Healing the Hearts Of the Broken: ZØ Marie’s Sonnet Inspired Approach To Life and Music

In today’s musical landscape, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of sameness, where genres blend together and voices seem to share a homogeneous vibration. Authenticity can seem rare, and those who possess it shine like beacons of hope. Their unique sound and unwavering style echo an intimate dedication to their art. They remind us that music is an art form, not a formula, and the most beautiful things in life are usually not the ones that fit neatly into a tidy box. Today, we would like to celebrate those mavericks and true originals by introducing you to an artist who fully embodies all of these qualities. With a voice that shifts effortlessly between tender vulnerabilities and soaring powerhouse belts, ZØ Marie has captivated critics and audiences alike with her mesmerizing style. This talented singer has been making waves in the music industry with her unique blend of Alternative R&B/Pop, spinning an intricate web of storytelling and emotional depth that resonates deeply with her listeners. As she prepares to release her highly anticipated new album, Soulmate, we had the chance to sit down with ZØ Marie and take a deep dive into the inspiration behind her music, the mindset driving her process, her favorite aspects of performing, and we may have even discovered that she’s a full-on fortune teller.

AM: Hello and welcome, ZØ. It’s great to have you here today. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me!

ZM: Thank you so much. I’m really excited to be here!

AM: Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your music?

ZM: Yes, my name is ZØ Marie. I’m an Alternative R&B/Pop Singer-Songwriter and I am based in New Jersey. I have been singing since I was five years old and I started singing in church when I was a little girl. I’ve been performing in the Tri-state area and I will also be performing down south a little bit in the upcoming months.

AM: Your latest single has been getting a lot of buzz. I saw that it charted in the United States iTunes Top 200 Pop Charts. Tell us about the track and what inspired it.

ZM: Okay, so it charted at 136 on the United States iTunes Pop Charts, which is really exciting for me because, you know, as an independent artist you’re competing with major label artists. I think it was really exciting that I got to chart in the top 200 because that’s a major accomplishment as a young artist funding my own project.

AM: How long had it been from the release of “Lie To Me” and your previous single and how would you compare the two?

ZM: I released “Addiction” back on January 26th and although it had been a while, a lot of people were still listening to “Addiction.” I wanted to take the momentum I built from “Addiction” and piggyback off of that energy for my new song, “Lie To Me,” which I think really helped set a good foundation to allow me to chart.

AM: It sounds like you have had an incredible journey so far. What drives you to keep creating?

ZM: What drives me to keep creating is that I feel music can heal the world and it can mend the hearts of the broken. I wanna make the world a better place whether it’s my day to day interactions or the music I create; you know, make people feel good or put them in a better mood. I think that’s why life is worth living. I think music makes life worth living, and I love having a platform to express my voice. That’s all that I really want in life. I feel like creation is a part of me, of who I am, and I will always create.

AM: How do you balance your artistic vision with commercial appeal?

ZM: That’s a really good question actually. How do I balance my artistic vision with commercial appeal? When I create, I really try not to have commercialization in mind. I mean, there’s a song that I’m going to release in the upcoming months with my album, Soulmate, that this reminds me of. There was a producer I had worked with, you know, he was a Grammy guy and he basically said to me, “Your songs need to be less than 3 minutes. They are too long. They’re not commercial enough.” So, I said, “You know what? I’m gonna make a song that’s exactly three minutes.” My kind of way with commercialization is sort of throwing it in people’s faces and making a sarcastic remark about it, using my art to do that. But I really think what you have in mind when you create has got to come from your heart and soul and then you worry about the other stuff. I like to worry about the commercialization when I am in the marketing phase, but while I’m creating it’s really about pouring my heart and soul into a piece of music.

AM: That feels like a lot of upward momentum. It seems like you have a good plan of how to approach things. Is there a specific kind of listener that you hope to connect with?

ZM: When it comes to listenership I really don’t. I think it is very broad and I would love anyone to listen. I do think my music is meant to inspire and uplift people, so I would love to reach someone who’s kind of down and out or having a rough day and bring them joy. I really think music like that is so important right now because so many people in society are unhappy. I think it’s important to put out good, positive, loving, happy music.

AM: What do you think it is about your music that resonates with people?

ZM: I think, because I have this ability to be vulnerable and put myself out there, people see themselves in my music and the experiences and stories I tell. People really connect with that. I’ve had interactions with fans where they’ve asked me, “What’s this song about?” or “What was your favorite song?” and “What did you write about?” One story I like to tell is how I wrote my song Afterlife and the story behind it. It’s a song I wrote about two lovers who can’t be together in this lifetime but will wait for one another in the afterlife. I remember one time it made this person’s eyes teary, and maybe they hadn’t even liked my music at that moment, but I could see that they fell in love with me as a person and as an artist because I was so real with them. I think it’s that ability to connect with other people and just be like, ”Hey! We’re all wanting the same thing. This music is for you and I hope you can relate to this and get through your day by listening to it.”

AM: What is the best advice you’ve been given from a fellow musician?

ZM: Okay. I have a vision board on my wall that I look at each morning when I wake up. This past year I had a mentor figure come into my life and they said to me, “You are such a wonderful person. It doesn’t matter what you go after in life, you will be successful at it.” And then they laughed and said, “It sucks that you chose music. It’s a really tough industry, but you can do it.” And they told me the words “Never ring that bell.” That is engraved in my head. I look at it every morning and it’s my inspiration to never quit. To never ring that bell, never give up and just keep going and working towards my goal every single day.

AM: How do you keep from getting burned out on the creative process?

ZM: That’s a great question. I keep from getting burned out on the creative process by giving myself time to live. I think so many artists are like, “I have to do this,” and it’s day in and day out and they don’t have a good work-life balance. I try to take time for myself whether it’s spending time with my friends and family, traveling, reading, feeling inspired, or meeting new people. Those everyday experiences help me to keep going, feel inspired, and write new material without feeling stuck. I am also so grateful that I never (I don’t wanna jinx it, knock on wood), I’ve never experienced writer’s block and I think it’s because I’m constantly grounding myself and I don’t look at music as a commercialization or commodity. I look at it like, “Hey, this is coming from my soul and I have to put it out to the world today,” and I’m grateful that I don’t struggle with those problems that other artists might encounter when writing.

AM: Beyond your career, what role does music play in your life?

ZM: Music has been a part of my life since before I was even born. I was named after famous R&B singer Teena Marie who was with Motown and worked with Rick James. I think my parents played music while I was in the womb and my mother used to rock me to sleep to classical music every night when I was a baby. So, music, that’s who I am. It’s a part of me and it always will be.

AM: One of the things I love the most about music is the mythology that an artist will craft within a song. When you write a song is there a setting behind it or do you find that you most often write in response to real life experiences?

ZM: Yes, so actually my song “Lie To Me” which came out on Friday, June 14th, is a completely made up song. The circumstances are made up. I thought, what is the most toxic situation I could think of in a relationship? Who is this character? Who is this kind of girl who is just so desperate to be loved that she would do anything for it? So, I made up this concept based on a Shakespearean Sonnet. It was based on Sonnet 138, and it’s all this funny play on lies. They’re lying together in bed and she’s younger and he’s older, and he’s saying, “‘Lie to me about my age and I’ll lie to you and I’ll pretend that you’re not cheating on me.” I was like, “Oh, this is great.” I kind of wanted to take that idea of lies and put it into this song. I made up this concept that he’s out with other girls at night. He’s lying to my face. He’s leading a double life and I’m like, “You know what? Ignorance is bliss. I don’t want to know.” Then it’s kind of like this, “Tell me you love me even when you don’t. I just want to pretend everything’s okay because I want to be with this person so badly” kind of thing. I just thought that was so much fun writing and I love singing it too. It’s just, it’s an enjoyable song for me.

AM: How do you think your music fits into the current musical landscape?

ZM: Although I think my music fits into the current musical landscape I don’t really listen to modern pop music. I’m not a Taylor Swift girl. I’m not into any of that. I grew up listening to Motown and The Temptations. I love the Isley Brothers. I’ve gotten into Jimi Hendrix more. I love the blues. All my inspirations kind of pull from everywhere. Nirvana, I’ve been into Nirvana lately. So, I think for me, I just create music and try to sound like me. I worry about where it fits and the marketing and the genre after the fact, but like I always say, I think my music does fit into the current landscape because of the messaging that I’m putting out there. I think it’s relevant for Gen Z and future generations, but for me, I’m kind of trying to create my own path. I don’t want to be like other people or other artists. I just want to be me, ZØ Marie. I’m like, “Hey guys. I have this message to share with the world, and if you like it, cool. If not, that’s okay. I’m gonna keep singing from my heart and soul, and giving love and that’s all.”

AM: Can you tell us about a song that was more challenging than others to write?

ZM: Okay, I smile as I say this. There’s a song on my album and I just don’t want to release it. It’s not that it’s a bad song. It’s a great song. I think it’s because it’s so painful. I’m even thinking about it now and kind of tearing up. I remember my producer at the time sent me a few tracks and he told me we were going to work on a piano ballad. This was when I was like 20 years old and it was the 1st set of songs I worked on. He sent me this piano track and the person I was with at the time started to fight with me for no reason. I remember I wrote the entire song in less than 30 minutes, from start to finish. I recorded it on my voice memos, I had the lyrics and melody, and I was like, “Boom! Let’s record it this week. I’m ready.” I think every time I listen to it, it’s just painful for my heart. It’s that specific recording. I can’t listen to it. I’m like maybe I should alter it, and then I’m like no because the pain in my voice was real at that moment. I can’t recreate that, you know? You can’t go back in time. I’ve played it on piano myself and I’m like no it’s wonderful. It’s so vulnerable, and raw, and I cry when I play it. I don’t perform it live because it’s so difficult to get through. It’s a tough song. I’m trying to get through that stage of just allowing myself to be vulnerable enough in that moment to perform it.

AM: After it’s all said and done and the final masters are in, how do you prepare to take your music into the live setting?

ZM: When I created the music for my first album I think I was more pop-minded, but I grew a lot as a person by the time I started writing my second album, which is called Soul-Searching. It’s about finding myself and my musical style; I think there is more of an alternative sound that I’ve created. I don’t wanna say my live music sounds like a rock band, but it sounds completely different. It’s so cool and unique and I love it. “Lie To Me” feels so great live for this reason. It’s so edgy. I’m obsessed with it. It’s probably one of my favorite songs to perform live at this point. Even some of my other songs, like “I’m Not Her,” is very commercial, but when I perform it live it’s super soulful and chill, or sometimes I open it up and make it more alternative. I think I have created this unique live sound that’s separate from the tracks, that are more commercial sounding, and I use it for a separate purpose.

AM: So you enjoy the difference between the two?

ZM: Oh, I love it. I think every performance should be slightly different every single night because it’s a new moment. I’m not trying to recreate the past. I’m just living in that moment and sometimes I’m singing from my soul and I’m not thinking about what I’m singing. So I might do a run here. I might do this and that and it’ll be different the next time. I kind of add this jazz improvisation essence to it which I really enjoy.

AM: What do you love the most about performance?

ZM: Well, I’ve been performing since I was three years old. I’ve been on stage my whole life. I’ve always loved performing and I love that ability to share my heart and soul with the crowd, to just be like, “Here’s my voice, send it out.” I want to give all of you a big hug. That’s what I love to do with performing and I want people to walk away with a giant smile on their face, and if they are having a tough day I hope my music can brighten their day.

AM: It seems like you have a lot going on. Do you have a team that helps you along or are you a one woman operation?

ZM: I had a team in the past but I got to a point where, as far as management, it just felt like a better choice to kind of do things on my own and go a separate direction. I learned how to do press myself. I learned how to do bookings. I learned how to do my own sync licensing and digital marketing. I learned how to do my own administration and my rights and copywriting and establish my own LLC, my own record label, and publishing company. So, I did all the business and at this point I do a majority of everything by myself. I hire independent contractors where it makes sense. Any good CEO knows where to give up control and hire other people because that’s a smart business decision. I’m open minded to a manager, but that manager has to make sense at this point in my life. They would also have to have an established presence currently in the music industry that could help me get to the next level.

AM: It’s always good to take things into your hands anyway. So that’s the greatest approach.

ZM: I’m very tough on myself and I have extremely high standards. A lot of times I would rather take matters into my own hands and get things done extremely efficiently.

AM: What’s the most exciting thing about this next chapter in your career here? Any new music coming up? Should we be looking forward to a ZØ Marie album in the near future?

ZM: Yes, so I’m really excited to announce that my next single, coming out on July 26th, will be released through the Orchard for distribution and it is called “What I Like”. I have my debut album releasing October 18th called Soulmate, and I’m super excited. That will be distributed through the Orchard as well. I also have a Virtual Reality Music Video paired with my album for the single, “Playgirl”, and I’m extremely excited to use this new realm of technology because I haven’t really seen any independent artists capitalizing on VR music videos. To be at the forefront of this new kind of technology and lead an innovative course for my music career, is exciting.

AM: Well, thank you so much for sharing. Looking very much forward to all of that. For my final question I’m going to ask something more analogous. Musicians throughout time have shared stories of seeing themselves on stage years before experiencing those exact moments. Basically, what did you know as a child you’d be doing now?

ZM: I have this very distinct memory. When I was a little girl, I was five years old. I remember I was dancing in my childhood house in the living room, and I was jumping around. I was singing Hilary Duff’s, “Wake Up, On a Saturday night.” I was jumping around with my sister and I remember, I just decided at that moment, “I’m going to be a famous singer.” I just knew this is what I’m going to do with my life. So, at six or seven years old I created a song book. I was this little type A child, who thought to myself, “If you’re going to be a singer, you have to learn how to write songs.” I would listen to pop songs and I would mimic what they were singing and the emotions they were feeling because I’m extremely empathetic. I would write out Verse One, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, and nobody taught me to do that. I don’t know how I knew to do that. I intuitively did that as a child and I would write these really sad songs as a little kid, and they’re actually good. I looked back at my songbook and thought, “For a seven year old, this is a really good song!” It’s very articulate. It had big words. My handwriting was neat. It was so organized and meticulous and it was amazing looking back. I can’t believe a child wrote this. All I thought about, as a child, was becoming a singer.

AM: I love that story. It seems like it’s working out! I think that does it for me. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me. I had a wonderful time chatting with you. I’m looking forward to the new releases and the shows coming up. Best wishes to you and thank you so much.

ZM: Thank you. I had a lovely time interviewing with you and I appreciate you very much.

Instagram: @hernameiszo_

Youtube: @hernameiszo

Website: https://www.zo-marie.com

Aaron Martin is an American writer, painter, and musician from Nashville, TN.