15 May 14 - 20, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents “What I’m actively chasing is to build a small machine,” he says, “a vehicle that al- lows me to continue to put out records ev- ery 18 months that might not be the biggest, sexiest thing in the world, but serves the songs.” There’s a real artistic philosophy in that. He talks not just about sustainability in mu- sic, but in family life too: how to make a ca- reer that does not burn everyone out by spring. It’s a practical idea, but also a quietly radical one. In a culture that rewards scale, Csorba is making a case for durability. That attitude also makes his partnership with Turtlebox Records feel especially fit- ting. The Houston company, known first for speakers, is now stepping into the label space. “I’m the first artist out on their label,” he says, “so I think that’s worth mentioning.” The pairing feels personal, local and pur- pose-driven rather than corporate. And that, really, is the spirit of Tender Country: local without being small, intimate without being slight, traditional without being trapped in tradition. Perhaps the album’s clearest mission statement comes in “Homemade Margari- tas,” where Csorba sings, “We got enough, when we got us / and homemade margari- tas.” It’s a lovely line, modest and sly, but it opens onto the whole worldview of the re- cord. Enough is not a consolation prize here. Enough is the point. Csorba says he’s after music that is time- less, work that can “stand the test of time” 50 years from now. Tender Country feels built for exactly that kind of slow endur- ance. It does not beg for immediate ap- plause. It invites you to live with it. For Dallas listeners, that invitation should feel especially resonant. Csorba is not just another songwriter passing through North Texas on the way to someplace larger. He’s part of the city’s creative fabric now, and Tender Country sounds like the work of an artist who has learned that staying put can sharpen your vision. Some records chase the horizon. This one sits still long enough to see what’s al- ready there. And in Csorba’s hands, that turns out to be more than enough. To celebrate the album’s release, Csorba will perform in Houston on May 21 at McGo- nigel’s Mucky Duck at 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $37, and virtual tickets are available for fans who want to live stream the show from Dallas or anywhere else. ▼ R&B STEPPING INTO THE SPOTLIGHT DALLAS R&B ARTIST ZYAH BEGAN HER CAREER AS A SONGWRITER FOR OTHER ARTISTS AND IN FILM AND TV, BUT NOW SHE’S READY TO FIND HER OWN VOICE. BY JAMISHA DANIELS F or Zyah, a Dallas-based musician and classically trained pianist, mood lighting is essential during a record- ing session. A soft purple glow bleeds into a dim recording booth in Richardson, and with a sip of tea to warm her vocal cords, the artist is ready to lay down her signature sul- try and sensual vocals on an upcoming feature. “The lighting matters,” Zyah tells us. “The tempera- ture matters. Everything has to match the mood of the song.” Zyah has already neared the peaks of a songwriting career: working as a lyricist and vocal producer with Houston’s Megan Thee Stallion, collaborating with Grammy-nominated writers, producing music for a Showtime documentary and working on songs for several network TV series. But now the artist is eager to forge a career as an artist in her own right. “I’m a songwriter, but now people are seeing me as the art- ist,” she says. Let Go and Let God Being part of industry-ac- claimed projects is not what Zyah deems her greatest achievement. “I could win a Grammy award right now, but it wouldn’t be peak success to me, be- cause if God still has more stuff he wants to say through me, then I’m not done,” she says. Spirituality is important to her, but she hesitates to qualify herself as a Christian art- ist, and more as an artist who happens to be Christian. “I love the Lord, but I cuss a little bit,” she says with a laugh. “I don’t want to pigeonhole myself and say I’m a Christian artist because you might see me at the club with a French 75.” It’s not unheard of in music, as there’s of- ten backlash for an artist guided by faith who doesn’t fit the aesthetic or expectations of the Bible Belt. Tracks like Beyonce’s “Church Girl” paint the perfect picture that resonated so well with young Black women like Zyah, who want to party, but also go to church in the morning. She believes there is absolutely a duality between loving the Lord and enjoying a night out on the town. So, while the world catches up to that, Zyah is creating music that resonates in her heart. “It’s a lot of weight, and I’m not sure I want to carry that yet because I’m still a R&B girl,” she says. And as she balances that spectrum, this new era is all about faith-based R&B. An up- coming project, scheduled for release in early summer, is dedicated to her late grand- mother and inspired by the Book of Psalms. The artist is learning to balance creating the music that resonates in her heart and with her religion. She hopes her new music has similar effects on like-minded listeners. “I want my songs to feel like mantras, things that stay with you,” she says. “I want people to say my music brought them closer to God.” Finding Her Magic The transition from songwriter to singer started with her 2025 inspirational track ti- tled “Magic.” Amid financial and family hardship, creat- ing music in the face of adversity brought light to the shadows for Zyah. Music was her coping mechanism, resulting in an uplifting song, despite being created in a not-so-magical time in her life. “Your pain can be alchem- ized into something beautiful,” she says. Having been signed to the record label and talent management company High Standardz under Def Jam Recordings (a roster that also includes R&B breakout Coco Jones), Zyah is excited to be in Dallas and to be in control of her career and artistic vision. “The biggest risk I took was walking away from the label,” she says. “I had access, but I didn’t have ownership.” Zyah, a frequent collaborator of hometown hero and Grammy- winning artist Bobby Sessions, doesn’t devalue her freedom as an unrepresented artist. “Your gift will make room for you. I’m doing more with me than they were doing with me,” she says, specifically referencing an upcoming show at the South Dal- las Cultural Center with Dallas rapper Scuttino. The two recently collaborated on a song titled “Ev- erything (remix),” which marks Zyah’s first rap feature. There’s a cemented synergy between the two artists. “We just musically get each other,” she says. “There was no overthinking, no ex- plaining. We make really great music to- gether, so we’ll see.” Zyah’s music doesn’t just aim to be heard; it aims to heal, to ground and to guide. As she steps into her own spotlight, she knows her true calling is the magic of music. Zyah is focusing on her solo career after success as a songwriter. Photo by Deon Casey Hand built not bougHt. Franklins TaTToo and supply 469-904-2665 • 4910 Columbia ave, dallas, TX 75214 proFessional TaTToo supply For pros only Call for your appointment or design commissions today!
