Shabrang (album)

Shabrang (Persian for "night color"[1]) is the second studio album by Dutch-Iranian singer Sevdaliza. It was released on 28 August 2020, by Twisted Elegance.[2] The singer wrote and produced the album, primarily alongside Mucky. The album encompasses art pop, trip hop and alternative R&B.

Shabrang
Studio album by
Sevdaliza
Released28 August 2020
Recorded2018–2020
Genre
Length62:15
Language
  • English
  • Persian
LabelTwisted Elegance
Producer
  • Sevdaliza
  • Mucky
Sevdaliza chronology
The Calling
(2018)		 Shabrang
(2020)
Singles from Shabrang
  1. "Darkest Hour"
    Released: 7 March 2019
  2. "Oh My God"
    Released: 30 January 2020
  3. "Lamp Lady"
    Released: 18 March 2020
  4. "Joanna"
    Released: 27 May 2020
  5. "Habibi"
    Released: 19 August 2020
  6. "Rhode"
    Released: 29 October 2020

The album spawned the singles "Darkest Hour", "Oh My God", "Lamp Lady", "Joanna" and "Habibi", as well as "Human Nature", which was originally released as part of Sevdaliza's 2018 extended play The Calling, her previous release. The album cover was shot by Tré Koch.

Upon its release, Shabrang was met with critical acclaim. Critics praised its emotional background, and its "slow-moving beauty".[3]

Background

On 7 March 2019, Sevdaliza released "Darkest Hour",[4] followed by another single "Martyr" on 11 April.[5] The two were thought to be standalone singles, however "Darkest Hour" would appear on digital copies of Shabrang. She would continue to subtly tease new music and visuals throughout the year.

In February 2020, Sevdaliza revealed that she had been working on her then unannounced sophomore album for the past two years, alongside close and frequent collaborators Mucky, Leon Den Engelsen and Mihai Puscoiu.[6]

Music and lyrics

Compared to her previous trip hop releases, Shabrang witnesses Sevdaliza gracefully moving through different musical styles, from art pop to trip hop as well as some moments of alternative R&B in between. Within this mixture lies a delicately soft milieu nature.[7]

Release

On 7 March 2019, Sevdaliza released "Darkest Hour",[4] which at its time of release, was believed to be a standalone single.

On 30 January 2020, Sevdaliza released the protest song[8] "Oh My God". It was accompanied by a music video, directed by Sevdaliza and Willemskantine.[9]

On 10 March, Sevdaliza announced the release of single "Lamp Lady".[10] It was released 18 March.[11]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Beats Per Minute71%[7]
Pitchfork7.8/10[13]
The Needle Drop8/10[14]

On 23 May, Sevdaliza announced the release of single "Joanna".[15] A day before its release, Sevdaliza took to her Instagram stories to express her love towards the song, saying:

I wrote the song in 2018 and it's grown to be one of my favorite compositions…

"Joanna" was released 27 May,[16] alongside an accompanying music video, directed by Marlou Fernanda & Sevdaliza.[17]

Sevdaliza announced Shabrang on 30 July.[1] In a statement about the album, Sevdaliza says:[18]

It is a deep love letter to myself... Shabrang is a depiction of functioning in my soul, like watching life happening in front of you and not for you. Always trying to return to the light, I shift between hope, faith and fear/dystopia. I feel privileged yet misunderstood. The underdog.

The song "Rhode" was made available to listen early the same day as the album's announcement, exclusively on the streaming platform Apple Music or if the album was pre-ordered on Apple Music.

On 19 August, Sevdaliza released the single "Habibi", and announced an upcoming accompanying music video for the single.[19] The music video was released 26 August[20] and is directed by the "creative directing duo", sevda+ana, which consists of Sevdaliza and Russian filmmaker Anastasia Konovalova. The duo also plan to direct visuals separate from Sevdaliza's work.[18]

Audio and music publication MusicNGear listed Shabrang as one of the best albums from 2020, stating that "the songs have a poetic and parable-esque quality to them - creating a chilling and alluring soundscape." [21]

Track listing

All tracks written by Sevdaliza; all tracks produced by Sevdaliza and Mucky.

No.TitleLength
1."Joanna"4:20
2."Shabrang"3:04
3."Lamp Lady"3:31
4."All Rivers at Once"4:45
5."Habibi"4:38
6."Dormant"4:38
7."Wallflower"3:01
8."Gole Bi Goldoon"4:38
9."Darkest Hour"4:28
10."Oh My God"3:14
11."Eden"4:09
12."Human Nature"5:00
13."No Way"4:57
14."Rhode"3:22
15."Comet"4:30
Total length:62:15

Notes

  • "Darkest Hour" does not appear on physical editions of the album.
  • "Gole Bi Goldoon" is a cover of "Gole Bee Goldoon", performed by Googoosh.
  • "Human Nature" has been updated since its original release on the 2018 extended play The Calling. It is 53 seconds shorter in length and features new string sections.

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.

  • Composed by: Sevdaliza, Mucky, Leon Den Engelsen, Mihai Puscoiu, Joel Dieleman, Raven Aartsen, Ludowic
  • Mixed by: Sevdaliza and Mucky
  • Mastered by: Mucky

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 28 August 2020
Twisted Elegance [22]
CD [23]
  • LP
  • limited LP
 [24][25]

References
  1. "SEVDALIZA on Instagram: "Shab شب Night Rang رنگ Color SHABRANG My Second Album Arrives August 28 Pre-order is available now (LINK IN BIO) My beloved..."". Retrieved 2020-08-17 – via Instagram.
  2. "Sevdaliza announces sophomore album Shabrang". Consequence of Sound. 2020-07-29. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  3. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/265587-sevdaliza-shabrang.php
  4. "Hear Sevdaliza's new song "Darkest Hour"". The Fader. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  5. "Sevdaliza Drops Surprise 'Martyr' Video". Paper. 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  6. "SEVDALIZA on Instagram: "Producing This Next Album Has Been A Hell Of A Ride. Two Years Of Long Days And Longer Nights, I Wouldn't Trade This Life For Anything..."". Retrieved 2020-08-17 – via Instagram.
  7. Kohner, Kyle. "ALBUM REVIEW: SEVDALIZA – SHABRANG". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  8. "Sevdaliza Returns With New Protest Song "Oh My God"". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  9. "SEVDALIZA - OH MY GOD - YouTube". Retrieved 2020-08-17 – via YouTube.c.
  10. "SEVDALIZA on Instagram: "Lamp Lady My New Single March 18 Artwork By Tre Koch"". Retrieved 2020-08-17 – via Instagram.
  11. "Iran-born Dutch artist Sevdaliza's "Lamp Lady" is gorgeously alluring". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  12. "Shabrang - Sevdaliza". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  13. Lodewick, Colin. "Sevdaliza: Shabrang Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  14. "Sevdaliza - Shabrang ALBUM REVIEW - YouTube". The Needle Drop (YouTube). Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  15. "SEVDALIZA on Instagram: "Joanna New Single May 27 Photography by Zahra Reijs"". Retrieved 2020-08-17 – via Instagram.
  16. "Sevdaliza shares "Joanna" from upcoming album". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  17. "SEVDALIZA - JOANNA". Retrieved 2020-08-17 – via YouTube.
  18. Fulton, Nick (2020-08-26). "On Shabrang, Sevdaliza lets us explore her subconscious". i-D. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  19. "SEVDALIZA on Instagram: "Habibi Proud to present you the new single Habibi of my forthcoming album "Shabrang". Now on all streaming services. Movie coming soon.…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  20. "SEVDALIZA - HABIBI - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  21. "Goodbye 2020: A lookback at some of our favourite albums". MusicNGear.
  22. "Shabrang by Sevdaliza". Apple Music. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  23. "Shabrang CD". Sevdaliza. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  24. "Shabrang Vinyl". Sevdaliza. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  25. "Shabrang Vinyl Limited Edition". Sevdaliza. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
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