In the two decades or so since her emergence on the music scene, singer/songwriter Yahzarah has used her absolutely engrossing voice, her electric stage presence, and her one-of-a-kind vantage point as an art heroine to create music that is as wide-reaching as it is adventurous. Her music plunges into deep waters that are fed by rivers of soaring soul, raucous rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz, and more. Her solo work has consistently impressed fans and critics alike – placing her name in the same celebrated orbit as many of her peers (see Janelle Monae, Erykah Badu, or Bilal) and alongside some of the legendary names that have influenced her over a lifetime (see Tina Turner, Chaka Khan or Lenny Kravitz). The singer’s fiery rock & soul sound is where we find our leading lady on her newly released full-length album, The Ceremony.

With this new studio album, Yahzarah carries audiences away with songs that are daring in a time when many are scared to stray away from what has proven to work for others. It really sounds and feels like a live concert experience – drawing listeners in with otherworldly synthesizers, steadily pounding drum kits, and a sea of strings that transform from hard-driving to symphonic to plucky with finesse. The Ceremony gets underway on an intense note by way of a hard-rocking opus called “Legend“. The powerhouse soprano saddles a fuzzed-out & buzzing arrangement that brings the same kind of badass energy that Yahzarah has been known to conjure up on stage. As the sound of her band snakes through the air around her, our siren casts her dominating magic and leaves the audience spellbound. “Creatures“ ramps up the dangerously appealing vibe of the album’s opening track, as the vocalist slips into the role of a hot-blooded vamp looking to prey on a few willing & able sacrifices. Where “Legend” has Yazarah rocking out with a live band, “Creatures” delivers an altogether sexy statement by pairing her with flittering percussions, shadowy keys, and a thumping 808 drum-machine.

Other outstanding entries on The Ceremony include a sobering vignette called “Too Good To Be True” that unhurriedly walks us through those numbing moments when two people realize that their love has withered away; a lovely late-night soul morsel called “F.M.T.U. (Fly Me To The Universe)” that rightly presents the act of making love as a spiritual feat; the empowering “Keep Running” (previously released as the single “Running”) which is brimming with the kind of spirit-boosting energy that so many of us need on a weekly  daily hourly basis and features a creative assist from guitarist/vocalist Kat Dyson; and a towering rocker called “Heights“ which features an impactful verse from musical polymath Farrah Boulé and would make for a great addition to the soundtrack to a large scale sci-fi flick (like the upcoming Matrix 4 movie).

It’s not surprising that The Ceremony offers up a rich and rewarding musical experience. If you’re even the slightest bit familiar with Yahzarah and her music then you know that she creates really absorbing pieces of music and her voice is mesmeric. And with this project, she takes her fans on a magnificent passage across genre borders.

You can listen to (and buy) the album via the links listed below as well as catch up on the latest music and news from Yahzarah by making sure that you’re connected to her via the social links listed below.

“Your intellect and fearlessness and unique persona inspires all genders! Thank you goddess friend of mine” – gordonchambers via Instagram

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Stream & buy Yahzarah’s music on…
( Amazon | Bandcamp | Deezer | iTunes | Spotify | Tidal )

Connect with Yahzarah on…
( Facebook | Instagram | Official Site | Soundcloud | Twitter | YouTube )