Longtime collaborators Max Zaska and Melina Malone are back with Ever Cross Your Mind, out on April 10th.
The song is the second from the pair to be released from ZASKA’s upcoming album NECTAR, following No Right Time. Where that track playfully encourages taking a chance on romance, Ever Cross Your Mind ponders a troubled relationship.
Lush, chill, and romantic with a gentle, funky groove, it is the perfect platform for Melina’s soulful, soaring vocals and Max’s delicate jazz-inspired guitar. Ever Cross Your Mind would be at home on a playlist next to Hiatus Kaiyote, D’Angelo, and Yazmin Lacey.
In a time of AI-generated songs, Ever Cross Your Mind is solidly human, showcasing the incredible musicianship of a 10-piece band, including shining, textured horns and a very tight rhythm section. Ever Cross Your Mind was one of several songs that Max Zaska and Melina Malone co-wrote during a writing residency at the Centre Culturel Irlandais, including No Right Time and Anywhere, which appeared on Melina Malone’s debut album Aphrodite.
“I first met Melina in 2018 when I was Musical Director and MC at an event showcasing rising Irish artists and she was performing. I loved her voice and her vibe and invited her to collaborate on Just For One Day, a song off my second album A Better Way. We’ve performed together many times, and so co-writing was just a natural. I’m delighted to have the studio version of Ever Cross Your Mind out in the world”, explained Zaska. A live version of Ever Cross Your Mind was released on ZASKA’s 2024 EP, Live At The Triskel.
ZASKA’s album NECTAR will have its long-awaited digital release on June 5th. (Vinyl and CD versions of NECTAR are available now at zaskamusic.com.) A headline show with special guests will be at The Grand Social in Dublin on June 19th.
ABOUT
Max Zaska, is a guitarist, songwriter, producer, and bandleader of ZASKA, and is best known for his mix of neo-soul, jazz, and funk in collaborations with Irish vocalists, including Hozier. NECTAR is ZASKA’s 3rd album with features from shiv, Gemma Dunleavy, Mik Pyro, jarjarjr, J Smith, and Melina Malone. As a session guitarist, some of Max’s work can be found on Omar’s Holding Onto Life and The Waterboys’ Didn’t We Walk On Water. Zaska has also been Musical Director for Tolü Makay and Denise Chaila in Ireland.
Dublin-born Melina Malone released her debut album Aphrodite in 2023, drawing in style from iconic neo-soul stars Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Lianne La Havas and RAYE and blending honest lyrics with sultry melodies. Her recent single If I Have To Change made top playlists, including the cover of Spotify’s Riffs and Runs. She opened for Grammy-winning jazz legend Gregory Porter and is known for her unforgettable live performances.
KEY DATES:
- April 10th - Ever Cross Your Mind will be available on all digital streaming platforms, along with a visualiser video on YouTube
- June 5th - The album, NECTAR, will be released to digital streaming platforms
- June 19th - A headline show with special guests at The Grand Social in Dublin
- Now - NECTAR on vinyl and CD is available now zaskamusic.com
