The little Southern underground of Snacks
A taste of honey and feedback hums — Snacks’ Zach Jeffries; press photo courtesy of Malachi Byrd.
For over the past decade there has been an exciting DIY renaissance happening in the deep south. The underground sections of Alabama have brought us prestigious imprints like Happenin Records, Noumenal Loom and countless acts. From artists that have made a global splash like Nudity, Caroline Says, Holly Waxwing and so many more — one of the more overlooked bands has been Huntsville’s own Snacks. The brainchild of Zach Jeffries, they have continued to make waves throughout the Southern territories for years and are planning to take over the mainstages of the world with the hallmarks of their whirlwind sound.
Having spent years and years grinding about the local circuits, playing in other bands, projects and working with a barrage of various collaborators; Snacks are making the move toward the front and center stage with some of the catchiest garage grafted, basement Bordeaux you are going to hear anywhere. The latest single “Eyes Closed” coasts on the spirit of the sublime, featuring Zach’s sinewy delivery and a rhythmic chugging arrangement that the late John Peel would have been wild for. It entertains that world of wonder and imagination that exists in the imagination of the beyond when the fantasias of the unconscious and the prelude to dreams arrive when our eyelids are wide shut.
Previous single “Nowadays” taps into that classic Reid brothers style, reminiscent of portastudio demos expounded into an atmospheric pop symphony ready for the green hued foliage of festivals everywhere. Beyond the gruff delivery, Jeffries presents a sparkling diamond of hope that makes modern life feel a little less impossible and doomed. Snacks sends up a tune of inspiration, raising the forlorn and frail at heart from the ditches of depression for a higher echelon of enlightenment and understanding.
Snacks sing gospels of an abundant joy despite the incessant deluge of adversity that we find in the doom loop and infinity scrolls of social media timelines to nowhere. “My Way” is a nod to the group’s affinity for all of the obscure 80s/90s power pop underdogs (think The Soup Dragons, The Pooh Sticks, Heavenly, The Pastels, BMX Bandits, et al.) that sails high up into the sky with a romantic spirit. Zach taps into the zeigeist of infatuation, unabashed affinity, fanaticism with a healthy dose of rock & roll conceits. Snacks summons something of a dream world state, like a wide-eyed daydream believer plastering their wall with cut-up pages from a vintage NME of their favorite underappreciated hero and icon of unrealized genius now immortalized in a Mod Podge’d bedroom shrine.
We had the opportunity to catch up with Zach Jeffries from Snacks in the following interview exchange:
Walk us through the origin stories of Snacks from "Kingdom" to "Eyes Closed".
"Kingdom" was a happy accident. It was an older song I had written and recorded for a previous project. One night I put the record on the slower speed and I realized it was a much better song that way. The lyrics had time to breathe and we got a little more honest by dropping the fast punk aesthetic of the first recording.
"Eyes Closed" ended up becoming a romantic song about self control. I don't ever sit down and say I want to write a song about something, I just do my best to capture the current feeling.
From local cult legends like the Sex Clark Five to the myriad 80s underground icons you all have been compared to — tell us about some of the maybe not-so-obvious obscure favorites in the Snacks camp.
That's a deep one with Sex Clark Five. I really like them. I met the singer at an estate sale and we ended up playing a show together. "Modern Fix" is one of my favorite songs by them.
I really enjoy late 60s soul artists like Lee Moses, McKinley Mitchell & Abner Jay. Genuine & raw music.
Polaris, Suicide, Wire. What is obscure today? Snacks music is obscure. It's one of my favorites.
Insights into cultivating the garage-basement aesthetic of Snacks.
I am making music that I want to listen to the way I know how to. That's it.
The band shows up once a week to rehearse in my basement. Not many people have basements in Alabama.
As our world enters into a state of reconstruction and what have you, tell us about what you and the band have discovered about yourselves, your sounds, styles and outlook from over the course of the past three years.
Nothing is as easy as it was.
We moved to synths and drum machines because that's what was available.
Interested in hearing about the most exciting and progressive things happening in Alabama right now that are inspiring you all.
We feed off the energy of each other. The sounds we make together. Performing & traveling. That's inspiring to me. Watching the recordings come to life. Our city (Huntsville) is making an effort to support original music and is investing a lot into new venues and tour grants.
“I am making music that I want to listen to the way I know how to. That's it.”
I know you all are wrapping up a tour with your buds Jacuzzi Boys, interested in hearing about other contemporary artists/bands/activists that are inspiring you all right now.
The Jacuzzi Boys are one of the most slept on current groups out. Sweethearts & family to me at this point.
I am most inspired by the energy of it all and the process to get there. The magic.
Upcoming events, plans and goals of interest in the world of Snacks.
I try to make goals to hold myself accountable.
I want to find a home for the music for someone that gets it. I want to keep touring & recording.
This is something that I have to do. It's my therapy.
Parting words of knowledge and wisdom.
Do something worth remembering. Make timeless music.
Keep up with all things Snacks via their Bandcamp.