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Ishtar's Rising Star
Part Gypsy, Part Arabic, Part Spanish -- And Taking On the World
 Listen to Lisa Simeone's interview with Ishtar
Sept. 2, 2001 -- She sings in many languages, and her music speaks to many cultures. Her name is Ishtar. And she is the voice of the musical group Alabina.
Ishtar is a 32-year-old singing sensation. With her band Alabina, Ishtar combines the flavors of flamenco and the Middle East with the rhythms of pop music.
Her powerful voice, dynamic personality, and sexy blond looks have helped Ishtar take Europe by storm, and she hopes to conquer the United States as well.
Perhaps she was also born under a lucky star, as her name itself seems to imply.
The singer sat down with NPR's Lisa Simeone to talk about where she's from and where she developed her unique vocal style. "I learned how to sing with Barbra Streisand," says Ishtar, whose real name is Eti Zach. "I listened to every phrase and every word."
It's difficult to nail down and catagorize Alabina's musical style. It's not exactly Gypsy music, though the band behind Ishtar comes from the Spanish Gypsy tradition.
It's not entirely Middle Eastern, but there are strong elements of the Orient and the arabesque. And the beat is definitely part of the international dance vocabulary.
Alabina's lastest album is entitled "Ishtar -- The Voice of Alabina."
Other Resources
Official Alabina Web site
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