At the 8th edition of the Mahindra Blues Festival in Mumbai last February, she stood her own, carving out a niche in the blues psyche of each who saw her perform, me included. She had said, “My show is raw, honest, emotional and intense. People are often say they are moved to tears at my shows, and I feel it’s important that I give everything I have to my audience. I rip people’s hearts out - and then I put them back in …”. Those who watched Zoe perform, swear that her performance was nothing short of a brilliance.

Thirteen years as a performer and 11 album releases later, singer-songwriter Layla Zoe delivers a poweful statement in a her latest offering ‘Germin’ a 2 CD set collection of songs, lyrics that give a voice for every woman, who need one.

The first disc labeled ‘Fragility’ is largely an acoustic set in which she is accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Jaan Laacks. As Layla meanders through life’s realities in the songs on this set, she touches you deep down in places only she can, with her bluesy salon sounding voice that threads lightly entwining you in a web of sublime emotion. Thrown in is a paean to Mumbai where she reminisces the chorus of car horns, saffron rice and curry, the jeweled feet of its beautiful women and touching hips of strangers in the narrow market streets, in what she calls a dreamland garden of Eden. Jaan’s finger picking skills combined with his smoothness on the slide do her journey perfect justice.

In stark contrast the electric CD 2 titled Courage, is a hard hitting set that’s propels you through some contemporary sounding bluesy rock, once again strewn with strong life messages. Joining the multi talented Jaan on this set are, in turn, Claus Schulte and Dirk Sengotta on drums. Layla’s lyrics hold firm in this riotous set taking you largely through the dark spaces in a woman’s life with assuringly positive vocab. Layla’s throaty feistiness is let loose in a vocal range that matches the best in the business. Plunk in the middle of the set the title track Gemini, delivers Layla’s stark diatribe to the pretentious sounding righteous bigot: “I know what the I stands for in Gemini, and honey, it ain’t you”.

Early in her career the legendary Canadian jazz and blues-rock vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, the visually impaired late Jeff Healy, had said of his friend Layla, “She has created probably the biggest buzz vocally I’ve ever heard … all of the comments, compliments and credos going around about her are not unfounded”. Layla has done justice to that statement piling up the honors ever since her first release ‘You Will’ in 2005:

Layla has won a host of awards notably among them being winner at the European Blues Awards 2016  Best Vocalist and then again being nominated at the European Blues Awards 2018 for Best Female Vocalist. Her album ‘The Lily’ was also hailed by Downbeat Magazine Best Albums of 2014.

Layla has also been a featured performer on RUF Records’ Blues Caravan tours. The treasures of her father’s vinyl collection that enthralled Layla as a teenager started her on her journey from Vancouver to the world stage, her zestful performances enthralling all along the way.

Includes lyrics to all songs.

Rating: ***1/2

Reviewed by Denzil Rego.

Denzil is a diehard music aficionado who goes gaga over vinyl. His collection of LP records runs into thousands with EPs & SPs thrown in for good measure. You will find rarities and even autographed copies in his collection. He also has a fair amount of CDs & DVDs. A track and field star in his heyday Denzil’s other passion is a holistic environment, #ARREGOGREEN –Making Our World A Better Place.

You can connect with Denzil via his Facebook page DenzMusicDen as well as his blog of the same name; else email him on denzilrego@yahoo.com or ping him on +91 7208082112.