, putting Western Sydney/Australian culture/dialects to the world, doing things myself, following my gut feeling, empathy, and effort.
What would be your ultimate song to cover?
Fat Freddy’s Drop, “Roady” or “Wandering Eye”. Maybe even “The Raft”... AND “Ernie”... MAYBE “Shiverman” too. I’ve got too many, but Fat Freddy’s Drop has always been a dream.
What is the first album you bought yourself?
It was either a Smosh compilation album, Michael Jackson’s “Off The Wall”, might’ve even been “The Heist” by Macklemore. As you can see, my taste is goated. Lowkey I think Gangnam Style was the first thing I ever bought on iTunes. 2013 me was with the times forreal.
First memory of live music?
The Wiggles out in Penrith. Changed my life. Also seeing Michael Jackson Live videos on DVD. The dangerous tour one from the early 90s. Changed my life x2.
Go to comfort movie / TV show?
Any of the Jackass Films. The first Spongebob film. Michael Jackson live concert films. Chronicle. School of Rock. Napoleon Dynamite. The Benchwarmers. Grown ups 1. Gaspar Noe’s Climax. Classics man. Regular Show. Drake and Josh. iCarly. I also just find comfort in watching random films off criterion. Slowly chipping away at my watchlist.
Who is on your dream collaboration list?
Damon Albarn, Hiatus Kaiyote, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Tyler, Earl, Frank, Pharrell, Sampha, Mk.gee, Dijon, too many. The list is neverending.
Are there any creatives you'd like to platform right now?
Aside from my Full Circle family, I gotta shout- Jack Slade, Fisheye FM, Station Haydz, Banjo Ulysses, 198archie, Ariel, Tahkoe, Sage Dwyer, emjaysoul and his whole crew, grentperez, Jerome Blazé, hey love, The Willows, ah man way too music music! So many I haven’t mentioned, BUT that doesn’t even touch on my fashion, film, photography, and food homies. Everyone is doing insane at the moment. All we need is more eyes man. Just need more people to believe in this shit like I do.
If you could grant a wish for someone, who and what would it be?
My nana. I know she be wanting random shit at random hours, even if she’s not straight up. Like I’m talking 3am random hours. If I could just snap my fingers in any given moment and just be like- boom, there you go, I’d be endlessly grateful. I love her so much man haha.
What are you holding whilst posing for an oil painting?
Uh HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH nah jokes- probably a Guitar Hero controller. Maybe Fully Flared on DVD. Maybe Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland on PS2.
What is your spirit animal?
Mhmmmm, come back to me in a few years. Not sure at the moment.
Funeral song(s)?
Don’t wanna think about it.
What do you own that you should throw out, but can’t?
A bunch of technology boxes. This some real boy shit. I just love to hold onto em. Laptop boxes, gaming console boxes- I’ll get rid of em when they gross me out.
People are coming over to dinner, what are you serving?
Steaks if I can afford it, with a nice pan sauce and some roasted potatoes and and a super acidic salad. If not, I’m making everyone some generational smashburgers, and I’ll order the chips from the corner shop to serve alongside em.
If you could time travel, who are you visiting?
I’d love to visit my grandparents and parents when they were my age. Also- maybe some of my favourite artists who’ve passed away. MJ, Elliot Smith, George Harrison, etc.
You have a free plane ticket, where are you going?
Either Spain for some steak, New York for happs with Oscar, or Japan to make some music with iPod (Joe). Maybe even Tonga if I feel ready for it. Also, wherever LCD Soundsystem is playing. I gotta see them live in my lifetime before they retire again.
Who are you taking on a date, and where are you going? (time travel is allowed)
Oh wouldn’t you like to know HAHAHAHA.
If you could change the end of any film what would it be and what would you change it to?
Chronicle. I’d have it just keep going instead the Tibet ending, and have Andrew just endlessly do crazy shit in the found footage format.
Why do you think we are here on planet earth at this time?
I have no idea yet. Maybe come back to me in a few years again.
What's the weirdest dream you've ever had?
It was probably so weird that it’s locked somewhere in my subconscious. I definitely had a nightmare about a beaver when I was a kid, and that still is the weirdest dream I’ve ever had.
If you were an ice cream flavour, what would it be?
I wanna say Mint Choc, but in my perfect world, no one hates Mint Choc. But it truly is one of the most polarizing flavours of all time…
Have you ever experienced true love?
I think so.
If you could learn one new skill instantly, what would it be?
The skill to learn any language instantly. The amount of life that could be unlocked by doing that. The conversations that could be had. The laughs. The friendships. I think about it a lot.
MORE LIKE THIS
