RAZIA
MAGICAL
Born in Madagascar, a mini-continent located 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, Razia's soothing mellow voice is reminiscent of the island's breeze, soft, sensual, yet poignant and moving. Her debut album, Magical, has been called "NYC world beat meets the sultry soul of Madagascar." All the songs were written by Razia, co-written by resident acoustic guitarist, Jamie Ambler, and produced by Nir Graff, Eitan Graff, and Jamie Ambler. "Most of the songs are about relationships of different nature and how they've influenced my life," explains Razia.
Since the age of three, Razia has been performing. Her first audience was her family. "They would lift me on the table so I could dance and sing. I grew up listening to traditional Malagasy music, The Beatles, Bob Marley, and James Brown, and it was my uncle (a guitarist) who introduced me to music." She recalls, "I was 10 years old when he picked up his guitar and said come on Razia, let's make a song. I had no idea how to write a song and he said listen to the guitar, don't think, go with the flow." She's been writing songs ever since to the sound of the guitar. At the age of ten, she left Madagascar for Gabon in West Africa where she joined the local church choir. On "O Mama," she recalls the heartache and sorrow of leaving her beloved ones behind.
Leaving Africa wouldn't be the last journey for Razia. She's studied in France, lived in Italy Bali and Ibiza and now calls New York home. The acoustic driven "Moonlight In Harlem," is Razia's toast to living and loving in The Big Apple. "All of my travels have provided different inspirations which can be heard through my music. My sound is culturally eclectic and appeals to a multi-ethnic audience. I enjoy merging different musical styles together."
Almost as though traveling through her life, the first stop on this 'magical' journey is appropriately in Africa. On the ballad "Under A Mango Tree," you can almost visual young Razia dancing under the mango tree in her backyard in Madagascar. "Alio," also semi-autobiographical song about a girl named Alio who leaves her village venturing into the big city and all she encounters. "I Made My Mind" follows that same theme of freedom and is about a woman determined to fulfill her destiny.
Razia's melodies combined with ethnic percussions make her music accessible to Jazz and R&B audiences, yet you can still hear world music spirit stemming from her Malagasy, Afro-Arabic, and Indian heritage. "I can only sing what I am and I am all these worlds together. I believe in a world without artistic boundaries. I'm convinced that music, art, and children are human kind's last hope."
Razia's Official Site: http://www.raziasaid.com
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