Zeshan B Announces Melismatic, Debut Album of Original Music out May 15 | Shore Fire Media

2 April, 2020Print

Zeshan B Announces Melismatic, Debut Album of Original Music out May 15

Zeshan B Announces Melismatic, Debut Album of Original Music out May 15

Lincoln Center at Home Concert Set for April 8

Listen to New Single "Nausheen" | Read More at FLOOD Magazine

"[Zeshan B] has grounded his voice into uplifting the ones who have been discriminated against"

The FADER

On May 15th, first-generation Indian-American and Muslim singer-songwriter Zeshan B will release Melismatic (Minty Fresh Records). Recorded in Brooklyn, Zeshan's debut album of original songs follows his 2017, Chicago-bred breakthrough Vetted, which featured trilingual reimaginations of American soul standards that launched him to a performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; appearances on PBS NewsHour and Democracy Now!; praise from NPR, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times; and fans like Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter, both of whom he has serenaded. Now, Zeshan presents his own rally cries for today's moment, backed by classic grooves and the Indo-Pakistani pride he continues to belt out in English, Urdu, and Punjabi. 

The music of Melismatic brings attention to civil rights, elitist oppression, and, specifically in the case of new single "Nausheen," gender inequality: 

"On the surface, this song probably reads as a light, airy love ballad," says Zeshan on the song. "But it's actually heavier than you might think - in my head, at least. It's an ode to the intelligence, beauty and effervescence of South Asian women - who for centuries have always outshone their male counterparts."

Listen to "Nausheen" here, and read more at FLOOD Magazine.

The first preview of Melismatic came with the social justice stomp of "Brown Power," released alongside a music video that featured Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Hasan Minhaj, Jesse Jackson, Dr. Cornel West, Aparna Nancherla, Nina Turner, and dozens more community leaders. As he told NowThis, in a feature viewed nearly one million times across social media, Zeshan hopes that his stirring sounds can inspire people into positive action and empathy. Watch the video and read more on how Zeshan defines "Brown Power" via The FADER

Zeshan has shared stages with A Tribe Called Quest and Mos Def, and played venues like the Apollo Theater, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center and Bonnaroo. On April 8th, he will showcase songs of Melismatic during a concert for Lincoln Center's new online performance series, Lincoln Center at Home: tune in to Lincoln Center's social media channels at 4pm ET. 

 

Melismatic Tracklist

Stay

Higher

Only In My Dreams

Lionhearted Man

C'mon Everybody

Brown Power

Nausheen

Freefall

                                                                                                                           

"Nausheen" Artwork by Delicious Design League 

Courtesy of Hundal Collection

South Asia Institute, Chicago 

Original Painting by Iqbal Hussain

 

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For more information, contact Matt Hanks or Greg Jakubik at Shore Fire Media, (718) 522-7171