Zarif (singer)

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Zarif

Zarif performing at Rise Festival in 2008.
Background information
Birth name Zarif Davidson
Origin Harrow, England
Genres Funk, Soul, Pop
Occupations singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, keyboard, guitar
Labels RCA / Sony BMG
Website www.zarif.co.uk

Zarif Davidson, known professionally as Zarif, is a British singer-songwriter of Anglo-Scottish-Iranian descent whose music ranges from soul to funk to pop. She performs with a nine piece band and sometimes plays keyboard and guitar.

Biography

Zarif grew up in Harrow, London with her Scottish father and her Iranian Jewish mother.[1] As a child, Zarif loved listening to music and some of her favourite artists are Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Aretha Franklin. She wrote her first song as an entry to a Blue Peter Competition and formed a girl band with her friends called Girls of Tomorrow. Zarif was educated at North London Collegiate[2] and then went on to University College London[2] where she graduated with a Human Sciences[3] degree.

Musical career

Zarif started her career performing in a series of venues in London in the city's soul singer-songwriter open mic circuit. The Nextmen saw her at one of these gigs and asked her to perform on three tracks on their critically acclaimed album, This Was Supposed To Be The Future[4] as well as tour with them over the summer of 2007.

It was also at one of the open mic gigs that Zarif was spotted by a talent scout from Sony BMG[3] and as a result she was signed to RCA Records in 2007. After being signed Zarif performed with John Legend and supported Taio Cruz and Chris Brown. She has performed live on BBC Radio 2, BBC London and GMTV.

In December 2008 Zarif's song, "Box of Secrets", was featured in an advert for Sky1 and was released as a download. Her debut single, "Let Me Back", was released in April 2009 and her second single, "Over", will be released on August 2009.[5] In March 2009 Zarif started recording some new songs with The Nextmen.[6] It was announced in April 2009 that she had been chosen to support Beyoncé on her I Am... UK Tour throughout Spring 2009.[7] She will also be performing at the Glastonbury Festival, O2 Wireless Festival.[8] and V Festival[9] in summer 2009.

Musical style

Zarif has described her sound as "soulful and summery"[10] and "upbeat and eclectic".[11]

The Guardian named Zarif "the next big thing in British soul"[3] and Billboard Magazine said she was like "Amy Winehouse with Madonna's pop flair."[12] Also theguardian.co.uk described Zarif as a "chirpy, sassy cross between Lily Allen and Corinne Bailey Rae, or a lighter, frothier, poppier Amy Winehouse".[1]

Touch Magazine said Zarif "exudes the kind of delicious, chocolaty tones and gut-wrenching melodies that Scott, Stone and even Wonder would applaud"[13] and Hot Press said she has "a voice like a 21st century Diana Ross."[14]

She is often compared to Amy Winehouse,[1][12] however Zarif has said, "People are always going to try and find a comparison. I think our music's actually very different," to Digital Spy, "Obviously we're both kind of retro, but [my music is] a lot more upbeat and eclectic whereas [Amy Winehouses'] is more influenced by Motown. I can definitely see the similarities but I think at the same time that we do different things."[11]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Other recordings

  • Zarif sang on three songs for The Nextmen's 2007 album, This Was Supposed to Be the Future. Zarif performs on the second single from the album, "Something Got You", as well as on the songs "Move" and "This Was Supposed to Be the Future".
  • Drum and Bass artist Danny Byrd remixed Zarif's song California and was released in 2009.[15]
  • In 2010 Zarif recorded vocals for drum and bass artist Danny Byrd's track 'Wait For Me' for his album Rave Digger.[16]

Videography

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 theguardian.co.uk New Band of the Day 448: Zarif
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lester, Paul (23 April 2009). "Zarif, Sy Kaye and Alexis Strum". The Jewish Chronicle. The JC. Retrieved 27 May 2009. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Batey, Angus (20 February 2009). "'You're at the mercy of the audience'". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 8 June 2009. 
  4. ↑ RCA: Zarif
  5. ↑ "Listen Up: Zarif". londonist.com. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009. 
  6. ↑ Zarif's Myspace Blog: In the studio with the Nextmen
  7. ↑ "Zarif To Support Beyonce". Female First. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2009. 
  8. ↑ "Wireless sign up Britain's Got Talent winners". 1 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009. 
  9. ↑ "V Festival". Retrieved 16 June 2009. 
  10. ↑ Levine, Nick (1 April 2009). "Music - Interview -Zarif". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Balls, David (18 June 2009). "Zarif 'grateful' for Beyoncé tour support". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Mobo Working: Three UK Urban Acts Set For Breakout Success". Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  13. ↑ "Buy It!: Something Got You". Touch Magazine. 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  14. ↑ Hot Press The Hilfiger Session Attitude Magazine said she was "worth 10,000 pop points."
  15. ↑ "Zarif & Danny Byrd - California". djdownload.com. Retrieved 3 October 2009. 
  16. ↑ "Danny Byrd - Wait For Me (ft. Zarif)". shop.hospitalrecords.com. Retrieved 8 October 2010. 
  17. ↑ charlotteknightproduction.com Ricky Tart)
  18. ↑ Rebel Alliance Music Videos
  19. ↑ "Music". Disposable Youth. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
  20. ↑ "Zarif - Box Of Secrets Official Video feat. Mz Bratt". YouTube. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010. 
Zarif
Studio Albums
  • Box of Secrets (2010)
Singles
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