Lefuturewave
Lefuturewave is a music blog based in the Netherlands. We feature emerging as well as established artists.
Ashley Zarah is a Los Angeles-based Iranian-American pop artist whose music bridges contemporary Western pop, Persian musical traditions, and multilingual storytelling. On her new EP, called GENESIS, she goes deep. And that’s exactly what makes it so interesting to listen to, as well as write about.
Silence opens the project and is an instrumental piece. Textured strings and piano gradually establish a peaceful atmosphere before tense harmonies and unsettling glitches disrupt the serenity. Although no lyrics are present, there’s a clear intention behind this song: it emphasizes the need to process difficult experiences, reconnect with yourself, and discover who you are.
Recreation serves as the second track. This one is much more pop-oriented and features catchy textures that remind me of the early 2000s. The lyrics are strong here. I love how Recreation questions the belief that love means changing yourself for someone else, pointing out that devotion should never come at the cost of our individuality.
Next comes Borje Babel, which means “Tower of Babel” in Persian (Farsi). The song reinterprets the biblical story in the context of seeking refuge after trauma. Inspired by the survivors of the Flood that precede the story of the Tower, the song examines closely how the fear of a new disaster can drive us to seek shelter. The concept of the song takes a fascinating direction in the bridge, which passes through thirteen languages. As the voices overlap, the search for contact smelts into an echo of murmuring, punctuating how difficult it can be to find peace when we cannot truly reach each other.
The fourth track Nikmat Dina, which translates to “Revenge of Dina” in Hebrew, revisits the biblical story of Dina, Jacob’s only daughter, who is subjected to sexual violence and captivity while her father remains silent. Drawing on the anger and moral ambiguity surrounding her brothers’ brutal act of retribution, the song imagines a gang of women taking justice into their own hands. Sung predominantly in Persian (Farsi), it also speaks to the ongoing use of sexual violence against women (and men) in Iran, giving voice to the rage, grief and desire for revenge that survivors carry across generations.
With the final track Life of Zarah, Ashley revisits the story of Sarah, the biblical matriarch from whom her Hebrew name originates. She initially saw Sarah as doubtful, jealous, hysterical and temperamental. However, the more she looked into her story, the more she discovered a woman whose strength inspired her. Anchored by Persian instrumentation and evolving rhythms, the track reflects on the burdens of womanhood, the sacrifices of leadership and the tightness between personal longing and responsibility.
Ashley pushes GENESIS beyond the realm of a traditional EP and fuses faith and philosophy into a utterly compelling artistic whole. It’s the sort of work that leaves you contemplating more than just the music itself. Masterpiece may be a big word, but here it feels entirely appropriate.
Check out GENESIS below!
Lefuturewave is a music blog based in the Netherlands. We feature emerging as well as established artists.
- Latest Posts by Lefuturewave
-
ZANNAH – Known Stranger
- -
March Fry – Five Foot Everything
- -
Cecelia Isoghene – Old Yeller
- All Posts
