In the golden haze of 1970s Zambia, Zamrock blazed like wildfire — raw, loud, defiant. Bands like WITCH, Amanaz, and Ngozi Family lit up smoky dance halls with fuzz-soaked guitars, wah-wah solos, and the electricity of a generation waking up after independence.
But somewhere in the shadows, away from the stage lights and tour buses, a different kind of band was forming.
HQZ — Hidden Queens of Zamrock — is their story.
These weren’t the stars of the era. They were the wives, sisters, neighbors. While their husbands toured, they gathered in a studio-turned-sanctuary — a garage filled with borrowed instruments and secrets. They played. They harmonized. They dreamed.
Today, their voices finally rise.
HQZ is a fictional band, born from the desire to celebrate the women who stood just behind the music. The ones who taught, listened, healed — but were rarely heard. Through vibrant, retro-inspired tracks powered by AI and love for Zamrock’s roots, HQZ reimagines what could have been if these women had taken the stage.
Each song is a tribute.
Each story a remix of truth and creativity.
Each podcast episode a glimpse into a world where the queens never hid.
So, welcome to the beginning of a sonic adventure.
This is HQZ.
