Album Review: GAZ – My New Skin (Self Released)

UK born South African singer-songwriter GAZ is set to captivate audiences with the release of his debut solo album ‘My New Skin’ available worldwide on March 14th, 2025.

Now, depending on your age and your musical proclivity, you may be quite familiar with GAZ, seeing as he was formerly the frontman of the 1990s South African rock band, Crush. Now, alongside SAMA-winning producer Mark Beling, he has gone through a journey of rebirth, love, and creative evolution, and all of that is represented in this lovable and anthemic album.

The personal tone of this album is important, and across its ten tracks, GAZ gets intimate. Yet even though it is his story, the feelings each track evokes is more accessible than many may first expect. It’s easy to relate, especially when it comes with heightened melodic drama and strong indie rock vitality. Both of which, alongside evocative vocals and thought-provoking lyrics, is on clear display with the opening pair of Slow Down and the title track. The tone of the album is set by these tracks.

It just gets better from there too.

I love the bass in Pay to Breathe, but this is a track with deep melodic atmosphere and smooth GAZ vocals, so that is all anyone will remember come the end. Whereas The Afterlife is filled with drama, thanks to the ethereal layering of vocals, and Dopamine has finger-snapping and foot-tapping energy. That the latter also gets a little ‘weird’ in places is nothing to complain about either.

Every track, in their own way, is anthemic, and it’s what continues to be showcased in the second half, even if it’s not as obvious with She Play Me. The beats of this one having a light ‘industrial’ vibe, especially when the chorus arrives. Then there is the wonderful Lullaby for the World, which does have a rhythm you can sink into. Although the vocals, and how they rise up, is what stands out here. One of the best tracks on the album, in my opinion.

There’s some killer synth on Heaven Calling Me, which gives it a really strong retro rock feel. Before the penultimate track, Into the Light, brings some effective melodrama into focus, and Time Junkie closes things out in body shaking fashion. The synth is back with this latter track, but it’s the vigorous uptick in rock vibes that makes it an enjoyable finale.

GAZ – My New Skin Track Listing:

1. Slow Down
2. My New Skin
3. Pay to Breathe
4. The Afterlife
5. Dopamine
6. She Play Me
7. Lullaby for the World
8. Heaven Calling Me
9. Into the Light
10. Time Junkie

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