(Note: This EP was released in early 2007, but with an album on the way, the influence that one of the songs on Sho had on Sara’s latest, and the relative lack of exposure that Miss Ibrahim has had thus far, we thought it was a disc worth talking about.)
The first live artist I watched after moving to Toronto was Zaki Ibrahim, however I was there to watch a friend, and had no idea that Zaki was the main act, or who Zaki was at all for that matter. Nothing really sank in that day other than the fact that her smile was infectious and her live performance earned my respect; but when I got the opportunity to delve into her album, there were some bells ringing in the distance telling me to take it.
I recognized the first song, “Glow,” right away, and was easily hooked by the soft, groovy beats that got my head bobbing and made me want to relax and enjoy the ride. Her second piece, “Whatever,” is the darkest song on the EP, giving the jazzy hip-hop sound a certain esoteric tribal feel. The remaining songs return to the savvy groove that “Glow” had, with some being a bit more upbeat than others.
Zaki’s influences from the various continents on which she has lived are apparent. I immediately picked up a certain similarity to Sade – Zaki grew up in South Africa during the apartheid era – but can differentiate between the two as Zaki seems to have a more playful energy. Her hip-hop rhythms have a certain songwriter/pop vibe, but more reminiscent of similar Canadian and UK artists as opposed to the generic American stereotype. It is very clear that Zaki injects plenty of creativity and emotion into her songs and the influence of her mother as an English teacher is evident in the lyrics she writes; there are no filler words and she maintains their poetic movement, while clearly making her statement.
Zaki Ibrahim is an artist slowly making waves on her own terms in the global music scene, and from the get-go has used her talent to help bring awareness to the community-based initiatives with which she is involved. This EP is definitely one worth adding to your collection, and with a full length just around the corner (May 2008), you can proudly declare that you were in tune with Zaki Ibrahim before she hit the big time.
