Z-Star
Encyclopedia
Z-Star (aka Zee Gachette) is a British
/Trinidad
ian singer, songwriter, musician and producer, currently based in Brighton
, UK.
, East London to Trinidadian parents. Her mother, Lisa Yeates (known as ‘Schultzi’) was a celebrated international model and local entrepreneur in the B&B and catering business. Her father, Kenneth McKell, is a Business Consultant and a bass guitarist.
(now part of Island Records
). However, the company went into liquidation prior to the album release.
Z* gathered a serious underground following with her residency at the Vibe Bar on Brick Lane (London), as the ringleader and curator of Entry Level & Worship. Curating and introducing the audience to artists such as Shingai Shoniwa
(The Noisettes
), Nemo Jones (Faithless
) and Keziah Jones
.
It was through these residencies in 2002 that Z* was introduced to two times Danish Grammy nominee and dance music producer, Morten Varano (Murena Records, Voodoo Recordings & DRAMA!king). He was then responsible for pairing Puddu Varano with Z-Star (otherwise known as Lady Z) for the 12 inch release of “Blue Sky White Sand” which hit the number one slot on UK and Danish
Radio 1 DJ favourites’ list. Shortly after, Lady Z and Morten decided to create SlowTrainSoul (originally named SlowTrain).
Their first album, “Illegal Cargo" (licensed to Tommy Boy Records
in the States and Playground in Europe) was favored by the Los Angeles
radio stations and venues, and had tracks featured on many HBO TV Series including Six Feet Under, Ugly Betty
, Californication
and CSI: Miami
. In addition, tracks were aired in France
, the Nordics
, Russia
, Italy
, Greece
, Spain
…gathering an underground following, which now spans far beyond Europe
into Korea
, the Philippines
, Canada
and Australia
.
In 2003, shortly after the release of her first SlowTrainSoul album, while performing her acoustic
soul
jazz
material in Rome
, she was spotted by Francesca Bianchi (currently Gabin’s Manager) of EMI
. Within weeks, the president of EMI
(which later became Virgin EMI) signed Z-Star for a four album global deal. The first single was “Lost Highway”, and the album was “Who Loves Lives” (co-produced with her bass player, Vezio Bacci) in 2004.
She performed on Top of the Pops, Festival Bar, MTV
Live and major festivals as well as receiving national radio
airplay.
Next came the second SlowTrainSoul album “Santimanitay” (licensed to Quango
in the States).
Many people will be familiar with the music from hearing tracks from both albums on compilation albums such as Buddha Bar, Nirvana Lounge and Hotel Costes.
In 2009, Z* returned to her acoustic roots and recorded her fifth album "Masochists & Martyrs" - inspired by and dedicated to her mother, Schultzi. The songs depict how love shapes us and ultimately how love reveals the masochist and martyr within us all. Released on her independent label, Muthastar Records, set up with business partner, Lucy Anderson. The album has been deemed "a creative masterpiece" by Blues&Soul magazine.
Recently touring Europe and Russia, as well as collaborating with world champion loopmaster and beatboxer Shlomo
, performing with Nigel Kennedy
at BergenFest, Polish Woodstock and Ronnie Scotts as well as on his new Sony/BMG album, Arthur Brown (musician)
at the Ray Davies Meltdown at Southbank Centre, and Jarek Smietana.
(The Last Poet’s) and musicians, Marque Gilmore and Michael Mondesir.
In 2002, Z* performed at the Royal Albert Hall in the celebrity cast of “The Vagina Monologues
” alongside Isabella Rossellini
, Myeera Syal and Beverley Knight
.
As well as playing a striking femme fatale role in Oliver Ashton’s dance short “The Jaffa Man” previewed in 2003 on BBC1 and at many film festivals nationwide.
, The Doors
, Peter Green
&Fleetwood Mac
, Yusef Lateef
, Meshell Ndegeocello, Miles Davis
, Joan Armatrading
, Bob Marley
, Lauren Hill
, Erykah Badu
, The Roots
, Keziah Jones
, Johnny Cash
, Ástor Piazzolla
, Shuggie Ottis, Chuck Berry
, Stevie Wonder
, Marvin Gaye
, Alice Coltrane
, Chris Pierce
, Cat Stevens
, Terry Callier
, 4 Hero, Fink, Mos Def
, Zero 7
, Massive Attack
, Thomas Dybdal, Shadow
, Billie Holiday
, Sarah Vaughn and Belo Velos.
Z* has written, recorded and performed with Terry Callier
, Nigel Kennedy
, Keziah Jones
, Richie Havens
, Meshell Ndegeocello, Max Sedgley
, George Benson
, Sinéad O’Connor, Matthew Herbert
, Natacha Atlas
, Youssu Ndour, Angelique Kidjo
, Noel Mckoy
, Omar
, Youssu Ndour, Baby Charles and Isabella Rossellini
. Many collaborations with Sunlightsquare
over the years, in 2008 their cover of Pastime Paradise
was featured by Gilles Peterson
on his Radio BBC1 show, and Sunlightsquare have remixed Z-Star's 2011 UK summer single, Tension.
Studio albums - SlowTrainSoul
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
/Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
ian singer, songwriter, musician and producer, currently based in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, UK.
Early life
Z* was born in HackneyLondon Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, East London to Trinidadian parents. Her mother, Lisa Yeates (known as ‘Schultzi’) was a celebrated international model and local entrepreneur in the B&B and catering business. Her father, Kenneth McKell, is a Business Consultant and a bass guitarist.
Musical career
Z* left Trinidad at 18 years old to pursue her musical career in London. She started busking and doing gigs, and was soon signed to the President of A&M RecordsA&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
(now part of Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
). However, the company went into liquidation prior to the album release.
Z* gathered a serious underground following with her residency at the Vibe Bar on Brick Lane (London), as the ringleader and curator of Entry Level & Worship. Curating and introducing the audience to artists such as Shingai Shoniwa
Shingai Shoniwa
Shingai Elizabeth Maria Shoniwa is an English singer of Zimbabwean descent and best known as the vocalist and bassist for the UK indie rock band Noisettes...
(The Noisettes
The Noisettes
Noisettes are an English indie rock band from London, comprising singer and bassist Shingai Shoniwa, guitarist Dan Smith, and drummer Jamie Morrison...
), Nemo Jones (Faithless
Faithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...
) and Keziah Jones
Keziah Jones
Keziah Jones is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He describes his musical style as "Blufunk", which is a fusion between raw blues elements and hard, edgy funk rhythms...
.
It was through these residencies in 2002 that Z* was introduced to two times Danish Grammy nominee and dance music producer, Morten Varano (Murena Records, Voodoo Recordings & DRAMA!king). He was then responsible for pairing Puddu Varano with Z-Star (otherwise known as Lady Z) for the 12 inch release of “Blue Sky White Sand” which hit the number one slot on UK and Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Radio 1 DJ favourites’ list. Shortly after, Lady Z and Morten decided to create SlowTrainSoul (originally named SlowTrain).
Their first album, “Illegal Cargo" (licensed to Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Entertainment is an independent record label started in 1981 by Tom Silverman.-History:...
in the States and Playground in Europe) was favored by the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
radio stations and venues, and had tracks featured on many HBO TV Series including Six Feet Under, Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
, Californication
Californication (TV series)
Californication is an American comedy-drama that premiered on Showtime on August 13, 2007. The show was created by Tom Kapinos. The protagonist, Hank Moody , is a troubled novelist whose move to California, coupled with his writer's block, complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend...
and CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
. In addition, tracks were aired in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the Nordics
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
…gathering an underground following, which now spans far beyond Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
into Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In 2003, shortly after the release of her first SlowTrainSoul album, while performing her acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
material in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, she was spotted by Francesca Bianchi (currently Gabin’s Manager) of EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. Within weeks, the president of EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
(which later became Virgin EMI) signed Z-Star for a four album global deal. The first single was “Lost Highway”, and the album was “Who Loves Lives” (co-produced with her bass player, Vezio Bacci) in 2004.
She performed on Top of the Pops, Festival Bar, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Live and major festivals as well as receiving national radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
airplay.
Next came the second SlowTrainSoul album “Santimanitay” (licensed to Quango
Quango
Quango or qango is an acronym used notably in the United Kingdom, Ireland and elsewhere to label an organisation to which government has devolved power...
in the States).
Many people will be familiar with the music from hearing tracks from both albums on compilation albums such as Buddha Bar, Nirvana Lounge and Hotel Costes.
In 2009, Z* returned to her acoustic roots and recorded her fifth album "Masochists & Martyrs" - inspired by and dedicated to her mother, Schultzi. The songs depict how love shapes us and ultimately how love reveals the masochist and martyr within us all. Released on her independent label, Muthastar Records, set up with business partner, Lucy Anderson. The album has been deemed "a creative masterpiece" by Blues&Soul magazine.
Recently touring Europe and Russia, as well as collaborating with world champion loopmaster and beatboxer Shlomo
Shlomo
Shlomo, meaning God's peace, is a common Hebrew male given name.It also means Hello in syriacThe following individuals are often referred to only by the name Shlomo:* Solomon* Shlomo...
, performing with Nigel Kennedy
Nigel Kennedy
Nigel Kennedy is a British born violinist and violist. He made his early career in the classical field, and he has performed and recorded most of the major violin concerti...
at BergenFest, Polish Woodstock and Ronnie Scotts as well as on his new Sony/BMG album, Arthur Brown (musician)
Arthur Brown (musician)
Arthur Brown is an English rock and roll musician best known for his flamboyant, theatrical style and significant influence on Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Marilyn Manson, George Clinton, Kiss, King Diamond, and Bruce Dickinson, among others, and for his number one hit in the UK Singles Chart and...
at the Ray Davies Meltdown at Southbank Centre, and Jarek Smietana.
Theatrical career
In 2001, Z* had a role in Mannafest’s production of “The Mango Lick” (a combination of poetry, music and theatre) directed by Rayshell, performing alongside Umar Bin HassanUmar Bin Hassan
Umar Bin Hassan is an African-American poet associated with The Last Poets. He sold his younger sister's record player to purchase a bus ticket to New York City, where he joined the Last Poets...
(The Last Poet’s) and musicians, Marque Gilmore and Michael Mondesir.
In 2002, Z* performed at the Royal Albert Hall in the celebrity cast of “The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues is an episodic play written by Eve Ensler which ran at the Off Broadway Westside Theatre after a limited run at AFRICA in 1996. Ensler originally starred in the production which was produced by David Stone, Nina Essman, Dan Markley, The Araca Group, Willa Shalit, Mike Skipper...
” alongside Isabella Rossellini
Isabella Rossellini
Isabella Fiorella Elettra Giovanna Rossellini is an Italian actress, filmmaker, author, philanthropist, and model. Rossellini is noted for her 14-year tenure as a Lancôme model, and for her roles in films such as Blue Velvet and Death Becomes Her.-Background and early life:Rossellini is a...
, Myeera Syal and Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight MBE is a British soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer who released her debut album in 1995. Heavily influenced by soul greats such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Knight has released six studio albums to date...
.
As well as playing a striking femme fatale role in Oliver Ashton’s dance short “The Jaffa Man” previewed in 2003 on BBC1 and at many film festivals nationwide.
Influences and Collaborations
Z-Star’s influences have been cited as Nina SimoneNina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
, The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
&Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
, Yusef Lateef
Yusef Lateef
Dr. Yusef Lateef is an American Grammy Award-winning jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator and a spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community after his conversion to the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam in 1950.Although Lateef's main instruments are the tenor saxophone and flute, he is known for...
, Meshell Ndegeocello, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, MBE is a British singer, songwriter and guitarist. Armatrading is a three-time Grammy Award-nominee and has been nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist...
, Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
, Lauren Hill
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...
, Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
, The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
, Keziah Jones
Keziah Jones
Keziah Jones is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He describes his musical style as "Blufunk", which is a fusion between raw blues elements and hard, edgy funk rhythms...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music...
, Shuggie Ottis, Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane, née McLeod was an American jazz pianist, organist, harpist, and composer.-Biography:...
, Chris Pierce
Chris Pierce
-Early life:Chris Pierce is a soul singer and songwriter born in California. As a boy, he pursued acting and singing in local theater presentations, and appearing on notable television shows....
, Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
, Terry Callier
Terry Callier
Terrence O. Callier, known as Terry Callier is an American jazz, soul and folk guitarist and singer-songwriter.-Life and career:...
, 4 Hero, Fink, Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, Zero 7
Zero 7
Zero 7 is a British musical duo consisting of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. The group members began their musical careers as studio engineers and in 1997 formed the group Zero 7. Their debut album, Simple Things was released in 2001 and received critical acclaim...
, Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
, Thomas Dybdal, Shadow
Shadow
A shadow is an area where direct light from a light source cannot reach due to obstruction by an object. It occupies all of the space behind an opaque object with light in front of it. The cross section of a shadow is a two-dimensional silhouette, or reverse projection of the object blocking the...
, Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, Sarah Vaughn and Belo Velos.
Z* has written, recorded and performed with Terry Callier
Terry Callier
Terrence O. Callier, known as Terry Callier is an American jazz, soul and folk guitarist and singer-songwriter.-Life and career:...
, Nigel Kennedy
Nigel Kennedy
Nigel Kennedy is a British born violinist and violist. He made his early career in the classical field, and he has performed and recorded most of the major violin concerti...
, Keziah Jones
Keziah Jones
Keziah Jones is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He describes his musical style as "Blufunk", which is a fusion between raw blues elements and hard, edgy funk rhythms...
, Richie Havens
Richie Havens
Richard P. "Richie" Havens is an African American folk singer and guitarist. He is best known for his intense, rhythmic guitar style , soulful covers of pop and folk songs, and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.-Career:Born in Brooklyn, Havens was the eldest of nine children...
, Meshell Ndegeocello, Max Sedgley
Max Sedgley
Max Sedgley is a British producer and disc jockey, currently signed to the independent record label, Sunday Best . In 2004, Sedgley released his first single, "Happy", a remix of which was later used by ITV as the theme music to their coverage of the Euro 2004 football tournament...
, George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, Sinéad O’Connor, Matthew Herbert
Matthew Herbert
Matthew Herbert , also known as Herbert, Doctor Rockit, Radio Boy, Mr. Vertigo, Transformer, and Wishmountain, is a British electronic musician...
, Natacha Atlas
Natacha Atlas
Natacha Atlas is a Belgian singer known for her fusion of Arabic and Western electronic music, particularly hip-hop. She once termed her music "cha'abi moderne" . Her music has been influenced by many styles including Arabic, hip hop, drum 'n' bass and reggae.Atlas began her career as part of...
, Youssu Ndour, Angelique Kidjo
Angélique Kidjo
Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo, commonly known as Angélique Kidjo is a Grammy Award–winning Beninoise singer-songwriter and activist, noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos. Time Magazine has called her "Africa's premier diva". The BBC has...
, Noel Mckoy
Noel McKoy
Noel McKoy is a U.K. based soul music singer. His music is a collection of soul, gospel, funk and northern soul intertwined. He also currently owns the Dutch Pot, a nightclub located in London. He has cited his influences as The Beatles, Dennis Brown, Chaka Khan, Martin Luther King and Nelson...
, Omar
Omar
Omar can refer to:-Name:* Omar , including a list of people with the given name or surname Omar, Omer or Umar as well-Places:* Omar, Konar, a village in Afghanistan...
, Youssu Ndour, Baby Charles and Isabella Rossellini
Isabella Rossellini
Isabella Fiorella Elettra Giovanna Rossellini is an Italian actress, filmmaker, author, philanthropist, and model. Rossellini is noted for her 14-year tenure as a Lancôme model, and for her roles in films such as Blue Velvet and Death Becomes Her.-Background and early life:Rossellini is a...
. Many collaborations with Sunlightsquare
Sunlightsquare
Sunlightsquare are a Soul and Latin jazz band led by Italian producer Claudio Passavanti. While the band is sometimes cited as "Sunlight Square", the name is presented as "Sunlightsquare" on their releases....
over the years, in 2008 their cover of Pastime Paradise
was featured by Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson , is a DJ, record collector and record label owner from London, UK. Through his labels Acid Jazz, Talkin' Loud, and latterly Brownswood Recordings, he has been associated with the careers of well-known artists of the 1990s such as Erykah Badu, Roni Size and Jamiroquai...
on his Radio BBC1 show, and Sunlightsquare have remixed Z-Star's 2011 UK summer single, Tension.
Discography
Studio albums-Z-Star- 2010: Masochists & Martyrs
- 2004: Who Loves Lives
- 2000: Voodoo Dragon Risin’
Studio albums - SlowTrainSoul
- 2006 Santimanitay
- 2002 Illegal Cargo