Zoot brings an unfettered intensity to the wild-eyed fury of “Highway”. Cleverly borrowing from hip-hop, krautrock, and funk there he employs a dexterity here. Lyrically the verses dart by for the verses cut to the core. Like the soundtrack to a seemingly endless drive that needs to go faster, the track features an impatience to it, a desire to move forward yet feeling stuck. Word choice matters for the exploration of relationships, trying to find oneself, and feeling lost, these themes are woven right into the very DNA of the piece. Best of all his control of the mike is flawless, bringing to mind the same level of power that Kendrick Lamar possesses.
The storytelling here feels quite personal. For all the gigantic hooks he brings into the fray, there is something confessional about it. He admits that he is searching, and looking, and still needs to find what he needs. With this part of him missing, a desire a yearning for that next big thing, it does appear to be nicely complimented by the undeniably heavy bass. The production has a shimmering quality about it, and volume is a given. Listening to this with some nice subwoofers gives this the true all-encompassing fervor it needs. Evolution happens gradually yet significantly. Much of it has a visceral energy that rests at the core of it all.
“Highway” shows off the cascading effects that Zoot’s narratives create – one that shows off the complexity of navigating an ever-chaotic world.