This is an entry in an ongoing series for 303 Magazine, which will provide a range of local album reviews. It is our intention to highlight the talents of local musicians, whether veterans to the industry or newcomers. Like the bands, the album can be fresh or something we just haven’t had the power to take off repeat in the past few months. Check out previous entries in the series here.
Music comes in all different tastes, and MZG had a specific flavor in mind when they concocted Cranberry Basil. The brother duo did not create your average mix with their newest project, they created a fully immersive experience with music and food. Cranberry Basil is meant to be enjoyed along with the first episode of their new IGTV show “Mmm…ZG,” where the twins show their fans how to create their delicious take on a holiday favorite.
For MZG, also known as Monozygotic, food goes hand in hand with music, and they wanted to create something that gave a soundtrack to their own cranberry basil sauce. “To us, music and cuisine are parallel in tonality which can call for a very nice crossover, explained Zachary. “The process of adding spices and flavors to a sauce is similar to the process of adding spice and flavor to music.”
The inspiration for the project started out with a simple online search for a recipe. After finding one they enjoyed, the Weinert’s realized they had to share the taste with an added punch. “The cranberry basil sauce had a sweet, savory and bitter flavor so we opted for making a mix of tunes that made you make a face as if you were tasting this sauce,” Zachary expanded. From there, the idea took on a life of its own when they decided to make a video accompanying the release of themselves concocting the sauce with the mix playing in the background.
“We had to bring a literal vision to the idea which made for a lot more work than a usual mix release. Charles luckily has had a decent bit of experience filming and editing short videos so we were able to keep the production in-house and execute it the way we, as artists, saw fit,” the musician described. “Not to say we wouldn’t be open to the idea of teaming up with a more experienced videographer though.”
The mix is a remedy that dives into some recently released MZG tracks, some old favorites and other IDs that will assist the listener in getting lost in the sauce. The added aspect of a visual component might be implemented in their future releases which is sure to set them further apart. The two are sure to become a staple in the local scene, so bookmarking their Instagram page and following their IGTV is a must.
Originally from Chicago, MZG tested the waters of Florida before deciding to throw their hat in Denver’s ring of talented musicians. However, the brother’s relocation to Denver did not slow their mission at all, and Cranberry Basil proves their dedication to stirring the pot here.