Zaritza’s “Slot Machine” is a declaration of female empowerment and self-affirmation. It is an exploration of emotion, obsession… and sex. Sex with a capital S-E-X.
The video opens with the singer waking in bed with her lover. As he caresses her, she rises and walks away. Her words make it clear though that she will be back. She sings of her insatiable desire to resume their previous night’s lovemaking. However, before she returns to him, the beautiful singer joins a roomful of equally beautiful dancers for some of the hottest choreography since Madonna’s “Erotic.”
As Ms. Ciccone did in that 1992 classic, Zaritza wields the power of her sexuality. Even as she sings of being a slave to her man, it is clear that she is in control. She may be a slot machine, but it is all her idea. This is a woman stating her demands in no uncertain terms. And she is getting what she wants.
Musically the track is dark and wildly creative. The low rumbling synth bass sets a cool and ominous mood. Big ambient acoustic and electronic drums reverberate through the track. Slow keyboard arpeggios and the swell of backward guitar chords add shades of Massive Attack and Bjork.
Zaritza’s vocals are a perfect match for both the Trip-Hop production and the sensual subject matter. She is clearly a skilled singer and pours emotion into her words. It is impossible not to be drawn into the song.
The video is expertly directed and visually stunning. I recommend checking out Zaritza’s Instagram page for some cool behind the scenes pics and footage. It is a beautiful and sexy work of short cinema. You will find yourself clicking the “Replay” button more than once. However, you may want to wait until you leave the office for the day.
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Here is what Zaritza says about Zaritza…
We could stick to the facts, and they’d surely be intriguing enough to prompt you to listen to Zaritza. We could tell you about her origins: how she was born in a remote Russian village and emigrated to the United States to follow her musical dreams. We could tell you about her training and musical background – her engagement with Russian composers and European electronic producers, her training in classical piano, traditional folk dance and ballet, and enthusiasm for modern pop. We could share her varied accomplishments, including her opening date for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, her TED Talk on the subject of Rachmaninoff, and her acclaimed self-titled 2017 album. Or we could tell you that “Zaritza” blends two Russian words: “zarya” meaning the intense bright light appearing before the sunrise or sunset, and “tsaritza” translating as queen.
But none of that would do justice to the aura of mystery and sophistication that hangs around Zaritza. Her music, her videos, her persona, her presence: they’re all unusual, deeply sensual, strikingly exotic, mesmerizing as a hypnotist’s watch. To understand Zaritza, it’s necessary to immerse yourself in her music – and once you do, you’re unlikely ever to forget the experience. With its whispering synthesizers and slinky, propulsive beats, “Slot Machine,” her latest single, might be the most intoxicating thing she’s ever cut. It’s modern pop, for sure, but it’s dream-drunk and darkly erotic, and it’s graced by a siren’s call of a lead vocal. As she always does, she’s applied everything she’s learned about composition and song structure to her distinctive version of electronic pop, and she’s reaped artistic dividends.