S02E07 - ZouZou Mansour and the Music of Soraia
In this episode, hosts Charles and Doug engage with ZouZou Mansour, the dynamic lead singer of the Philadelphia-based band Soraia. Soraia has opened for major bands like Joan Jet and Jon Bon Jovi. ZouZou reflects on her earliest concert experiences, including how seeing Hall and Oates and Iggy Pop significantly shaped her musical path. The conversation explores Soraia’s discography, their fan interactions, and their collaboration with major artists like Steven Van Zandt and Jon Bon Jovi. Additionally, listeners get tantalizing details about the band’s upcoming vinyl re-release of 'Shed the Skin,' their social media presence, and upcoming shows.
Seeing Them Live · ZouZou Mansour, Doug Florzak, Charles Zona
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Show Notes
In this engaging episode of Seeing Them Live, hosts Charles and Doug welcome ZouZou Mansour. Along with drummer Brianna Sig and bassist Travis Smith (both musical and visual artists in their own right), ZouZou is the dynamic lead singer and lyricist of Philadelphia's rock band Soraia. Among other artists, ZouZou has co-written songs with Steven Van Zandt and Jon Bon Jovi.
Join Charles and Doug as we explore these and other topics with ZouZou:
- What was ZouZou’s first concert?
- What artist influenced ZouZou to change the course of her career?
- What happened when she and her band met Alice Cooper backstage at a Bruce Springsteen concert?
- What is it like to work with Steven Van Zandt?
- What is Soraia’s methodology for naming their albums?
- What influenced the naming of their “Bloom” album?
- Why is ZouZou attracted to the horror genre?
- Why does Soraia like to record cover songs?
- What is the Soraia “Vault”?
- Why does ZouZou love hot dogs?
The discussion charts ZouZou’s musical journey, beginning with her early concert experiences seeing Hall and Oates to a transformative Iggy Pop performance that reshaped her artistic approach. We delve into Soraia's unique blend of 90s influences and 60s garage rock, their evolution over three impactful albums produced under Little Steven Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records, and the band’s dedicated fan base. ZouZou shares insights into her songwriting process, the raw, uninhibited spirit of rock and roll, and her penchant for horror-themed music videos. Fans can also look forward to Soraia's re-release of 'Shed the Skin' on vinyl and upcoming shows. The light-hearted conversation wraps up with a fun note on ZouZou's love of hot dogs, and where fans can find Soraia's music and merchandise online.
BANDS MENTIONED: Alice Cooper, Bee Gees, Billy Falcon, Brianna Sig, Bruce Springsteen, Clarence Clemons, Concrete Blonde, Daryl Hall, E Street Band, Elvis Presley, Hall and Oates, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Jon Bon Jovi, Nirvana, P. J. Harvey, The Pretenders, Prince, Soraia, Steven Van Zandt, Stooges, The Kills, Travis Smith, Tropical Fuckstorm, ZouZou Mansoor.
VENUES MENTIONED: CBGB (New York), Le Poisson Rouge (New York), Liar's Club (Chicago), Spectrum (Philadelphia)
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