Zoe Mazah - Till Then (Gwari Music)

Zoe Mazah: “Six out of ten songs on this album are about love. Actually, I’d say they all are, because love is what makes the world go round. It’s the life force I come from. I don’t have to actually be in love to connect with the higher vibration of love and write about it. Neither do I primarily address a love song to just one person. The act of creating itself is an act of love to me. Music is love.”.

Perfect examples include ‘Tonight’, a sugar-sweet duet with Randy Valentine, the Latin-infused ‘Te Quiero, Te Amo’ featuring Josh David Barrett, and the neo-soul vibes of ‘Heaven In Your Eyes’. However, we personally gravitated more towards reality tunes like opening track ‘A Better Place’, a heartfelt tribute to those who still dare to stand up against social injustice, fight for others, and strive for a better world:

Every time you raise your voice against social injustice
You’re my hero, every time you let your heart speak
Every time you make a choice, every time you hold a space
Let me tell you this, your loyalty is royalty
Every time you stand tall, for your sisters and brothers
Worldwide, I see you marching,
Anti-fascist, first row
You give me hope, you give me a reason
You help to build a future, I want to believe in
You make this world a better place for me
…

Also deserving your attention is ‘Dear Almighty’, a duet with Jamaican singer Quan Nelson, seeing Zoe call upon the Most High for guidance and strength:

Dear almighty Lord
I pray for blessings from above
We need a little more hope
Just a little more hope
Dear almighty Lord
I pray for blessings from above
We need a little more love
We need a little more love

There is war all around
Democracies are falling
Hunger and violence
And the youth them a bawling

I pray to you my Lord
I pray for peace and understanding
Lord give me strength
I’ll sing your praise until my end
…

Finally, we’d like to highlight closing track ‘Watch Your Step’, a wonderfully rootsy tune featuring a standout performance on the melodica by Japan’s Itak Tojo.

The album wraps up with two dub versions, one of the aforementioned ‘Te Quiero, Te Amo’, and, more surprisingly, a dub take on the upbeat ska track ‘So Alive’.

With ‘Till Then’, Zoe Mazah once again delivers a highly enjoyable release!