With their new release Adderall / Imposter, Moneyjaw and ZEALE fuse raw club energy with sharp lyrical finesse, creating a two-track statement that’s as stripped-down as it is impactful. Moneyjaw—aka Texas-born DJ and producer Thomas Sahs—brings years of production experience from projects like Honey Claws and Knockin’ Boots, now channeling a leaner, bass-heavy sound shaped by the LA and Miami scenes. ZEALE, an Austin-based MC with roots in freestyle rap, has shared stages with the likes of Anderson .Paak and Dave Chappelle, and brings his genre-fluid voice to the dancefloor with confident ease. Despite coming from different corners of the music world, the two tap into a shared rhythm that thrives in the darker corners of the club. We caught up with both artists to talk creative chemistry, the evolution behind the EP, and where this unlikely collab is headed next.

 

Hi Moneyjaw and Zeale! Thanks for taking the time to talk to 6AM how are you both doing?

I’m great thank you.

 

You both come from distinctly different musical lineages—one rooted in production, the other in performance and lyricism. How did the collaboration come about? When you first sat down to create together, what personal artistic boundaries did you feel had to be pushed—or broken—to make Adderall / Imposter feel like a true reflection of both your voices? What surprised you most about working together?

From my perspective, there weren’t many boundaries.  Zeale seemed to like all of the weird beats i played for him.  He also is so professional in that he isn’t tied to too many musical ideas.  This makes him super easy to work with. 

In terms of the release; Adderall / Imposter I don’t feel like many boundaries were broken for these two tracks.  Zeale and I have made much more avantguard records.  These two seem very tame and common comparatively speaking.

The thing that surprised me most about working with Zeale is how fast he can deliver a standardized vocal performance.  He is like a machine.

 

 

The tracks are described as “Stripped, smart, and built for dark rooms”. Was this vibe purposeful when you first started the collaboration or did the EP start off completely different and progress to be this way? Why was the space of “dark rooms” where you wanted these tracks to live in? 

Both of these songs started out completely different tempos and vibes.  Over time they were completely refined and morphed.  Maybe even give too much production.  It definitely wasn’t my intention to be in a dark room, unless there are a bunch of naked women in there.

 

Moneyjaw, before taking on the current alias you were part of projects like Honey Claws and Knockin’ Boots. What pulled you toward this new chapter, and how did the LA and Miami scenes shape the way you approach music now? Was there a moment you realized, “Alright, this is the new sound”?

I started our making tech house in the early 2000s.  This sound represents a return to my roots.  I think I realized it most at a gig at my friend’s spot Studio in Santa Barbara.  I saw hundreds of 21+ year olds vibing hard to the exact sound I feel I know the best.  So it was logical for me to get back into producing it.  I can mass produce it at scale.  Having Zeale gives our sound an edge bc he is a live MC.  What tech house crews have a sic MC that can waste anyone on the mic?

ZEALE, you’ve freestyled your way from Coachella stages to city proclamations in your name. But how different—or maybe similar—does it feel stepping into a club-ready, ghetto house project like Adderall / Imposter? Is this your first foray into dance music? Do you feel this might be a focus for your future as an artist?

It feels strangely comfortable. I think club culture really became part of my life when I started surrounding myself with this crowd. It almost feels like it was a missing piece the whole time. This is not my first foray in dance music, but it is at being completely unfiltered in the space. This is definitely my focus now.

Thank you both for taking the time so our audience can get to know you better. What else is on the horizon for both of you?

Many more releases, the next one being: Visions which is one of my favorite tracks right now.  Also I am about to get off probation, so I can travel for gigs next year.  So that will be super cool.

More evolving music is ahead and pushing the way we represent it in the culture.

 

Connect with Moneyjaw: Instagram | TikTok | Linktree

Connect with ZEALE: SoundCloud | Instagram