Milwaukee-based artist Zach Pietrini explores life’s perspective on new album ‘Rock and Roll is Dead’ | WUWM 89.7 FM

The last time Milwaukee singer/songwriter Zach Pietrini joined lake effect was in the spring to play and discuss a selection of EPs released with Memphis singer-songwriter McKenna Bray as part of the Pandemic Performances series.

Prior to this collaboration, Pietrini had planned to embark on a tour of new music that had been postponed due to the pandemic. We have released our second full-length album since moving to another location. rock and roll is dead.

“It feels good and exciting to step into new territory,” says Pietrini. “It’s also really exciting after two years of being stuck and feeling like nobody’s doing anything and trying to tour where you can.”

The new album focuses heavily on themes of contrasting perspectives on life. We tend to interpret various moments and experiences exclusively as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, often both at the same time. Explore how it matures over time.

“I think this process has been a long journey of learning to strike a good balance between what is a private song, what is a public song, and what is a song that I care about,” he says. .

Contrary to its title, the album is a very rock’n’roll album, paying homage to the artists who shaped Pietrini’s life growing up in Chicago, including Tommy Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and others in his car. I’m listening to it with my dad.According to Pietrini rock and roll is dead Leaning from the Americana/country realm of his past to the rock’n’roll and indie side.

“This record is in many ways more ambitious and just bigger,” he points out. “There’s a lot more going on. There’s a lot more at the end of production that usually seems to be short of time or money or both.”

Pietrini admits that the whole process of releasing this album took longer than any of his previous projects. He recorded the album with a small team in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and the main learning curve he went through was taking on more of a leadership role in shaping his album’s sound.

“For myself, I found it really difficult for me to protect and execute my vision while trying to bring together different people behind the same vision. When we started,” he says.

Zach Pietrini will perform the album release show for “Rock and Roll is Dead” at Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. on September 30th.