Archive for the ‘Zaki Ibrahim’ Category
Zaki Ibrahim Contest! Zaki at The Phoenix Oct 20
Zaki Ibrahim, originally from Vancouver and currently living in Toronto is considered an up and comer and may be a star by the end of 2009. She’s released two EPs thusfar receiving a large amount of praise from Now Magazine (even though I hate their reviews, they do praise deserving artists) and Eye Weekly, two premier Toronto newspapers.
Now Magazine called her the urban Feist, the Nelly Furtado that was flying like a bird (sorry no one really likes the promiscuous one except club goers – unfortunately that category is pretty big) and the crack free Amy Winehouse. I hate comparisons and I can’t really prove those based on a few listens but those are lofty expectations.
Josh expressed his undeniable love for her and called her EP, Electica (Episodes in Purple) an absolutely perfect EP. While I haven’t had the chance to listen to either of her EPs, it’s clear she’s talented with a soulful voice. As she releases more and more material she’s going to be huge as she signed on with RedInk (subdivision of Sony/BMG) and will probably receive that major label push. Besides, Canada could use more artists in the spotlights (talented ones at that).
Anyway, the point of this post is to give away stuff!
We’ve got two tickets to see Zaki Ibrahim at the Phoenix Concert Theatre on Friday October 24th.
Some rules:
1. Enter by leaving a comment
2. You must enter a valid e-mail address
3. Open to Canadian residents (we’ve got an open contest coming up soon, I promise)
4. Contest ends, October 20th at 5:30 pm.
5. The show is 19+ and supported by: Jamaica To Toronto – the artists that got an 8.1 from P4k in ’06, Tanika Charles and DJ Jason Palma.
6. Winner will be selected by random draw and then e-mailed.
7. Winner must respond ASAP or another winner will be chosen.
Zaki Ibrahim starts on a mini tour on the 15th in support of Bedouin Soundclash.
Here are the dates:
15 Oct Capital Music Hall w/ Bedouin Soundclash in Ottawa
16 Oct Metropolis w/ Bedouin Soundclash in Montreal
18 Oct Dalhouise University w/ Bedouin Soundclash in Halifax
21 Oct Cowboys Ranch w/ Bedouin Soundclash in London
24 Oct The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto
Here are two songs that she gives away free on her myspace (I really like Computer girl):
Computer Girl by Zaki Ibrahim
Love-Like by Zaki Ibrahim
Week In Review September 1-7
Hey another week has passed and I’m exhausted. With school starting I’ve been busy and trying to not be lazy and on top of all my homework. We’ll see how long I’ll keep it up.
Here’s our posts from the last week:
We’re giving away 4 passes to see Metro Station at the Tattoo Rock Parlour. It’s a special taping for the Live At Orange feature.
Our newest writer, Kojo reviewed Nas’ Unitlted album (or really called the N-word).
Josh, did his first post on Toronto’s talented Zaki Ibrahim.
I reviewed Italy’s Six Red Carpet’s Nightmares + Lullabies, The Eaton’s 3-song EP Firestarter, a band out of nearby Scarborough, Chris Wall’s Field Manual, and Soda Fountain Rags’s It’s Rag Time. I also did a crappy bak 2 skool list.
Christian returns from a one-week layoff as he moves into Toronto review Stephen Malkmus and The Jick’s Real Emotional Trash.
Carmen reviewed The Twilight Sad’s Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters. This record received critical acclaim back in 2007.
Adam reviewed Toronto’s own Laura Barrett’s Victory Garden.
Glalib reviewed Phil Spector’s Back To Mono which includes the song He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss). He also saw Green Go and Europe in Colour
I also previewed the Virgin Festival.
Around the internetz:
Captain Melody put up the video of Ra Ra Riot on Conan. A little bit rough. I missed the show..still can’t stand very long.
CSS released a fun video of my favorite song off their album, Move. Watch it after the jump.
Justice put up some new tracks on their myspace. Sundtrak talks about their eeriness.
Something called the VMAs is playing today. I could care less. I reserve my Sundays for homework.
Zaki Ibrahim – Eclectica (Episodes in Purple)
Normally when I am on the hunt for new music, I never really find anything new. Sure, I find plenty of “new” artists who are all talented…but sound the same. Recently, I had been introduced to Zaki Ibrahim. It was like finding a diamond in the rough. Never before had I heard such a vast range of musical genres blended into one. Her style was original and her sound, extraordinary. This was new music.
Born in Vancouver to Scottish poet mother and African activist father, she began trotting the globe from a very young age. When she was three, her parents moved to Cape Town and then to Paris, Nanaimo, England, Beirut, etc. Thankfully, she has incorporated music from these different cultures into her own sound.
The neo-soul star is making a splash onto the Toronto music scene yet again with her recently released the eight-track EP Eclectica (Episodes in Purple). The 27-year-old beauty’s genre-defying music combines African beats with soul, jazz and R&B to create a unique sound.
Some favourites include “Love-Like”, a rhythm that entrances you with the sound of water instruments the Udu and Rainstick. Next is “Computer Girl” a melody that was created by looping and layering a beat over Ibrahim’s voice. Third on the EP, “You Choose” is a song with a powerful message: you choose to take control of your own life, be brave and enact change. Now for my personal favourite, “Grow Again”, a hip-hop infused anthem followed by a (mostly) acoustic guitar tinged French love song.
This EP is flawless. It is so refreshing to have an artist break the mold of sticking to one genre and one genre only. Ibrahim explores different sounds, rhythms, instruments, etc. During her live shows (which are apparently must-sees), she switches between different instruments, adding and subtracting them to create different beats for her songs. Toronto NEEDS Zaki Ibrahim and soon the rest of the world will too.
