Swiss singer-songwriter, Emilie Zoé has been earning her growing reputation with a series of releases that show an innate talent for the guitar and a haunting way of vocalising emotions that, considering English is her second language, capture the moment so memorably. She has also toured Europe extensively until the dreaded pandemic screwed that for all performers.
Emilie’s first release was in 2013 (an EP called Empty) followed by full-length albums in 2016 and 2018. A fascinating cowrite album called ‘Pigeons – Soundtrack for the Birds on the Treetops Watching the Movie of our Lives’ was my first encounter and to say that was ‘off piste’ is an understatement as, between recordings of the countryside, the irresistible pop of the songs was obvious.
Her new album, intriguingly called ‘Hello Future Me‘ finds her back with guitar and voice and the talented drummer Nicolas Pittet helping out.
Yes, this is an unsual choice for a Rock And Metal MagaZine, but its ethereal opener ‘Across The Border’ for example, does just that… it makes genres and pigeon holes irrelevant as her breathy vocal captivates over the simple, gentle piano and drum melody. ‘Parents House’ shows her delicate guitar skills and, with the rolling drums, a certain Ms Bush springs to mind. ‘Roses On Fire’ starts with multi-tracked vocals that sound tremendous before a complex drum beat and instrumentation adds to the atmosphere. ‘Apollo’ is a peach of a simple, almost punk song with its chopped chords but still has a fragility with bite. The closing song, ‘Volcan’ has power chords and feedback on a progtastic piece of subtle rock.
This beautiful album will never supplant my heavy rock and blues… it is, nonetheless a stunning recording of fragility, feeling and melody that will be liberally sprinkled through my various playlists and be thoroughly enjoyed on each appearance.
‘Hello Future Me’ is out 11th February 2022 on Hummus Records and, pandemic allowing will be followed by a series of shows in Switzerland, France and Belgium.
