Zara McFarlane’s debut album, 2011’s Until Tomorrow, came garlanded with ra… Read Full Bio ↴Zara McFarlane’s debut album, 2011’s Until Tomorrow, came garlanded with rave reviews and a MOBO award nomination, and heralded a major new talent in the world of British jazz. The follow-up, also recorded for Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings, is a more ambitious collection that draws from many more influences: from the deep spiritual jazz of Pharoah Sanders to dub and reggae.
“With the first album,” says Zara, “I was trying to create a cohesive sound, one that used the same line up and the same instrumentation throughout. This time the focus is on the songwriting, and the arrangements are tailor-made to suit each song. There’s a lot more variation – around half of the tracks are duets, and I use more than one band. If there is a unified, cohesive theme, it’s in the lyrics: the songs represent a journey through a woman’s life.”
Gilles Peterson has been a key figure in Zara’s career. They first met when she was performing with the house music project Bopstar at the Southport Weekender in May 2010, where she gave him an EP of acoustic jazz songs she’d recorded. Within a few months, an impressed Peterson had signed Zara to his Brownswood Recordings label, and that EP eventually provided the basis for her debut album Until Tomorrow.
“Gilles has been an incredibly enthusiastic person to work with,” says Zara. “With the first album, I’d recorded most of it before he’d signed me, but this time he’s been more involved in its creation and made suggestions. He’s passionate about all kinds of music, not just jazz, which has allowed me to experiment with different sounds.”
Zara McFarlane was born 30 years ago into a Jamaican family in Dagenham, on the borders of Essex and London. She grew up in a household that loved reggae (“we played it all the time – parties, social gatherings, weddings, funerals, you name it!”), as well as the R&B of Michael Jackson and Luther Vandross. Her TV debut came at the tender age of 14, when she did a Lauryn Hill impression on Stars In Their Eyes against a line-up of grown ups.
She was educated at a local comprehensive before moving to the BRIT School in Croydon in her sixth-form to study musical theatre. “I fell in love with musicals and learned tons of old showtunes,” says Zara. “I quickly realised that they were also jazz standards, and I always preferred the jazz versions.” After a BMus degree in Popular Music Performance from the Tech Music School in Acton (part of the University of West London) she started to pursue her love of jazz, studying jazz and improvisation at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
When not working on her own material, Zara has performed as a featured vocalist in Gary Crosby’s ska orchestra Jazz Jamaica, and performed with esteemed British jazzers such as Orphy Robinson, Denys Baptiste and Soweto Kinch. She’s made house music with Bopstar and paid tribute to Tammi Terrell with Norwegian DJ/producer Dalminjo. Her tracks have been remixed and reworked by the likes of Viennese techno duo Ogris Debris, Ninja Tune’s Floating Points, Afro-funker Osunlade and space-jazzers Emanative. She’s fronted Italian DJ Nicola Conte’s big band, performed at a Nina Simone tribute concert in Amsterdam and played support for South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and American singer Gregory Porter. At the upcoming London Jazz Festival she’ll be appearing opposite Dianne Reeves (Queen Elizabeth Hall, 20 November). She also maintains a role in education, teaching workshops in vocals and improvisation around Britain and Europe.
“I love all areas of this work – the teaching, the performing – but this album showcases what I’m most into at the moment, which is writing,” she says. “These songs on this new album are more personal than anything I’ve ever written. It’s me opening up, taking listeners on a journey.”
“With the first album,” says Zara, “I was trying to create a cohesive sound, one that used the same line up and the same instrumentation throughout. This time the focus is on the songwriting, and the arrangements are tailor-made to suit each song. There’s a lot more variation – around half of the tracks are duets, and I use more than one band. If there is a unified, cohesive theme, it’s in the lyrics: the songs represent a journey through a woman’s life.”
Gilles Peterson has been a key figure in Zara’s career. They first met when she was performing with the house music project Bopstar at the Southport Weekender in May 2010, where she gave him an EP of acoustic jazz songs she’d recorded. Within a few months, an impressed Peterson had signed Zara to his Brownswood Recordings label, and that EP eventually provided the basis for her debut album Until Tomorrow.
“Gilles has been an incredibly enthusiastic person to work with,” says Zara. “With the first album, I’d recorded most of it before he’d signed me, but this time he’s been more involved in its creation and made suggestions. He’s passionate about all kinds of music, not just jazz, which has allowed me to experiment with different sounds.”
Zara McFarlane was born 30 years ago into a Jamaican family in Dagenham, on the borders of Essex and London. She grew up in a household that loved reggae (“we played it all the time – parties, social gatherings, weddings, funerals, you name it!”), as well as the R&B of Michael Jackson and Luther Vandross. Her TV debut came at the tender age of 14, when she did a Lauryn Hill impression on Stars In Their Eyes against a line-up of grown ups.
She was educated at a local comprehensive before moving to the BRIT School in Croydon in her sixth-form to study musical theatre. “I fell in love with musicals and learned tons of old showtunes,” says Zara. “I quickly realised that they were also jazz standards, and I always preferred the jazz versions.” After a BMus degree in Popular Music Performance from the Tech Music School in Acton (part of the University of West London) she started to pursue her love of jazz, studying jazz and improvisation at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
When not working on her own material, Zara has performed as a featured vocalist in Gary Crosby’s ska orchestra Jazz Jamaica, and performed with esteemed British jazzers such as Orphy Robinson, Denys Baptiste and Soweto Kinch. She’s made house music with Bopstar and paid tribute to Tammi Terrell with Norwegian DJ/producer Dalminjo. Her tracks have been remixed and reworked by the likes of Viennese techno duo Ogris Debris, Ninja Tune’s Floating Points, Afro-funker Osunlade and space-jazzers Emanative. She’s fronted Italian DJ Nicola Conte’s big band, performed at a Nina Simone tribute concert in Amsterdam and played support for South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and American singer Gregory Porter. At the upcoming London Jazz Festival she’ll be appearing opposite Dianne Reeves (Queen Elizabeth Hall, 20 November). She also maintains a role in education, teaching workshops in vocals and improvisation around Britain and Europe.
“I love all areas of this work – the teaching, the performing – but this album showcases what I’m most into at the moment, which is writing,” she says. “These songs on this new album are more personal than anything I’ve ever written. It’s me opening up, taking listeners on a journey.”
Captured
Zara McFarlane Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Captured' by these artists:
A Radio With Guts my brain it used to hold these memories they've faded fast…
Bic Runga I want you when you are close to me I want…
Black And White World Some don't believe you're Alive You rose you live forever I …
Blind Guardian "You are now my guest, forever."…
Brian Kennedy Oh I just heard a melody and it almost made…
Camel [Instrumental]…
Chris Tomlin I heard your echo in the canyon Upon the timberline You said…
Christian Bautista I was captured the moment we met Carried away with every…
Darlene Zschech Here I stand my heart is crying out for you I…
Digital Age Love You've captured me again Love You steal my heart And o…
Dominici Corrupt politicians, purveyors of law Give us daily bread, …
E. James Never wanted to be swept away I thought I might lose…
Ephraim Lewis Easier said than done Friends would tell me "the best is…
FM Pain makes my questions grow too large And I feel that…
FyKe For every war we’ve been fighting For everything we’ve lost …
Geoff Moore I heard your echo in the canyon Up on the timberline You…
Gov't Mule Never wanted to be swept away I thought I might lose…
Gov't Mule Feat. Jim James Never wanted to be swept away I thought I might lose…
Govt Mule & Jim James Never wanted to be swept away I thought I might lose…
Inara George yes, we're captured, no really, captured these people, they…
Isla Vista Worship Pain makes my questions grow too large And I feel that…
Jack and the Weatherman The whispers of the trees The humming of the bees Make me…
Jorn (Jorn Lande/Tore Moren) I see a special magic It's in my…
Joy As long as you're around, we'll be back at the…
Kennedy Brian Oh I just heard a melody and it almost made…
Malevolent Creation One existence to achieve the goals my soul demands The carn…
Natalie Grant It must mean something When I close my eyes Visions of you…
Rita Springer I'm captured, I'm constrained I'm in love with Your name I'm…
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (B. Rush) Lying here on the ground Warm winds are all wr…
Staci Frenes feat. Christopher Lawrence I was captured the moment we met Carried away with every…
Swimming with Dolphins Eternity has only just begun I breathe it in like the…
The Digital Age Love You've captured me again Love You steal my heart And o…
The Iguanas I can't find the peace of mind To let me walk…
Thirdmoon I stared trough the azure of the blind man's eyes Beheaded…
TobyMac All I wanna do All I wanna do I'm Your prisoner by…
Unleashed I see the morning light breaking in Another day, another hel…
Warhead As you sit there in your cell You think about your…
ziima I'm watching the phone ring on my table, I know…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Zara McFarlane:
Open Heart Dear, don't tell me what to do Once I had lost…
Plain Gold Ring Plain gold ring on his finger he wore It was where…
Police & Thieves Police and thieves in the street Fightin' the nation with th…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Lester Spence
For folk who don't know, McFarlane is using the rhythm of an old school Detroit techno classic, Nude Photo. And the words come from her own song "Captured".
citygirldc
Love this! To me it sounds a lot like Al Jarreau's song "Says" Brazilian feel to both.
benbarrow
This is very good, isn't it?
Stefan Chen
Can anyone plz upload this on Spotify plz 🙏
mymusixrebrn
Thank You, I appreciate your response and efforts. I am going to keep Moving and Dancing to it, words or no words.
mymusixrebrn
Where can I get the words? It would be fun to be able sing along to this one ;0). I can figure out some of the words,but want to be sure. Thanks
citygirldc
Very welcome! I'm a Detroiter who loves Al Jarreau so it was instantly familiar to me.
VH Gameplays
BBoy Neguin no Altas Horas 2011 🔥🇧🇷
Larry Robinson
This is my shit 🔥🔥🔥
Vincent Ache'
Great!