Atonements by zakè & Isaac Helsen

”The collaborative process between Isaac Helsen and Zach Frizzell (known as zakè) has always involved exchanging files, as the two artists reside in different parts of the US. Their friendship began in late 2018 while they were establishing the label Past Inside the Present. Initially, their focus on setting up the emerging label limited their opportunities to collaborate musically, despite their well-aligned tastes, influences, and styles.

Over the years, Frizzell and Helsen have collaborated on just two albums: beliefsystems, released by Past Inside the Present in 2021, and their most recent project, Atonements, issued in 2024 on Zakè Drone Recordings, an imprint dedicated to zakè’s independent works and collaborative projects.

With Atonements, their second major collaboration, the exchange of equipment directly influenced the sounds produced. Helsen gifted Frizzell a reel-to-reel, while Frizzell gifted Helsen a Korg Minilogue, which became the foundation for their respective contributions to this release.

The inspiration for Atonements came from a desire to deviate from the clean and structured approach of beliefsystems. Instead, they allowed the music to guide its own structure and sonic development. This album embodies the theme of letting go and moving forward with acceptance.”

Independent works + collaborative projects.

linktr.ee
pitp.us
zakedrone.com
pastinsidethepresent.com