Zoé Basha – Gamble (2025)
Music fans are in for a treat as Zoé Basha releases her long-awaited debut solo album, Gamble, a genre-defying collection that showcases the French-American artist’s rich storytelling and undeniable musical talent. This powerful new record is the culmination of years spent traversing the streets of Europe and Ireland, living a nomadic life full of raw experiences, and using music as both a companion and a form of expression. Basha offers an intimate glimpse into her world, blending folk, blues, Americana, jazz, and Irish traditional music into a sound that is distinctly her own in Gamble.
A deeply personal reflection of love, loss, resilience, and transformation, Gamble captures the essence of a life lived on the road, one of impermanence and constant change, yet brimming with beauty and insight. Written and produced by Zoé Basha herself, the album offers a haunting and vulnerable listening experience, with her smoky, evocative voice taking centre stage. From the plaintive ‘What Dream Is This’ to the upbeat and jazzy ‘Dublin Street Corners’, the album traverses a wide emotional landscape, drawing listeners in with its emotional depth and captivating melodies.
Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of Gamble is its seamless blending of genres. Basha has a unique ability to fuse disparate musical influences into a cohesive sound that feels both timeless and fresh. The album is an homage to the golden eras of jazz, blues, and folk, yet still manages to stand firmly in the present, reflecting her own experiences and worldview. Songs like ‘Traveling Shoes’ and ‘Same Swallows Swooping’ evoke a sense of longing and introspection, while tracks like ‘Sweet Papa Hurry Home’ are filled with a light-hearted warmth, balancing out the album’s more sombre moments.
Basha’s years of busking and performing on street corners are evident in the album’s raw and unpolished production. Gamble captures the energy and authenticity of a live performance, allowing her voice and the stories within the songs to take centre stage. It’s a stripped-back approach that allows listeners to connect directly with the emotion behind each lyric, making the album feel incredibly personal and immersive.
Influenced by iconic artists like Billie Holiday, Joni Mitchell, and Edith Piaf, Basha’s sound is at once vintage and innovative. Her voice has been compared to the legendary jazz singers of the past, yet it carries a contemporary edge that makes her music uniquely her own. Zoé Basha proves that music doesn’t have to fit into a box; her ability to blend genres and tell powerful, heartfelt stories is what makes her stand out in today’s music scene.
Find out more about Zoé Basha on her Instagram, Spotify, and official website.
