Marshall Series First Listen: Zino Vinci Shells Beats & Building Worlds

Zino Vinci is an artist who refuses to stay boxed in. Part of the UK’s new wave of genre-blurring voices, he’s built his name on bending rap, alternative, and experimental sounds into something unmistakably his own. His latest single “Tribal Marks” proves just that, a playful, free-flowing track inspired by the funky house and basement party sounds he loved growing up. It’s his way of throwing a curveball at anyone who tries to pin him to one lane, a reminder that for him, music is fluid and freedom is the point.

Stepping into the Marshall Series First Listen, supported by New Wave, felt like a level-up moment for Zino. Usually, he’s more than happy recording 98% of his songs alone in his bedroom, just a USB mic and interface for company. But surrounded by Marshall’s state-of-the-art setup, it was clear this was the big league, time to lock in and stretch what’s possible.

Despite the unfamiliar studio polish, the experience felt strangely familiar. For an artist who thrives on the comfort of his own space, Marshall’s offered a rare feeling: it felt like home. That comfort allowed him to build a whole world around “Tribal Marks” , proof that no matter where he records, Zino Vinci’s sound can’t be boxed in. Instead, it keeps expanding, ready to pull listeners somewhere new.

‘Tribal Marks’ is such an evocative song, what does it mean to you and what does it do for your catalogue?

Tribal Marks is just a fun song that pulls from many places sonically that I really loved growing up such as funky house and u feel like with an artist such as myself you can find that people tend to box you in with a specific sound so sometimes I like to throw a curveball to just showcase that music is fluid.

You were part of our First Listen project, how did you find that experience creating a world of your creative process?

I felt at home essentially. I make 98% of my songs in my bedroom so recording elsewhere can be very alien to me but I felt like I was literally at home.

When you're creating what usually sparks the first idea?

It could come from a lot of places. Usually it's like social media, like a movie I watched, or something like that. That's why I feel like it's either that or something that sparks a memory. 

What was it like seeing people react to Tribal Marks during that first listen? Did anything surprise you?

I won’t say it surprised me but it was like I’m glad that people understood what I was going for and just enjoyed it as much as I did making it.

What part of the process was the hardest making a song

A lot of the time, because I grew up listening to rappers, like backpack rappers, a lot of the time, I think with lyrical rappers, the hardest thing is  turning it down. 

Can you tell us about a memorable ‘First Listen’ you’ve had,  a moment you heard a song or album for the first time that’s stuck with you ever since?

“The Heart Part 3” by Kendrick Lamar. Till this day it’s my undisputed favourite song ever created. The sonics, subject matter, the perspective. Just wow.

So for this song in particular, can you run us through the process of editing or changing some aspects of the song?

There's this thing that a lot of people are doing where they repeat the first line twice. I wanted to give off that jumpy feeling. I wanted to give it that dancey vibe, as well as bars and lyricism at the same time.

How important is the quality of the space you make music in? What does having somewhere like Marshall’s studio mean for artists in general?

I’ll be honest, I’m still getting used to the fancy equipment. Usually a usb mic and interface can do it for me but somewhere like marshalls makes me feel like “okay it’s time to lock in, this the big leagues now”.

It can be intimidating, what advice would you give to other artists stepping into a state of the art recording studio  like this for the first time?

Be confident and consistent with the idea you’re trying to bring to life. You’re going to make mistakes but that’s just part of the process. You’ve got to sketch before you create your masterpiece.

What did you feel when you had the first listen back of this track, the first time you ever heard it?

 I'm thinking, Damn, I can't believe I did that. 

In all honesty, I didn't know if I was gonna release it or not. People like it, we give it to the world. That's it.