I’m a strong believer that setting the tempo of a song with any instrument other than a percussion instrument is a bit of a risk. Perhaps that’s a naïve take to have, but it’s one I’ll stand by. That said, I also love to be proven wrong. ‘Bones’ by Zen Kat (Lee Richardson, formerly of Dead Dads Club, and Matt Hodges) does exactly that. The song starts off with a catchy, muted guitar riff and, just as the first verse ends, the drums quietly announce themselves—not overbearingly, nor timidly, but in a way that complements the minutiae of the song.
The more I’ve listened to this track while writing, the more I’ve found my head bobbing—like some eager bobblehead. This isn’t a unique experience when it comes to Zen Kat’s music; I’ve caught myself doing it with tracks such as ‘Drunk’ and ‘Coming Home Again’. But what sets ‘Bones’ apart is that, on the surface, it’s a feel-good, homecoming track centred around a character returning to the home where she grew up. Having allowed myself to sit with the song for a while, I’ve come to understand that, at least to me, it’s the very epitome of a seemingly lost sense of self—and the subsequent search for a way to ground oneself in a place that once offered some semblance of stability.
Which leads me to my next point: Zen Kat have a knack for storytelling through their music. I picked up on it in ‘Pieces’ and ‘Battle Scars’, but I’d argue that ‘Bones’ stands out as the best example. It takes the storytelling of the aforementioned tracks and fuses it with the upbeat indie-rock vibes of ‘Drunk’, resulting in a rich and fulfilling listening experience. It makes you want to listen again and again just to grasp the story in its entirety.
If there’s one thing I’m a big admirer of, it’s guitar solos—and the funk-pop-esque guitar near the end (which gives me hints of The 1975) brings the feel-good energy full circle. It wraps up the song like a perfect summer anthem, tying together a wonderful composition with a neat little bow.
by Josh John
Bones by Zen Kat is released 25th July 2025 and you can pre-save on Spotify or pre-order the download.
By: Josh John