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<\/a>Zaum\u2019s sound largely revolves around bass and drums, complemented by sitar and synth textures. The band are on their third Canadian tour, but it\u2019s not just North America where they\u2019ve found an enthusiastic fanbase.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an unbelievable experience; we\u2019ve played in 19 countries now,\u201d says McDonald. \u201cWe\u2019ve done six tours overseas, mainly in Europe. Our record label is actually based in Sweden, and we also have a publicist and our agent who are both also in Europe. So we tend to focus on Europe, but of course we\u2019re from Canada. There\u2019s no question that [Canada] is one of the most beautiful countries to tour in the summer, and we have so many very close friends here.\u201d<\/p>\n
One thing that makes Zaum stand out is the process through which they create and play their music. Because McDonald happens to be an experienced sound engineer, the duo are able to produce all of their own tracks. The catch, however, is that they purposely strive to keep their music sounding raw, underproduced, and\u2014as they put it\u2014\u201cmonolithic,\u201d all the while infusing their records with their doomy mantra metal sound.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have this thing with our songwriting that I guess is a little different,\u201d says McDonald. \u201cWe approach it with a concerted effort to try and underproduce the material as much as possible. You know, all these bands are always getting producers, and of course that\u2019s a huge thing in the industry. Zaum, with what type of thing it is, it felt best to approach it in as primitive a way as possible. I\u2019ve recorded over 200 records, but I\u2019ve seen the whole process of how it always works; it\u2019s interesting to take this completely different way about things, and you get different results that way.\u201d<\/p>\n