Zinah has been an artist to watch since the release of her critically acclaimed EP, Rose Garden. Her long awaited debut album is titled Tulipa and is an impressive collection of influences that showcase her potential.
The title of the album continues Zinah’s flower title theme, and the ten-track offering, released through David Gresham Records, is a mix of some of the most popular contemporary sounds. The balance between R&B, electronic music and amapiano is well spread out.
“Enough”, a song about waiting for your turn, is a vocally driven track with electronic elements that sometimes bring local artist Timo ODV to mind, while tinges of Amapiano, a rightful play on one of the country’s most popular genres of music, are found on “Phathakahle” and “Incense”.
While the primary composition of this album is electronic, R&B is deeply rooted in some of the sounds but primarily the themes the album addresses, including love, growth and perseverance as demonstrated cleverly on the songs that serve as the album’s intro, interlude and outro. The genre shines and helps to demonstrate Zinah’s smooth vocals on “ Sthandwa Sami”, “For You” and “Down”, which also features heavy Afro pop influences.
Zinah’s Tulipa is a well produced and well delivered debut. It ticks all the boxes for success, but beyond that, serves as a brilliant formal introduction to Zinah, paving a way for a career that blooms as beautifully as tulips do.
Feature pic supplied by artist
