Zoe emerged into this world during a full moon in autumn. Her outrageously bohemian mommy used to harmonise with her baby gurgles as her hippy daddy strummed the guitar. As a toddler her father would play B B King records over and over all day, every day for weeks until she cried in frustration “I’m fed up with this Baby King!” But she still listens to his records now; such is the power of BB.

 

 

As a teen Zoe began performing in pantomimes and road shows supporting artists such as East 17, The Spice Girls and Ocean Colour Scene. At 5 she started ballet lessons because a friend told her that you get a new pair of shoes, but was deeply disappointed when she found out they weren’t high heels. However, despite this blow the joy of dance became her first big love affair and she spent the rest of her young years now living in Brum, putting on shows for anyone who would pay attention, bulling and bribing other children into co-staring.

Her flame for grown-up music was ignited after listening to the Miles Davis recording of Porgy and Bess, which led to her first professional singing gig aged 15 and her next big love affair; creating music. This flame was further fuelled by moving to Manchester where she now lives and works with the city’s many awesome talents.

I’m 2 and my dad is playing BB King records over and over, all day, every day for weeks. But I thought he was called Baby King.

Favourite artist as a child

 

I had an amazing LP of 50 nursery rhymes by Wally Whyton. The songs are recorded acoustically and he has this beautifully gentle, soothing voice. When I was 6 I did my first recording session, singing them all to tape for my newborn baby brother. I lost the original album but nearly fainted with delight when I stumbled upon it recently in the Oxfam bargain bin. 

What inspires me?

 

Getting the voices out of my head. Hearing people play live when it’s so good you can barely believe what your hearing then burst into spontaneous laughter through sheer amazement. Ray Charles. Stevie Wonder. The knowledge that there are amazing songs out there yet unwritten, I just have to find them. The deep inner desire to create a superhero love-child from all the music that moves me.