Zahara

Zahara emerged in the late 2000s alongside Russian Red, Anni B Sweet, and Alondra Bentley as one of several fresh Spanish indie folk female singer-songwriters. Born Maria Zahara Gordillo Campos in Jaen in 1983, she composed her first song at age 12. After completing studies in music at both the Conservatorio de Musica de Ubeda and the Universidad de Almeria, she issued her debut album, Dia 913, in 2005. That same year she joined Alfonso Alcala and Pablo Garcia of Applebite to cut an EP under the name Zahara Electrica, drawing from the style of Smashing Pumpkins and Death Cab for Cutie. Her follow-up full-length, La Fabulosa Historia De…, appeared in 2009 and contained the official Vuelta Ciclista a Espana anthem “Merezco”; two years later came La Pareja Toxica. Zahara also contributed to the charity single “Ay Haiti,” joined Love of Lesbian on an Antonio Vega tribute album, and played a cheerleader in the film La Mujer America.