A gripping re-imagining of Björk’s standout track “Jóga” comes via ZOHARA, who retains the original’s sweeping enthrallment while brilliantly infusing Arabic musical elements. The Tel Aviv-based artist incorporates live oud and darbuka amidst electronic textures, all whilst unveiling a magnetic, melodic vocal performance. Björk’s vocals exuded an original, soaring artistry that’s difficult to emulate, but ZOHARA captivates with her own impressive vocal work — partly echoing Björk’s tonal disposition, while also exuding ZOHARA’s own enjoyable flair.
“This project was born out of the distressing reality I’m living in… a moment of rising violence, fear, and dehumanization,” ZOHARA says. “I wanted to use sound to respond, to highlight the richness of Arabic culture, and to offer a kind of counter-spell to the darkness.”
The memorable cover follows up ZOHARA’s 2024 album Welcoming The Golden Age, which also dazzled in its memorable, emotionally charged pop sound. Taking on “Jóga” is an enjoyable continuation of ZOHARA’s evident talents, which maneuver with both melodic and atmospheric power.
Her decision to cover Björk derives from a deep appreciation for the artist, who ZOHARA describes as “a trailblazing woman who has always fused different musical worlds from the very beginning of her career” — symbolizing for her “the power of art to change reality.” The track invigorates in ZOHARA’s evident vocal power, in addition to the infusion of Arabic instruments with deep history — and beyond that, tonal and rhythmic dispositions that fit perfectly within ZOHARA’s re-interpreted arrangement of this Björk classic.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
