Zaena Moriso

Zaena Morisho is a singer-songwriter, recording artist, and performer who was born in the DR Congo and raised in Houston Texas. The Los Angeles based Zaena, sings in English, Swahili, Lingala, Nyaja, Shona, and some French. She has just released her latest 12-track 2015 album – “DIVA”.

Zaena, who has received in excess of 1 million views on Youtube for her hit song “Ur Love”, released her debut Pop-Afro Pop album “Break the Surface” in 2012 and followed that up, toward the end of 2014, with the 6-track Ep, “You Don’t Know”.

Zaena Morisho
Zaena Morisho
Fusing Afro roots and pop with electronic dance music, each track on “DIVA” reveals a new side of this multi-talented songstress. While taking the listener on an eclectic ride into her multicolored universe, Zaena’s warm voice lights the sky and shows exactly why the world is ready for her. The album slides down multiple genres and reaches far beyond the expected. Bursting with touching lyrics, strong vocals and heart-rending melodies, this is Zaena Morisho breaking out.

This album not only flows seamlessly from beginning to end, but there is not a dud to be found, which is generally not the case with any artist. “DIVA” starts out with the title track which will probably rank as one of Zaena’s catchiest tracks. That chorus will ring in your ears long after the song is over. Next comes “Time To Fly” which starts out like earlier Zaena material then weaves into a thumping hook and another chorus that you won’t be able to shake off. Why would you want to?

“Come Get It” shoots out of the blocks out with an otherworldly grandiose tribal feel and has lyrics that you actually remember as they dance with a chorus that just won’t quit. Next comes the infectious reggaeton influenced “Baby Don’t Go” propelled by insistent percussion. “Am Loved” and “Tonight” has Zaena looking back at her life, love and friendship as it finds her making peace with the many incarnations that she’s gone through in finding the love she needs.

The album cover
The album cover
Included in the album is Zaena’s Youtube hit, “Ur Love” and “Bad Boy remix ft Bils”, as well as the afro-influenced tunes like “MI NA WE”, “Panda”, “Napesi Motema” and “For You” which all add an exotic flavor to the album. Zaena Morisho has now moved into a more sophisticated light without losing her footing on fun and dancing, keeping the grooves coming fast and hard. She also takes on the role of storyteller while letting you float in the smooth sounds of her songs.

“DIVA” lives up to everything I had hoped for from Zaena, and more. This is great dance music with some lyrics that have more than just the superficial meanings meant to fill clubs. Yet it doesn’t skimp on catchy hooks and great beats…all with a unique crossover sound that only Zaena Morisho can pull off! - JEENA JOHNSON

Zaena Morisho who is currently based in Los Angeles, is a singer-songwriter, recording artist, and performer who was born in the DR Congo and raised in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and America. She recently released her debut Pop/RnB album “Break the Surface” which includes the hit song “Ur Love.” This popular track has amassed over one million views on YouTube in just under 4 months. Zaena sings in English, Swahili, Lingala, Nyaja, Shona, and French.

Currently out on Yellow Rhinestone Records is Zaena Morisho’s latest 6-track Ep, “You Don’t Know”. Two songs from the Ep, “Gimme All Your Love” and the title track, “You Don’t Know” have already been backed-up by supporting videos through VEVO on Youtube and produced by HI 5 Productions.

Recently, several pop singers from across the pond have been making it in the US. The first song I heard by Zaena, “Gimme All Your Love”, is what initially piqued my interest. But then I realized that she has this twisted little edge that makes her much more mysterious than many of the usual female dance music artists. She adds a layer of African complexity to solid and enjoyable dance/pop music.
Running through each track, at times I imagine a joyous harlequin is singing, at times I see a femme fatale, at times I hear the vulnerable Zaena come out, but at the end of the day Zaena Morisho simply owns each song. She possesses such confidence, that she’s unafraid to play around with her voice, her image, as well as music styles. And she also has a natural swagger that enables her to pull off even some of the more unusual choices on the album.

As for music styles on “You Don’t Know”-everything is in the pop/dance idiom with undeniable, exotic African influences, which is actually quite fresh sounding, in a music market full of people who are attempting similar things. It’s more subtle and hypnotic than most mainstream music -yet much more hard-hitting and catchy than a lot of indie pop-dance artists.

At the end of the day, this is simply a great pop-dance record that offers something different and there is no doubt that Zaena Morisho is one to be watched (literally too, as she is pure eye-candy).

Normally I scoff at people, who try to predict the next big thing, but I can’t help but hear Zaena and think –“this is the future”. She’s got the skills, confidence and most importantly she seems to have the determination to stand out.

The highlight tracks are obviously the danceable club bangers “Gimme All Your Love” and “Play My Song”, but I particularly liked the mid-tempo bump of “Batteries” and the slow burner “Until The Sky Falls”.

What really sets Zaena Morisho apart from her contemporaries, however, is her truthfulness and her refreshing approach to musical themes and lyricism. How do I know? I see it in her eyes… -