Rating: NNNN
She may call South Africa home these days, but indie soul singer/songwriter Zaki Ibrahim’s sound evokes her T-dot roots in its impressive diversity of influences. Following two well-received EPs, her debut album is finally getting a proper release via local indie label Pirates Blend.
And it’s not hard to see why Every Opposite, recorded over a few years in eight different places, caught the ears of the Polaris jury. Ibrahim’s supple voice glides nimbly over hip-hop and Afrobeat rhythms, while unexpected sonic touches throughout – like the kalimba melody that peeks through primal dubstep beats on lead single Something In The Water – signal that Ibrahim made good use of the time spent developing her sound. Calling on an array of different producers (including Toronto’s Rich Kidd, who’s worked with Kendrick, k-os and Kardinal) to help shape the songs was also smart – the 14 tracks offer varied takes on an urban vibe while still sounding cohesive. Call it the sound of the city – no matter where Ibrahim (or her listeners) might be.
Top track: Something In The Water
