ZOE'S SHANGHAI drops psychedelic visuals for hot new single "SCRATCHING"
Zoe's Shanghai - Scratching
Zoe’s Shanghai “Scratching” play/stream Here
Rising Paris outfit Zoe’s Shanghai drops their intimate new jazz cut “Scratching” – via Naïve Records
Bursting with woozy guitar licks and tender, psychedelic melodies, “Scratching” emerges as a warm canvas for Zoé Renié Harris (guitarist and lead singer) to flaunt her spellbinding vocals shining in perfect harmony. With the Jamaican heritage artist describing the track as a “conscious step into the labyrinth of my romantic relationships”, her intimate tone portrays vulnerability at a complex crossroads exploring new love, while the dazzling armour carried across the music video displays a familiar instinct to stay guarded; an intoxicating juxtaposition that gradually pulls away and reveals Zoé’s internal affirmations moving towards peace and enlightenment.
Speaking on “Scratching”, Zoé mentions: “This song is a result of the conversations and collisions I’ve had on the road towards trust and understanding with my partner. Scared of what I can’t control, I find myself repeating patterns of behaviour. It is like coming back to a door but struggling to open and step through it. The music glides between delicate intimacy and sweeping dreamlike waves, echoing the rhythms of persistence, choice and strength experienced in this relationship.”
Coming from a lineage where exploring vintage vinyl collections was essential to daily life, Zoé naturally embraced music as an outlet for expression, allowing space to personify her evolving environment through creation and performance. From London to Cuba to Paris, her vibrant, free-form artistry and story-telling encapsulate the affinities of our existence and aim to empower creatives pushing social and cultural boundaries set in their way.
Alongside Mehdi (bassist), Emerik (pianist) and Landy (drummer), Zoe’s Shanghai delivered their wonderfully high-calibre debut album Lava Love in 2021, transitioning the band’s kaleidoscope of musical colours, feelings and reflections into the fashion landscape. The stunning lead track “Mother” was plugged by one of the most influential figures of our generation, the late Virgil Abloh, who featured the record across Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2021 Capsule – a pivotal moment that announced the four-piece as one of the most exciting new voices crashing into wider consciousness.
Having graced stages across the UK from We Out Here to the iconic Jazz Café, the Paris band returned in a serious way earlier this year with “When I Care” – an experimental jazz offering which quickly gained critical attention across the landscape from WONDERLAND to NOTION.
With their hotly anticipated EP Undergrowth confirmed to drop this year, 2024 looks set to be a breakthrough year for this blossoming outfit fast on the rise.
Zoe’s Shanghai image taken by Laureen Burton