During the shelter-in-place quarantine of 2020, the second album of the amazingly-talented Zephahiah Ohora was on heavy rotation from my garage stereo. Listening to the Music (2020), like This Highway before it, is the glistening kind of record that makes me wish I was an influential music writer or posted things to a blog people paid attention to. Following Zeph on social media for a few years now, I’ve enjoyed learning what a humble, earnest dude and what a truly professional songwriter he is.
My intro to Zeph came via Jon Graboff, one of the most talented pedal steel guitarists in music, whose social media I have also been following for a while. Jon mentioned being proud of the work he’d put down for Zeph’s This Highway. While Jon’s playing is always superb, it seems so perfectly intwined in the songs that it’s hard to believe the two are merely session mates and not joined-at-the-hip touring mates, as Jon and the late great Neal Casal were.
And then there’s the Neal Casal influence. Neal produced Listening to the Music and although I’m not familiar enough with his production work, it warms my heart to know that the record is imprinted with Neal’s spirit, as one of the last projects he was involved with before his passing.
Zeph’s words suggest to me that it’s not easy being an old country soul living in New York City–or anywhere–these days. I hope he’s doing well enough with his Bandcamp and other support to continue to do what he does because his honest, authentic songs are a gift to us all.
“People think you have to be from Texas or Nashville to play this music,” says Zephaniah OHora, “but that’s not the way I see it. Country’s all about being true to yourself and telling honest, authentic stories. You can do that anywhere.”
from zephaniahohora.com