At first I thought the live set offered at the end of Handmade might strike me as a little redundant, as several of its songs are repeated. I was completely wrong. In this unplugged context she reinvents the studio versions, stripping out the production to offer more old-school interpretations.
Zahra quite possibly is the love child of Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker, alternatively warm and then cool, her voice ululating with suppleness. If Casablanca was remade (as problematic as that would be), I'd instantly want her cast as a torch singer in Sam’s Place. I want to hear her cover all the War-era tunes, starting with "Bei Mir Bist du Schoen." Another standout is "Don’t Forget," rendered in the style of Doris Day or Billie Holiday.
I spend a lot of time listening to music from past eras, and so I was slow to realize the uniqueness of the sound this young musician creates. In comparison with much of today's frenetic, auto-tuned beats, Hindi Zahra’s music feels relievingly classic, like dipping into a pool of fresh, cool water.
Handmade was heralded as one of the most anticipated albums of the fall by New York Magazine. Do yourself a big favor and purchase this album. Share it with your friends; they'll think you've been clairvoyant once Zahra achieves the massive commercial success she deserves.
Handmade will be available on Amazon.com as a digital download on September 26. Visit Hindi Zahra's official website and YouTube channel for more information.
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