Zmei3 – ‘Rough Romanian Soul’ (album stream) (premiere)

Zmei3 is a group of Romanians whose music emanates from a mixture of traditional Romanian musical forms, including gypsy music from the region which is so integral to the overall sounds of Eastern European music. However, Zmei3 is anything but a traditional group as they tackle the realities of life in Romania post-communism in their lyrics. The group’s new album Rough Romanian Soul is a gorgeous record with passion and, indeed, soul running through it. Classically trained singer Paula Turcas is something special with her stunning voice, capable of soaring high and low with subtle inflections adding meaning and feeling to every word. Zmei3‘s Grammy-winning producer Ian Brennan says that “Turcas is poised to take her place amongst rarified vocalists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Umm Kulthum, and Yma Sumac, singers whose virtuosic gifts transcend language to such a degree that they even become symbols of an entire culture or region.”

Just to ensure that extra bit of authenticity, Rough Romanian Soul was recorded in Romania live in the Transylvanian mountains, apparently near Count Dracula’s castle. The album will release April 22nd via Six Degrees Records.