Even without a label-home to speak of yet, it's obvious that Zaki Ibrahim will be making some noise this year. Already touring and sharing the stage with acts like Bedouin Soundclash and Bahamadia, this 22 year old songstress exhibits a vocal and lyrical maturity that feels at home in the company of Jill Scott or Erykah Badu. Enter Canadian-based production team Headnodz, consisting of Kaje Levi and Nick Holder to compliment the honey-voiced Zaki and the results are some timeless nu-soul sounds for the open-minded groove-seeker.

Grow (Original) (

), the A-side to the recently released 12" on Treehouse Records hits with a hard edged boom-bap beat and deep down bassline best suited for speakers of the 10" and larger variety. Zaki appropriately blesses the track with a smooth and rhythmically precise vocal that makes you wonder if she couldn't spit as well as she can sing. Daylight (Radio Mix) () on the other hand veers more towards jazzier side of Trip-hop with dubby horns and a shuffling beat. The lyrics of the song: "I'm lookin at the sky at night wondering if I'll ever see daylight/ truth is I'm stuck in my head with the love of my life," speak of a love so deep and consuming that it eclipses all else. Take a listen and you may find yourself wondering if you'll ever see daylight.