Experimental pop, Hot divorce anthems, Guts and glory

ZINNIA is an experiment in explosive pop writing that hits right in the bone marrow. While ZINNIA's debut album Sensations in Two Dot (2019) sought to find compassion within doubt through an immersive, synth-based experience that earned its way onto CBC's "Best Lyrics of 2019" list, things have evolved in more of a divorce anthem, rebound rager sort of direction. Guts and glory. Lately, it's all about catharsis and it's surprisingly fun.

Front person  Rachael Cardiello's  greatest strength is her intuition and adaptability on stage - whether performing with a five piece band at midnight closing down an island festival with a 1000 person singalong, crooning solo on piano, or playing spin-the-dial on some bizarre digital backline guitar amp, Cardiello brings a rare versatility and humour to performance. 

Though her Montana twang sometimes reveals her mountain roots,  Cardiello has spent the past twelve years in Toronto collaborating, recording and touring as a session player. With the launch of ZINNIA, Cardiello  established herself as an artist at large regularly cross-pollinating genres with dance, video, ASL, and drag performers. The album release for Sensations in Two Dot was a grand experiment of collaboration. Each song was. given to a different choreographer and performed by 11 dancers to a sold out room - these dancers were later recreated from each choreographer's isolation zone in the pandemic. 

Most recently, ZINNIA spent two weeks in Anacortes, Washington at the Unknown Studio capturing a new album.