Words by Hannah Powell. Images by Java Katzur.

Yo Vocal had a chat with Will McClean, the frontman from Wellington hip-hop band Will McClean & The Zooks. Looking at the year ahead, we talked about their origins, their ethos, the summer past, and what's next.

Will McClean & The Zooks are an upcoming hip-hop band from Wellington, self-describing their sound as a fusion of hip-hop-jazz spreading love to your ears. With Will on vocals, Ashton Cane on guitar, Harper Wilson on drums, Jason Rapana on bass, and Sam Hunter on keys, the band likes to put on a show. I ask Will what they're up to at the moment with their music. "We're just going to be pushing the band heaps…we are really starting to find our sound to a degree." With practice, performance, and recording an album on the cards, keep an eye out for them this year.

Asking Will about the meaning behind the name, he explains the ethos behind the band. "It's a real buzzy one [Will McClean and the Zooks]," he says. "'And the' normally means they're a separate entity coming in. But it's mainly cos we formed it all together; I didn't want it to just be me. I want them to have an equal platform as we, as we've been doing it all together". In a set, everyone has a solo and a chance to do their own thing.

It all began when Will's first gig rapping was his mate Ashton's first deejaying. Will admits Ashton is "100x a better guitarist than he is a DJ". Laughing about how Ashton is in the other room, he adds, "said with love!".

Their friendship goes way back, Will explains, as they were both trying to work it out. Then along came a drummer. "We just slowly started jamming, slowly got a bass player…then boom, keys, then 'oh shit, we've got a band!'" he says. It was Ashton and Harper's idea to form a band to perform. Will explains his do-it-yourself mentality and his hesitance to rely on others. "I had to take off my hat in that respect," he says. But after one jam, it was set.

About a year ago, Will McClean & The Zooks played their first gig. Raised on the edge of the Kapiti coast, Will agrees their band has that coastal sound. Now living in the city, he praises the Wellington music scene, saying, "it's cool now feeling like we're amongst the bands". When they first started, he said, "we were so new to everything and didn't really know how anything worked". Hugely influenced by local bands such as H4LF C4ST, he says how good it is to be influenced by the talent that surrounds you.

Playing their first festival set at Twisted Frequency last year, he says it was cool to be performing amongst many local Wellington bands such as H4LF C4ST, General Vibe, and Gallery over the new year. "Us and Gallery are real tight cos most of the band went to Te Auaha together. It's cool to link up with them," he says. Another highlight includes how on their last show on tour – Toby from HUMMUCIDE and General Vibe jumped up on stage and played sax for their set.

I watched Will McClean & The Zooks for the first time at Meow earlier this year. With a spiritual element similar to H4LF C4ST, but with their own hip-hop-jazz-fusion beat, the band hits the mark with an engaging set. Bringing a high level of energy to their live shows, the band has a special dynamic that leaves you feeling upbeat. Will's tracks certainly hold their power in his words. "[We're] trying to spread love," Will says. "There's too much hate in this world already. It's a good opportunity for me to be able to share my thoughts and hopefully convince other people to be more positive towards each other and the world."

With a couple of EPs on Spotify already, there's much to sink your teeth into before their album's out. For when that may be, Will doesn't have a date. With a busy New Year, he explains the band didn't have time to sit down and figure out what they wanted to achieve. For them, that's their next step. For now, their focus is on being able to play.

"[We want] to get a sound that's awesome to listen to, to watch," Will says. "People take a chunk out of their life to come and watch and listen… [we want to] put on a show, to make some people leave and think 'damn, that was pretty crazy'."

He believes that what you put into the world will cause an effect. Even if it affects one person, he says, and they want to change it, then the band has achieved what they've set out to do. "Hopefully, we can do a couple of tours, [but for now, we'll] keep doing what we're doing, putting our head down, and spreading love."