ZHZ Podcast: Independent Music, Artist Interviews & The Utah Scene · Zak Davis & Matt Allen

How Nick Rebuilt After the Iya Terra Fallout

·30 min·2 clips

Nick says the band “straight up just stopped touring” and apologizes to fans on mic.

1. ZHZ Podcast’s episode “How Nick Rebuilt After the Iya Terra Fallout” centers on Nick Sifakis talking through the band’s breakup and his current independent work. 2. Nick Sifakis is the guest, and he speaks as a singer, producer, and former Iya Terra member whose perspective matters to fans of the band and the Utah scene. 3. The episode asks how Nick handled Iya Terra’s fallout, how he makes music now, and why he still wants collaboration after years of wearing many hats. 4. Nick says he has “never done this” before, then asks for a “live apology” to fans who were left hanging when the band disappeared. 5. He says he “fucking hate[s] it” just as much as listeners do, and he apologizes for the way people were left without a farewell tour. 6. The conversation turns to creative control, and Nick says complete control over a project can give him anxiety. 7. He explains that some projects are fully his, while other records require him to step back and let other musicians “work their magic.” 8. Nick describes Iya Terra as a band with “a lot of cooks always in the kitchen,” where members took turns leading different songs. 9. He says that setup caused toe-stepping at first, but the group learned to work together for “10 years.” 10. The album discussion focuses on “In Time,” which Nick says was written by meeting in Long Beach, drinking coffee, smoking a spliff, and writing songs on the spot. 11. He says most of the tracking happened at Sound Compound Studios in Long Beach and Eureka Sound Studio, with sessions every couple of weeks. 12. Nick says he likes songs that “find the energy where you’re at” instead of forcing studio-only writing rules. 13. The host points to “Mary Jane” as a favorite, and Nick says he explored falsetto more on this record after doing it once on “Keep On Loving You.” 14. Nick says the goal was to stretch his range because he has a deep voice and originally studied lower-register artists like Midnight, Von Benjamin, and Alborosie. 15. He also says he listened to soul music and wanted to bring that influence into the record’s high notes and harmonies. 16. The host notes that “Mary Jane” has around 2.7 million YouTube views, which changes the scale of the record for the conversation. 17. Nick says the song “Voices Unto Jah” might be a good entry point, alongside “Fire Burning” and “Lift Up Your Head.” 18. The episode stays conversational and personal, moving from music production details to family stories, scene-building, and a direct apology to listeners. 19. People who follow reggae, independent artists, and Iya Terra will get the most from this episode. 20. People wanting polished promotional talk or a fast interview may skip it.

As heard by us

A blunt apology and a practical look at rebuilding after losing the band dynamic.

The conversation keeps its focus on a direct apology to fans, the frustration of vanishing, and the strain of carrying every job at once instead of letting other people in.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want the messy part of disappearing, apology, and trying to rebuild without a polished script.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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