Ridiculous Things

Seattle’s The Do Goodrs debut album dives deep into personal storytelling and cultural fusion through the band’s love of Balkan sevdah music. Hadjia and Gino Jevdjevic, refugees with rich musical backgrounds, join with the talents of Amy Denio, Darek Mazzone and Nedim Hamzić (Hadžija) to craft a compelling and brooding musical path.

The album delivers raw cries of pity, playful vocals and a fusion of traditional melodies and contemporary considerations. Listening, you begin to understand that the term sevdah comes from the Turkish ‘sevda’, ‘the forlorn angst associated with lovesickness… rooted in the Persian [for] melancholic.’ The Do Goodrs share observational cultural narratives, personal explorations of love, self-reflection and political sentiment, bringing them to life with instruments like the oud, accordion and bouzouki, which add depth to the English sung lyrics, creating an evocative atmosphere.

The album closes with a tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, with a version of Sufi classic ‘Allah Who’ (also known as ‘Allah Hoo’). This album showcases the band’s skillful blend of cultural heritage and modern sensibilities.