Zara McFarlane
̸
Biography
- ZARA MCFARLANE WAS BORN 30 YEARS AGO INTO A JAMAICAN FAMILY IN DAGENHAM, ON THE BORDERS OF ESSEX AND LONDON. SHE GREW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD THAT LOVED REGGAE (“WE PLAYED IT ALL THE TIME – PARTIES, SOCIAL GATHERINGS, WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, YOU NAME IT!”), AS W..WHEN NOT WORKING ON HER OWN MATERIAL, ZARA HAS PERFORMED AS A FEATURED VOCALIST IN GARY CROSBY’S SKA ORCHESTRA JAZZ JAMAICA, AND PERFORMED WITH ESTEEMED BRITISH JAZZERS SUCH AS ORPHY ROBINSON, DENYS BAPTISTE AND SOWETO KINCH. SHE’S MADE HOUSE MUSIC WITH BOPSTAR AND PAID TRIBUTE TO TAMMI TERRELL WITH NORWEGIAN DJ/PRODUCER DALMINJO. HER TRACKS HAVE BEEN REMIXED AND REWORKED BY THE LIKES OF VIENNESE TECHNO DUO OGRIS DEBRIS, NINJA TUNE’S FLOATING POINTS, AFRO-FUNKER OSUNLADE AND SPACE-JAZZERS EMANATIVE. SHE’S FRONTED ITALIAN DJ NICOLA CONTE’S BIG BAND, PERFORMED AT A NINA SIMONE TRIBUTE CONCERT IN AMSTERDAM AND PLAYED SUPPORT FOR SOUTH AFRICAN TRUMPETER HUGH MASEKELA AND AMERICAN SINGER GREGORY PORTER. AT THE UPCOMING LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL SHE’LL BE APPEARING OPPOSITE DIANNE REEVES (QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL, 20 NOVEMBER). SHE ALSO MAINTAINS A ROLE IN EDUCATION, TEACHING WORKSHOPS IN VOCALS AND IMPROVISATION AROUND BRITAIN AND EUROPE. “I LOVE ALL AREAS OF THIS WORK – THE TEACHING, THE PERFORMING – BUT THIS ALBUM SHOWCASES WHAT I’M MOST INTO AT THE MOMENT, WHICH IS WRITING,” SHE SAYS. “THESE SONGS ON THIS NEW ALBUM ARE MORE PERSONAL THAN ANYTHING I’VE EVER WRITTEN. IT’S ME OPENING UP, TAKING LISTENERS ON A JOURNEY.”̸If You Knew Her Until Tomorrow
Selected discography