Zef Raček Music

This Friday (27.02.2026) we will be opening the night at Vereinshain’s Morhclub event in Bamberg. We start at 19:30. ⚠️ Tickets for this night are sold out so if you didn’t get any, check out Thursday, Saturday or Sunday’s line-ups. You surely won’t be disappointed. If you did get tickets, we’ll see you there! We’ll have CDs, cassettes and vinyls for sale (cash and PayPal only) ✌️ Thanks to Moritz and all the organisers of this great event. It will be a blast.

This Thursday (12.12) we are playing a very special concert at Hopfenhaus Bamberg da Andrea (Austraße 16) at 20:30. Come have a good time with us 🍻 🍷 🫒 No entry fee, no excuses 🍾 🥃 🥪

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The Basic Design EP is the result of a chance meeting of two North Americans who find themselves living in small Bavarian cities, still getting accustomed to the way of life in Germany and feeling the need to express themselves. After a brief telephone call, Zef, who lives in Bamberg, traveled by train to Ian’s basement studio, located in Würzburg, about an hour away. A weekend later, they emerged from the cellar with a song.

Ifyouwannago, a song completely improvised during this short session, which was fueled by homemade hummus and strong margaritas. Neither Zef nor Ian had any expectations but were satisfied with what they had created. Little did they know that this would only be the first of four successful weekend recording sessions.

School of Thought was written during session number two with Ian in Würzburg. Again, Zef took the train from Bamberg and a weekend of basement recording ensued. School of Thought emerged from pure ambition, from the frustration of losing a wallet and from the exuberant joy of later finding said wallet.

Torn Up is the third single from the Zef Raček and Ian J. Savage studio collab. This time, friend and collaborator Mike Hennessy Picard (Harvest Soon/ ) flew in from Edinburgh to contribute ideas, stories and a solid bass line. Coincidentally, without knowing, this song was recorded on the same night that Zef and Mike’s former bandmate Nick Huston passed away. He was one of those people that made the hard times easier. We miss you Nick. Rest in peace.

The title track, Basic Design, is the final song recorded during these weekend sessions (although it opens the EP). Its title and lyrics were inspired by a book that Zef found lying around Ian’s flat written by Kenneth F. Bates. For this session, bassist Michael Hennessy Picard, once again flew over from Edinburgh to record. The song came together between grocery shopping and ping pong sessions.

For full EP credits, navigate to Zef’s Bandcamp (link in bio)

Released September 17, 2024

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