As some of you already know, the past couple of months have been really exciting for me, full of good times and full of funny, creative and inspiring people.

I have started collaborating with my friends Little Fish (before their 3 weeks China tour which I unfortunately couldn’t join)

If you don’t know them yet, go check their music out. They are the work of one of the most talented singers-musicians I have ever met, Juju. She is a true, honest and very special artist. She has a lot to say, the pen of a poet and a really unique, fantastic voice. With her the lovely Ben, on his fiery Farfisa and equally lovely Mike on drums. .

Black Casino and the Ghost & Little Fish have shared the stage quite a few times in the past, and now I’m delighted to be singing and playing (or should I say raping and abusing) percussion by her side.

So.

After one of our recent gigs supporting Roger Daltrey at the Paris Olimpya (which by the way was AWESOME) I was told we were going to shoot a little live video with a French artist called Le HibOO

As Juju & Ben were showing me Le HibOO’s videos on youTube, I realized I already knew who he was very very well, I had seen quite a few of his sessions in the past, I particularly remembered the ones he shot with Conor O’Brien from the Villagers.

His stuff is AMAZING, really original and personal. He has a talent for capturing the true charm of the moment, creating a vibe that is very real and very human and immediate, but at the same time really magic and poetic.

He close mics musicians and then focuses on the city, the surroundings, the moment, the setting… the result is a story that grips your intestines tight.

The first thing he did when we met him that night with Little Fish was saying “I have a present!” and giving Juju a Polaroid he had just taken of the massive “Little Fish” sign on front of the Olympia. That was really sweet. Yes, Le HibOO is a great artist and A TOTAL DUDE.

We shot a live version of “melt into the sun” in front of the Opera, and that was great fun. Here it is

Then after a month or so, I thought I’d send him (he’s called Rod ladies and gentlemen) some Black Casino and the Ghost songs, and SURPRISE! the next day I was over the moon to be arranging a little HibOO trip to London

And it was FUCKING. GREAT.

We spent 11 hours shooting, starting in the woods near Crouch End, through Hackney, Camden, and finishing in our studio.

I just love the raw honesty of these sessions, Rod manages to capture special moments and give them back to people like a really precious gift, it was one very inspiring day and I had the best time ever.

These are first two videos, shot in Paul’s house. More to come soon  :)

You  think that if you move slowly and carefully from one rock to the other you will eventually cross that raging river and get to the other side alive.

You know that you can’t afford to fail.

You take slow, carefully pondered steps hoping you’ll get to the other bank, and that’s when you inevitably slip and find yourself taken away by the stream of iced water.

Drowning.

That has happened to me, I’ve been trying to measure every step.

Now  I guess I understood that maybe the best choice would have been to take a deep breath and just jump on those rocks fast, all in one go, without thinking.

Sometimes you have to run, act fast, let go of your fears and follow your instinct.

Follow  the howl ,  find your wolf before it dies.

Wolf is Howling was written for that helpless creature that was begging me to cross that river fast, begging to be found and healed.

We recorded the song in Livingston studios, one December afternoon, with the whole band playing it live together.

I was playing the studio’s beautiful grand piano, Paul was on drums, Gary was on bass and Ariel on guitars.

It’s been a great experience.

This song really means a lot to me. You can download it for free from the link below. I hope you’ll like it.

Zoot x

wires in my head

to please you

to please you.

Knock on your wooden door

and now my master’s gone

I’ll need you

I’ll need you

Wolf is howling

Wolf is howling

Wolf is howling

Wolf is howling in the night

I’ll follow his cry

I’ll follow

before he dies

Pretend to be somebody else

someone less upset

to please you

to please you.

Knock on your wooden door

and now my master’s gone

I’ll need you

I’ll need you

Wolf is howling

Wolf is howling

Wolf is howling

Wolf is howling in the night

I’ll follow his cry

I’ll follow

before he dies

Don’t say a word or the devil will know that I’ve found you.

I’m cold and I’m tired, all I want is to crawl right beside you.