Diiv frontman Zachary Cole Smith sat down to discuss the indie rock band’s latest album, Zirp!, which was produced by Alex Cook, known for his work with Charli XCX. The album marks a shift in sound for the group, moving away from the introspective, anti-capitalist themes of their previous work toward something more upbeat and experimental. Smith explained that the band has adopted a visual language inspired by recession-era imagery, with the album’s title referencing zero interest-rate policy.
Smith spoke about the band’s new conceptual framework, which they call the “New Alternative,” drawing inspiration from Mark Fisher’s book Capitalist Realism. The frontman expressed desire to reclaim language critical of capitalism, proposing alternatives such as a publicly owned streaming service to replace existing platforms like Spotify. Several tracks on the album, including “Evangelizer” and “The Crash,” contain social and political commentary exploring themes of economic inequality.
In January 2025, Smith’s family experienced significant loss when the Eaton Canyon wildfire destroyed their Altadena home. Smith was at his residence with bandmates when the windstorm began, prompting him and his pregnant wife to evacuate with their young son. The family lost nearly everything and spent months in temporary housing before relocating to La Cañada. Despite the hardship, Smith received approximately $100,000 in crowdfunded aid from the community, an experience he described as profoundly meaningful and reinforcing the importance of community support.
Smith attributed the band’s more collaborative and risk-taking approach on Zirp! partly to his long-term recovery from addiction, which began in 2017. He noted that his earlier struggles with substance abuse had contributed to an autocratic creative process, but working with Cook and his bandmates in a more open manner proved beneficial. Smith emphasized the importance of repairing relationships damaged during his active addiction and expressed gratitude for the support network that sustained his recovery.
The album Zirp! is scheduled for release via Fantasy Recordings on October 30.
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