Ester Rada - Different Eyes (2017)

Growing up in a religious familythat had just settled in Israel after an excruciating journey from Ethiopia, no one had in mind what future would hold for Ester Rada. It is like a story crafted by a skilled screen-writer – but you forget all about that the moment Ester Rada Walks up on stage. A bombshell of charisma, talent and genuine musical eagerness, Rada is no longer just one of Israel’s biggest success stories in recent years, but a worldwide sensation.
It started out with her 2013 EP, “Life Happens”, produced by Kutiman (Thru-you) which initiated an instant buzz that erupted franticly with her 2014 debut album, “Ester Rada”. It was a surprising showcase of talent spanning from Ethiopian-jazz to American funk, from smooth R&B to a pulsating Afrobeat with a hint of Middle Eastern flavor that laid foundations for her thrilling, soulful voice.
Exalted reviews emerged as the album reached gold status in Israel, and international attention quickly followed. She received praises from the BBC, PBS, The Guardian, MOJOMagazine and many more, while her video clips were rotated onMTV and VH1. In 2015, Rada also released “I Wish”, a critically acclaimed EP containing four audacious covers for Nina Simone classics, self-produced by Rada and her band and mixed by BobPower (ErikahBadu, D’angelo, De La Soul).
All this in just three years – during which she played hundreds of concerts all over the world, including notable performances in festivals such as Glastonbury, SXSW, WOMEX and WOMAD. This summer, Rada is scheduled to perform at theOlympic Games in Rio 2016as well as playing South Africa for the first time (a high note marking her performing across all five continents…). Seeing Rada and her Band live can simply explain how this happened in such a short time. Backed up by some of the best young talents from Tel-Aviv’s sizzling music scenealongside her rare virtuoso(or do you mean “moral, ethical, chaste?)voice, Rada’sconcerts are a captivating powerhouse of effortless groove and enchanting melodies.
Her latest single, “Cry for Me” is a promising first glimpse of what awaits us in her new album, due to come out this winter. The songs were all written by Ester herself, on the road and at her home in Jaffa, and recorded in Tel Aviv by the intriguing producer SHUZ (from the electronic duo 3421). Placing upfront Rada’s unique vocals with an undertow of connections to black grooves and beats, the album exposes anew and refreshing approach to R&B and Soul music, purifying Rada’s many musical influences and past worksinto a distinct flair and a clear artistic statement.
Until then, Ester Rada and her band continue to tour world-wide. And just like every previous step along her musical journey, the next one she is taking is bold and exciting, with hopefully many more to come.

Tracklist:

01. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - My Mind
02. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - Different Eyes
03. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - Have to Go
04. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - Choice
05. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - Cry for Me
06. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - Home
07. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - Mr. Guilt
08. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - Its on You
09. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - Never Know
10. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - Eternal Love
11. Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) - Deeper