Rough Romanian Soul

by Zmei3

supported by

Peter Blatherwick (PeterB on air) thumbnail

	/

Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Physical CD of Rough Romanian Soul

Includes unlimited streaming of Rough Romanian Soul via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 4 days

Purchasable with gift card

$12.99 USD or more
Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$9.99 USD or more

1.	Stai Lângă Mine (Stay Near Me) 05:03	buy track
2.	Imn (Hymn) 05:09	buy track
3.	2 Mai (2nd Of May) 06:19	buy track
4.	Poveste Din Țara Mea (Story From My Country) 04:55	buy track
5.	Shhh!!!...Tot Ce Nu Se Spunea Atunci (Shhh!!!...All The Forbidden Speech) 02:21	buy track
6.	Mărie, Mărie (Mary, Mary) 05:22	buy track
7.	Aș Munci La Plug Și Coasă (To Have You) 04:32	buy track
8.	Până Când Nu Te Iubeam (Since I’ve Been Loving You) 05:58	buy track
9.	Ah! (Ay!) 05:25	buy track
10.	Într-o Zi (One Day) 04:19	buy track
11.	Vreau Un Bărbat (I Want A Man) 02:47	buy track
12.	Somn De Frumusețe (Beauty Sleep) 00:54	buy track
13.	Voi Găsi (I Will Find) 03:18	buy track
14.	Vis (Dream) 08:52	buy track
15.	She's Gone Wild 04:22	buy track

about

Zmei3 (pronounced zmay-tray) is made up of Romanian immigrants whose beautiful and heartfelt music rises from the harsh realities and struggles of a post-Communist rule. Their debut album Rough Romanian Soul (out April 22nd on Six Degrees Records) is produced by GRAMMY® award-winner, Ian Brennan, best known for his work with Tinariwen, Zomba Prison Project, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, and the Malawi Mouse Boys. Zmei3 being huge fans of Brennan’s work, successfully raised funds via Kickstarter to cover recording costs, travel, and more. They flew Brennan to Romania and began recording the album in August 2015 live without overdubs in the Transylvanian mountains, just a stone’s throw away from Dracula’s Castle.

The band is led by powerhouse vocalist, Paula Turcas, a trained, soprano opera singer who gave up classical music in the pursuit of a more truthful artistry grounded in the struggles of everyday life. When she was three years old – the daughter of the village priest – began to sing the traditional Romanian folk songs. She would sing with such despair that when people passed by, her father would lift her up on the table and people would stop and listen with tears in their eyes. Her voice remains so visceral that Berlin’s Der Tagesspiegel newspaper stated, “When Zmei3 are playing, it's not rare that tears are falling in the audience.” Their sound is made all the more unique by featuring vibraphone virtuoso, Oli Bott, for their lead instrument. Mihai Victor Iliescu leads the talented group on guitars and lyrics, with Arnulf Ballhorn on double bass. The band’s name is inspired by an ancient Romanian anti-hero, misfit dragon – a rebellious figure, who rarely prevails, but remains committed to his ideals.

The name of the album, Rough Romanian Soul is an ode to Romanian music entrenched with a deep history of regional blues and soul, as well as the inherent spirituality of their work. Turcas adds, “The land is rough and the people strong, and our legacy is one of survival.” Music from Transylvania is not commonly associated with aggressive styles mashing up blues and soul with influences of jazz, avant-garde, and folk with such introspective topics and emotive soundscapes. But that is exactly what Zmei3 succeeds in doing on their fifteen-track debut. Bott explains, “We had more than three albums worth of material and many of our most famous songs live were left off the album, in exchange for newer and more challenging material.”

credits

released April 22, 2016

license

total		USD

about

Zmei3 Romania

Zmei3 (pronounced zmay-tray) is made up of Romanian immigrants whose beautiful and heartfelt music rises from the harsh realities and struggles of a post-Communist rule. Produced by GRAMMY® award-winner, Ian Brennan.
Recorded live in the Transylvanian mountains.
The band is led by powerhouse vocalist, Paula Turcas. ... more

contact / help

Contact Zmei3

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Zmei3, you may also like:

Mulatu Of Ethiopia
by Mulatu Astatke

supported by 4 fans who also own “Rough Romanian Soul”

A piece of music history! Wonderful sounds that invite you to immerse yourself in a world you do not want to get out of. Favorite track: Mascaram Setaba ( for now..hard to set a favorite) EDub
go to album
The Turbans
by The Turbans

supported by 4 fans who also own “Rough Romanian Soul”

A fantastical hair-raising mix of East and Near-East meeting West to make something truly unique and contemporary. The array of styles and instrumentation on this thing is great - who knew electric guitars would compliment the flutes and drums of traditional Eastern European/Middle Eastern music so well! Xtra Happy
go to album
Con Todo El Mundo (N & S America Edition)
by Khruangbin

supported by 4 fans who also own “Rough Romanian Soul”

Great sound, perfect bass Giovanny Rodriguez
go to album
DOST 1
by Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jul 20, 2021
go to album
At Pioneer Works
by Les Filles de Illighadad

In a live setting, Les Filles de Illighadad get right into the groove. Bandcamp Album of the Day Jul 7, 2021
go to album
OCCii Compilation Deluxe Edition
by Various Artists

This charity compilation will benefit OCCii, an independent music venue in Amsterdam. Bandcamp New & Notable May 7, 2021
go to album
Dark Tea
by Dark Tea

Warm, smoky songs that pull from country and roots-rock, but transform them, centering emotive melodies and sharp songwriting. Bandcamp New & Notable May 1, 2021
go to album