Atoosa has this simple yet haunting voice that draws your attention regardless of your taste in music
Atoosa has a couple of albums out to this date that are self-produced. The first one is called Out of the Jar, and her second work Sound Travels Up has been nominated for best Female Singer Songwriter album of the year in the Just Plain Folks Independent Music Awards 2002. Listening to her music, I would not have guessed in my wildest imagination that she lives in downtown Manhattan. Her music is so mellow and at times so folksy that I pictured her strumming a guitar on the green pastures of some rural area underneath the shadow of a lone tree on top of a hill. And by folksy, I'm not talking about Shekaar-eh Ahoo or Damkol-Damkol. Cause Atoosa sings in English and the only Iranian thing about her is her name.
Personally, I like the Out of the Jar album better than Sound Travels Up. The first album has rich textures of violin, cello and percussion along with beautiful vocal harmonies, whereas the second album tends to have more of a folk acoustic guitar sound to it. And maybe my preference has to do with the fact that a mellow pop style mixed with folk is not exactly my favorite type of music. I guess if I had to find a similar artist that resembles her work, I would have to pick Tori Amos. So if you enjoy an intelligent blend of pop with folk, then you definitely should check out her works.
Atoosa has this simple yet haunting voice that draws your attention regardless of your taste in music. But I do believe that her voice has indeed matured in the second album.
Next to her soothing voice she has a number of strengths one of which is her ability to write such beautiful lyrics. Another strength of her is her musicianship both on the piano and the guitar. And most importantly she continues to play live for her fans in New York. She is currently working on her third release, which shall be available in the summer. If you would like to see her live, you can see her in action on the 9th of April in Sidewalk café on 94th avenue. Of course, you would have to make it to Manhattan first!
