We’ve had this EP on our radar ever since the magical ‘MY LOVE YOUR LOVE’ dropped earlier this year. It’s taken a minute to finally share its wonders with you, but the wait feels worth it.

London ethio-jazz duo ZENA announce themselves with quiet confidence on their debut EP, TEMESGEN, the Amharic phrase for “Thank God,” spoken by mothers upon receiving good news. Producer-keyboardist Yohan Kebede and bassist-producer Menelik have crafted a six-track odyssey that moves fluidly between tradition and experimentation, reshaping Ethiopian music for a new generation while remaining rooted in its spiritual earthiness.

Lead single ‘MY LOVE YOUR LOVE’ simmers with psychedelic funk and dub, threading Raya and Lasta grooves into hypnotic, trance-like flow. The collaboration with Meron T. on ‘IT’S YOU (ANTE NEH)’ offers elegant restraint.  ZENA’s greatest strength lies in what they leave unplayed. Traditional pentatonic melodies interweave with jazz, Latin, and soul, the London in them meeting the Ethiopia in them in quiet conversation.

This is not nostalgic music. It asks you to remain, to sit with warmth, improvisation, and the gentle push between memory and innovation.

We’ve had some seriously strong debut releases (listen, listen) this year. Add this one to the list.