Soraia
Soraia is a Philadelphia-based alternative rock n' roll / post-grunge musical band that has been influential in the culture with their extensive accolades, aggression, and melodies influenced by a variety of '70s-'90s acts such as L7, Concrete Blonde, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, among others. The band's name, Soraia, is based on Mansour's first name and translates to, "bright guiding star" in Arabic. Soraia has crafted a unique and captivating musical style with an incredible roster. Fronted by the dynamic and powerhouse lead vocalist ZouZou Mansour. One of their major achievements was the release of their collaborative effort titled In the Valley of Love and Guns, (released on February 16, 2013). The project was co-written by industry heavyweights Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Falcon, and fellow bandmate Travis Smith. Jon Bon Jovi met the band in 2012 after scouting for EMI Records. This album garnered attention and started a relationship with Steven Van Zandt, known for his work with The Sopranos and E Street Band, leading to rotation on his influential radio station Little Steven's Underground Garage. Following this success, Soraia performed their live studio album Soraia Lives! in late 2014. It featured covers produced by Steven Van Zandt, including a punk interpretation of David Bowie's "Cat People (Putting Out Fires with Gasoline)" and a powerful rendition of the Kinks' "(I'm Not) Like Everybody Else." "(I'm Not) Like Everybody Else" spent ten weeks on the South American charts, reaching #1 on Valentine's Day in 2015.
Continuing their momentum, Soraia released their first vinyl-pressed EP Less Than Zero in 2015 and received widespread acclaim for their energetic live performances. In 2016, their single "Electrocutioner" was chosen as the "#1 Coolest Song of the Year" on Little Steven Van Zandt's Underground Garage, solidifying their status as one of the hottest acts in the rock scene. Van Zandt was so impressed with their talent that he signed Soraia to his Wicked Cool label. In 2017, Soraia entered Renegade Nation Studios in New York City, where they worked with Steven Van Zandt to produce two tracks: a cover of Prince's "Wow" and an original composition titled "Why," specifically written for the band. The rest of the album was co-produced by Soraia and Geoff Sanoff, showcasing their growth and evolution as artists. The full-length album Dead Reckoning was released on October 13, 2017. Since then, the band has released several singles and albums all of which received praise from media outlets such as NPR (National Public Radio), Rolling Stone Magazine, Philadelphia Weekly, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Joan Jett gave the band the cover sticker quote for their last studio album, Bloom (2022), stating ”Soraia is an extraordinary, exciting, and ‘sure to make waves’ band who I love and admire." Their recent single “Black Magic Woman” released on September 15, 2023, is a soulful and darkened cover of Carlos Santana’s rendition.