Zelda Weber: Rose Thorne

Here she is again, that young, determined, and absolutely self-assured voice behind a façade of shyness. The voice of Zelda. Her instrument – although not her only one. Two years ago, in 2023, she was still considered the "Next Big Thing." She received plenty of accolades for her debut album "Crude." "Die Presse" praised her vocal skills, noting that "her style is not entirely coincidentally reminiscent of Amy Winehouse," while "profil" recognized "music that thrives on retro charm but looks straight into the future." FM4 played songs like "Oblivious" and "Go!" on repeat (even Ö3 took notice!) – and Hubert von Goisern handed her his very own personal newcomer award. It couldn’t have gone better.

And now, here comes the second album. "Rose Thorne," as the title suggests, is less flowery and more thorny. Yet it is still intensely fragrant, seductive, and in full bloom. This bouquet of songs was produced by Paul Gallister, who one might not necessarily expect to be in the studio with a distinctive artist like Zelda Weber after his success with Wanda.

But it is precisely this combination that sets her Progressive Soul Pop – the genre Zelda herself has assigned to her creation – apart from the majority of Austrian releases. It could also attract international attention. This is indicated by her switch to a new label based in Germany, which will provide impulses in this direction.

"Rose Thorne" is certainly not an album to be listened to casually. It demands attention – and rewards with depth, feeling, and substance. Zelda Weber is not only a singer; she writes her own songs, plays piano and guitar, and manages her band, The Rosettes. She also designs the graphics for her CD and vinyl covers herself.

Since her debut album in 2023, Zelda Weber has played nearly eighty concerts – from intimate club gigs to festival stages like the Donauinselfest, Burg Clam, Most & Jazz, or the Vinyl & Music Festival. She has been both a headliner and a support act for bands like Buntspecht, Count Basic, and Hubert von Goisern. The artist, born in Cologne, still lives in Vienna but already has her sights set on London.