Dar Al Mouzika

Zahar (Oriëntal jazz/pop)
Zahar is a new group of musicians bringing music based on their various cultural and musical baggage. Lead singer and (song)writer Samira Dainan is born and raised in Amsterdam. With roots in North-Africa and the Far East she always needed to express herself creatively. Her beautiful timbre and strong sense of rhythm led her to music. Zahar reflects her love for diversity in culture and language. She sings in English, Arabic, Spanish, and French.
Zahar provides an original and full sound, combining oriental melodies, western harmonies, a Mediterranean feel and sharp north-African rhythms. All musicians have a rich experience in playing, at home and abroad.
Guitarist and producer Dennis Mulder, originally from Amsterdam has a passion for Latin music. Percussion player Midou Akhrif comes from Morocco, where from a very young age his sound was heard for miles around. (Double) Bass player Xico Santos from Portugal knows how to hit the right note with his South-European rhythm. Violin virtuoso Ben Mathot pieces out the story with vivid gypsy lines.
After one of their first performances they were asked to cooperate with Production House ‘Hippo’, an Amsterdam based agency that takes care of the bookings of established national and international artists in world music. Since then a musical journey set of from Amsterdam towards the Atlantic coasts. They played on festivals and national radio and are preparing to record their first CD this summer. Their aim is to do a showcase at Womex 2010 in Kopenhagen and present their first CD there.
www.myspace.com/zaharmusic