'Ghosts from the Past' by Sarife

Fresh from her scene-stealing appearances on the Angel of Libra's 'Road to Mandalay' released earlier this year, Sarife Afonso unveils her long-in-the-works debut album in 'Ghosts from the Past' through Waterfall Records.

The transition from the Angel of Libra's brand of 60's-inspired, dusty analogue-tinged explosive soul to the smoother R&B and neo-soul aesthetic of her new solo offering is indicative of Sarife's over-arching versatility.

Based in Hamburg, Germany, Sarife's initial forays into music took shape through musical theatre training that found her gracing international stages to significant acclaim.  As a finalist at Los Angeles' World Championship of Performing Arts, Sarife's indelible gifts clearly pointed to a bright future early within her career despite ultimately leading to a transition away from the theatre stages and more towards the singer-songwriter realm.

While undoubtedly adept at tackling any role she would so choose, the allure of Sarife as a solo artist absolutely proved to be the path of greater significance.  Even delving into just a few of the tracks from 'Ghosts from the Past', the honesty and sincerity that Afonso pours into her music - certainly as a vocalist but also as a writer - is definitively evident.  And in many ways, that's what 'Ghosts from the Past' is - an open letter to past feelings, emotions and dynamics that have all helped to shape the young vocalist into the budding artist that Afonso has now become.  It's a sentiment elegantly captured in the album's opening number 'Ghosts' which expertly balances a haunting undertone with an infectious vocal; while a song that exudes optimism, in many ways it's a song that begins with its revelatory conclusion: "I'm no longer haunted by my ghosts".

It's particularly exciting to see the Angels of Libra connection impact the album in positive ways as well - with production throughout by Libra guitarist Dennis Rux (alongside Tobias Held and Laura Hofer), the band score a co-credit when appearing on the album's Latin-tinged closing number, 'Una Última Vez'.  An excellent number that slightly recontextualises the music listeners tend to normally expect from the German soul collective. 

And similarly, 'Ghosts from the Past' achieves that same accomplishment for Afonso herself.  While sounding effortlessly at home on songs that showcase her powerhouse vocal for northern soul stompers, Sarife's debut full-length demonstrates an entirely new perspective for her music that finds her just as comfortable on songs that pay loving homage to artists like Jill Scott and Lalah Hathaway who prove as pivotal to her musical make-up as say Aretha Franklin.  

As a deeply personal project, 'Ghosts from the Past' finds Sarife tackling themes of identity, heartbreak and self doubt with earnestness, emerging with renewed confidence and poise.