ABOUT

 

Bull Funk Zoo (Assaad Lakkis) is an acclaimed artist, musician, and producer known for pushing sonic boundaries with his fusion of Psychedelic Funk, Jazz, World Music, and Electronica. With a career spanning decades, he has shared the stage with legends like Sting, Sade, Timberland, Stanley Jordan, and Courtney Pine, and earned multiple award nominations. His single It Don’t Stop was nominated for the ISC Awards in Nashville, while Livin’ It Up won Best Alternative Song—a testament to his ability to innovate and redefine genres.

His latest album, PY, is more than just music—it’s a raw, unfiltered journey into a world where sound has no limits. At its core, the album pulses with deep funk grooves, but they twist and morph unpredictably, pulling listeners into a sonic landscape that never stays still for too long. The psychedelic element transforms PY into a complete experience—hypnotic textures, unexpected shifts, and relentless energy that keeps you on edge.

The synergy behind the album is undeniable. Longtime collaborators Ratish Chadha (drums), Steve Bedford (bass), and Yervand Margaryan (trumpet), alongside special guests Abri and Ahmad Ghannoum, bring a unique chemistry that elevates the music beyond technical mastery. Ratish’s drumming is alive—breathing, speaking, and locking the music together with an instinctive groove. Steve’s bass lines are thick and immersive, creating a foundation that is both solid and fluid. Yervand’s trumpet work is pure emotion, telling stories through sound, adding layers of depth and color. Together, they don’t just play music; they have conversations through it—no egos, no overplaying, just an unspoken understanding that the music comes first.

One of the defining elements of PY is a completely new sound Lakkis created on his guitar. Built with four parallel outputs, it blends a vocoder, bass, synth, and guitar into a unified sonic experience, allowing these elements to coexist organically rather than fit into traditional roles. This approach shaped the album’s direction, opening up new sonic landscapes where the guitar feels like an entire band within itself—shifting between raw, fuzzed-out aggression and ethereal, spaced-out textures that blur the lines between organic and electronic.

The album’s energy is raw, the creativity boundless. One moment, you’re floating through reverb-drenched melodies, and the next, you’re slammed into a relentless, funk-driven groove. It’s unpredictable yet intentional—like stepping into a world where the rules of sound don’t apply. With PY, Bull Funk Zoo invites listeners on an immersive journey, chasing those rare moments where music takes on a life of its own.