Zoh Amba

“Eyes Full” is Zoh Amba’s songwriting debut and also their first release on Matador. After Amba (they/them) established themself as a saxophonist in New York’s free-jazz scene and soon began performing at corresponding festivals worldwide, all paths now lead back to their first instrument—the guitar—and to Amba’s hometown of Kingsport, Tennessee. The music on “Eyes Full,” with its swaying blues and Appalachian-folk influences, is unmistakably tied to that place and emanates directly from its soul.

“Eyes Full” is a lesson in how to see and remain open to the universe and all the souls that inhabit it. Through Amba’s perspective, the album restores spirit and dignity to those who are often overlooked or pushed aside. On “Eyes Full” Amba sings for people who rarely see themselves reflected with tenderness. It carries a painful empathy for those who have been driven to the margins, for those who have become numb or lost touch with their inner selves. The songs insist on looking. And on returning another’s gaze without looking away.

The debut album was recorded live and without overdubs at Drop of Sun Studios in Asheville, an hour from Amba’s hometown. Amba’s best friend Kevin Hyland plays electric guitar, while Jim White—whom Amba met years ago on the streets of New York and whom Amba today calls “the closest thing to family”—handles the drums. The concert will take place on November 3, 2026, at 19:00 in the Kantine am Berghain in Berlin.