All Photo's credited to Ian Morrall at Forever British Country.
We sent this interview to Zoee just after we caught her set at Country On The Clyde in Glasgow at the beginning of March. Here is what she had to say.....
Q: How long have you been writing and performing country music?
A: I started songwriting officially when I was about 12, my poems became lyrics when I first started humming and strumming the guitar. It was the best feeling ever!
My peers and people I had long looked up to, from Loretta right through to Rod Stewart, taught me that you can really have a voice through music to share with the world, and storytelling really become my life. I always told stories to my friends and family, and this was just a new extension of that, through music. And it’s my favourite kind.
Q: If you could invite the people who have influenced you in your music career to a dinner party, who would you invite?
A: Hmm.. Now that is a good question! I have always admired Rod Stewart – his style of music, the storytelling and the mental pictures and feelings he paints through song has enchanted me since I was incredibly young, maybe 4 years old and onwards. So Roddie would definitely be someone I would take, followed by Dolly, she’d bring her incredible sparkles, Garth Brooks, he’d bring the swagger, Merle Haggard for the stories, fellow Australian singer-songwriter Graeme Connors so we could yarn about the wetlands, Bruce Springsteen, cause he’s Bruce Springsteen (say no more, right?), Jimmy Barnes for spirit of good rock n roll, and Steve Earle to bring the fantastic southern blues swing!
Q: If you were to take one well known song and put your own country twist on it, which song would you choose?
A: I think I’d choose something super rocky…. Like Meatloaf’s “Bat Outta Hell”!! That would be really fun to add a country twist to!!
Q: If you had the chance of performing anywhere in the world, Where would your dream venue be?
A: The Grand Old Opry, Nashville…. Just because that is such a remarkable and historic venue for country music. And CMA & Coachella!
Q: What excites you about the British country scene?
A: I love the speed that British country is growing here at the moment… and it’s just getting faster and faster!! Three years ago it was such an understated scene, and now there are new festivals and artists popping up flat out!! It’s fantastic to be on the forefront of such an incredible milestone in history!
Q: The British country music scene is growing fast. Each artist having their own take on what country music is to them. How do feel that our music stands up against the music coming out of America at the moment?
A: That is such a tricky question, because I feel like, in many ways the US and the UK are coming closer together, rather than standing up against each other, the Country music scene is uniting these countries in so many levels, and I love that!
Q: Where do you see British country music in 5 years time?
A: Honestly the British Country Music is growing so rapidly that in 5 years’ time, drawing from what I’ve seen over the last 3 years in particular, it could be one of the biggest genres in the UK. I am stoked to be a part of it!!
Q: Do you think you will be more accepted in 5 years, when you say you are a British country music artist?
A: I think it is quite acceptable now to be known as that, however with the work that I know myself and my team are putting into building my own music, and the fellow friends and artists alike with theirs, being known as a British Country Music Artist in the UK in 5 years’ time will really hold some substantial merit and importance within the country music genre globally.
Q: Where can we find you on social media?
A: Everywhere!! Just Google “Zoee” or “Zoee & The Band” and we’ll come up on all streaming and social platforms! But here are some of my direct links for you to copy and paste:
Official Web: www.Zoee.uk
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ZoeeOfficial
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ZoeeOfficial
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/ZoeeOfficial
Youtube: www.Youtube.com/c/ZoeeOfficial