Trust There Is Love

Most genres of music are dominated by vocalists; that is true of everything from rock, R&B, rap, country, and reggae to salsa, Cumbia, and zydeco. But there are exceptions to that rule. Like jazz, new age is dominated by instrumentalists. Nonetheless, new age does have some talented singers. The most famous is Enya, and even though Kathy Zavada isn't as well known as Enya, she has a lot to be proud of. One of the noteworthy CDs that Zavada has released on her own label, Precious Music, is 1997's Trust There Is Love. Like much of Enya's work, this CD has both new age appeal and adult contemporary appeal. New age enthusiasts will appreciate the tranquil spirituality that Zavada brings to sublime offerings like "Wake Me up Lord," "Miracle of Grace," and "Mata Amritanandamayi," all of which underscore her interest in Eastern religion. Although the singer/songwriter isn't knocking Christianity, Judaism, or Islam, it is safe to say that her lyrics owe a lot to the type of Eastern philosophies one associates with Hinduism and Buddhism. Trust There Is Love, unlike 2002's Journey Home, doesn't use tabla drums or any other traditional Indian instruments; nonetheless, the influence of India's Vedic culture is there. Meanwhile, adult contemporary fans will be glad to know that this CD has as much pop appeal as it does. And because the adult contemporary/pop factor is so strong, Trust There Is Love could easily reach people who have only a casual interest in new age. Those who admire Enya and similar artists but don't necessarily buy a lot of new age releases should have no problem getting into this memorable release.