Zara McFarlane (born 1983) is a British music artist, singer, songwriter, composer, vocal coach and playwright based in East London, England. The critically acclaimed singer has released five albums under her own name. Jazzwise magazine wrote that McFarlane "is one of the UK’s pre-eminent jazz vocalists and composers". She is a multi-award winner, including a MOBO Awards., two Jazz FM awards and an Urban Music award.

Early life Zara McFarlane was born in London, England, in 1983 and grew up on the borders of East London and Essex. She was born to parents of Jamaican heritage, which has had a big influence on her musical tastes. At the age of 14, she performed on the national TV show Stars In Their Eyes, performing as Lauryn Hill.

At the age of 16, McFarlane studied Musical theatre at the BRIT School. She went on to the study at Vocaltech, achieving a first-class Honours BMUS in Popular Music Performance. In 2022, after completing a master's degree in jazz studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she was awarded a Fellowship.

In addition, McFarlane developed her skills in jazz through music development organisation Tomorrow's Warriors,"Zara McFarlane… Until Tomorrow", Tomorrow’s Warriors, 22 October 2011. where she met many of the musicians she performs and collaborates with today.

Career McFarlane's self-released her debut album, Until Tomorrow, in 2011. It garnered the attention of British DJ and producer Gilles Peterson, who released it on his label Brownswood Recordings in 2011. Music critics Daniel Garrett hailed McFarlane's "bell-like voice" and Bruce Lindsay at All About Jazz wrote: "Until Tomorrow is filled with musical treasures, waiting to be discovered."

McFarlane's second album, If You Knew Her, was released in 2014.Brian Mansfield's review of You'll Get Me In Trouble video, USA Today, 30 December 2013. Ben Ratliff at The New York Times commented that "its identity derives from Ms. McFarlane's clear, elegant voice, and the musicians' training and influences".Ben Ratliff's playlist featuring George Cables and Zara McFarlane, The New York Times, 24 January 2014. While she was touring in support of the album, music critic John Fordham remarked on her "magnetic eloquence".John Fordham, "Zara McFarlane – review" (Zara McFarlane at XOYO), The Guardian, 13 February 2014.

McFarlane's third release, 2017's Arise, was produced by British drummer Moses Boyd. It received a 4-star review from The Guardian.

Her 2020 album Songs of An Unknown Tongue was born out of her extended trip to Jamaica in 2018 to research the early folk rhythms unique to the island. In a culmination of this research and a subversion of the colonial legacy of slavery, McFarlane teamed up with London producers Kwake Bass and Wu-Lu to explore a meeting point between current electronic sounds and the historic traditional rhythms of Jamaica.

In 2021, McFarlane was commissioned by Los Angeles-based experimental dance company Jacob Jonas The Company to compose, produce and perform the music for the short dance film DisInteGrated. Choreographed and directed by Wade Robson and Tony Testa, the piece won a Los Angeles Movie Award for Best Experimental Short in 2022.

McFarlane's 2024 release Sweet Whispers: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan is a homage to one of her idols on her centenary year. It marks her first release on !K7 Music/Eternal Source of Light. The album was developed in collaboration with producer, clarinetist and saxophonist Giacomo Smith. The Guardians John Fordham listed it as Album of the Month and gave it a 4-star review in which he wrote: "The British jazz singer pays homage to Vaughan with earthiness and spontaneity: an animated reinvention of these classics." In 2024, she celebrated Vaughan's centenary year in concert with Gast Waltzing and the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra.  

In 2024, McFarlane performed the National Anthem at the FA Cup Final in Wembley Stadium.

McFarlane has collaborated with a wide range of artists across various genres, including DJ's Nicola Conte, Little Louie Vega and Nicola Conte, electronica musician Manu Delago, dub producer Dennis Bovell, British musicians Gary Crosby's Jazz Jamaica, Ezra Collective, Soweto Kinch, Shabaka Hutchings and American trumpeter Leron Thomas.

McFarlane's tracks have been remixed and reworked by British producer Swindle, Viennese Techno Duo Ogris Debris, Ninja Tune's Floating Points, Afro-Funker Osunlade and Space-Jazzers Emanative. McFarlane paid tribute to Tammi Terrell with Norwegian Dj/Producer Dalminjo. She has also been a supporting act for South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and vocalists Gregory Porter, Dianne Reeves and Gwen McCrae.

Theatre In 2018, McFarlane was a featured singer in the Royal Shakespeare Company productions of Anthony and Cleopatra and Swingin' a Dream. The same year, she was featured at Glyndebourne Festival Opera in a new piece by Howard Moody entitled Agreed.

Television and radio In 2014, McFarlane was the solo voice of Skyscanner's 1st TV ad campaign.

Representing Jamaica, McFarlane performed at the Barbican Centre in 2014 as part of the Commonwealth Week celebrating South African musician Hugh Masekela.

In 2015, she performed on an episode of the BBC TV drama The Outcast.

McFarlane has made television appearances on Later... with Jools Holland (BBC Two),Later... With Jools Holland, BBC Two, 22 April 2014. Un Lugar Llamado MundoUn Lugar Llamado Mundo, 16 July 2014. and the live broadcast of Victoires du Jazz.Les Victoires du Jazz , France 3, 13 June 2014. She has also made radio appearances worldwide, with performances on Jamie Cullum's show on BBC Radio 2,Zara McFarlane session on the Jamie Cullum Show, BBC Radio 2, 11 February 2014. NTS RadioNTS Radio Morning Marauders 25 January 2014. and TSF Jazz.TSF Jazz's Disc of the Day , 29 January 2014.

Vocal coaching McFarlane has her own company called Singtivate, where as a vocal coach she teaches privately, in education establishments and with businesses for professional development.

Awards 2012: MOBO Award, Best Jazz Act, Nominee 2014: MOBO Award, Best Jazz Act, Winner 2014: Parliamentary Jazz Award, Vocalist of the Year, Nominee 2015: Urban Music Award, Best Jazz, Winner 2015: Jazz FM Award, Vocalist of the Year, Winner 2015: Worldwide Awards, Album of the Year, Nominee 2015: Parliamentary Jazz Award, Vocalist of the Year, Nominee 2018: Jazz FM Award, Vocalist of the Year, Winner 2018: Worldwide Awards, Session of the Year, Winner 2018: Parliamentary Jazz Award, Vocalist of the Year, Nominee 2020: Best Art Vinyl, Best Art Vinyl 2020, Nominee

Discography As leader 2011: Until Tomorrow (Brownswood) 2014: If You Knew Her (Brownswood) 2017: Arise (Brownswood) 2020: Songs of an Unknown Tongue (Brownswood) 2024: Sweet Whispers: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan (!K7 Music/Eternal Source of Light)

Singles & EP's 2011: Chiaroscuro (Brownswood) 2012: More Than Mine (Brownswood) 2013: Angie La La (Brownswood) 2014: Lazy Afternoon (Brownswood) 2014: Move (Brownswood) 2017: All Africa (Brownswood) 2019: East of the River Nile (Brownswood) 2020: Black Treasure (Brownswood) 2020: Future Echoes (Brownswood) 2020: Everything Is Connected (Brownswood) 2020: Native Nomad (Brownswood) 2020: State of Mind (Brownswood) 2022: DisInteGrated 2024: The Mystery of Man (!K7 Music/Eternal Source of Light) 2024: If You Could See Me Now (!K7 Music/Eternal Source of Light)

As guest 2011: Brownswood Bubblers Seven, Gilles Peterson (Brownswood) 2015: Christmas Soul, Barbara Dennerlein and Magnus Lindgren (MPS

References

External links Official Zara McFarlane website Zara McFarlane Discography at Discogs