feat. Zoe Ko
Introducing Zoe.
Zoe Ko is an NYC based rock/pop artist! Since her first release in May 2022, she has seen amazing growth as she’s released more music! In fact, her new single “Get Out” just dropped a few days ago! We were thrilled to sit down in an IG Live interview to discuss her music, process, social media, and the future of the music industry!
Q: Hi Zoe! Welcome to Busker LIVE! This is an interview I've been really looking forward to ever since you were put on my radar by the other guys at Busker. So you live in NYC?
Yeah, so I, I live in like lower Manhattan area and I like it's kind of funny cause I used to go to NYU and this is now like the closest I've actually been to NYU, even now that I'm actually gone from nyu. So it's just kind of ironic.
But yeah, no, like lower Manhattan's always like, just such a fun place to be. It's like so close to literally everything. So that's really nice.
Q: Have you always lived in the city?
Yeah. Yeah. Pretty much. Like I grew up in Queens, primarily in Forest Hills. Okay. And then yeah, like I always went to school in the city and like the lower Manhattan area, so I just got really accustomed to it and stuff. So yeah, no, I am like a full New Yorker.
I just wasn't technically born here, so I can't say born and raised unfortunately, but,
Technically Portland, Oregon. I don't remember anything from Portland except like coyotes, cuz I like my parents who had lived near this like forest thing or whatever. I don't remember anything. I never really visited again. Or if I did it was like just to my dad's house or something when it was like, you know, and I would just like to go there, just to the house. I've never seen anything like it. So technically Portland, Oregon.
Q: When did you realize that you had a knack for this music thing?
Oh my God. Who even knows. I like, I think, music has just like always been such a thing for me, like growing up. I always like to say like, music has always been my, my best friend.
So yeah. Music has always been like my best friend and like I was, I was quite alone in my childhood. Like I didn't have any siblings. I got a dog kind of later and like me, I was just with my single mom and we would move a lot and I wasn't really like, settled often. And music was just that one thing that was so completely consistent for me.
And that like, was. always reliable. So yeah. Yeah. Then I just like, naturally always like sang over like instrumental CDs or something that my mom got from the library and would like, like make conventional pop songs and stuff, like over some like experimental instrumental thing, and stuff, and and yeah, so I like always just like grew up doing that, like singing and dancing just for hours alone in my living room.
And then when my grandpa had passed away, when I was in eighth grade, so like 12 or something I had like written my first like real like pop form song of like, yeah, first pre chorus. Chorus. And it was kind of the only way I think I could process his death cuz he was like really much a father figure for me and I performed it at his funeral and like, just like really shifted everything for me and I just like couldn't really let go of music ever since then.
So I just kind of made a lot of these like really big moments in my life, like into songs and stuff. And so it was just like, songwriting was just like another form of journaling for me and turning like poetry and, and other like journal entries or something into songs has just like always been, you know, kind of like what I've done and stuff.
And now even more true than ever. So, yeah.
Q: You started releasing music under your project, Zoe Ko this year. Before that, had you ever been part of any sort of project or thought about releasing?
No, I know, like, I feel so old now. It's just crazy cuz I'm literally just turned 22, like that's not even old. I just have a constant identity crisis every birthday, but it's whatever.
Yeah, no, literally like I, yeah, I feel like we're all just. Peter Pan, right? We're just like never wanting to grow. But no. I think like for me anyways, like it took so long for me to actually like, figure out what my sound was and like what I, like, who I really was as an artist and like what my voice was and like what I really wanted to express to the world.
Cuz I I did a high school program in the Clive Davis Institute at like NYU in like junior year of high school. And that was kind of the first time I really understood the music industry, what it even meant to be an artist. And for whatever reason I decided to still go for it and was gonna tackle the music industry.
And I was like, cool, cool. But then kind of the next step was yeah, like really figuring out the music and like, who I was as an artist. And I really got thrown into it. Like the session game and working with just like so many producers and I kind of lost myself in all of that when I was like 18 and 19 and 20 mainly.
Cuz yeah, that was, I also like, ended up going to Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU for college as well from that high school program. I like it, just like I fell in love with it. And yeah, and like them. Literal week or whatever, like a producer flew me out to LA and just got to, yeah, like experience writing and collaborating with people for the first time.
And yeah, I think like until really the pandemic happened was when I really found my voice and so like everything got stripped back. I wasn't in these sessions, like writing songs over pre-made beats or whatever and I kind of just wrote yeah, like. journal entries or something like into, into songs and like really kind of made songs just acapella, which was very like, just like now kind of like a lot of my writing process. And yeah, so that was like, that was kind of the first time, like "Line", the first song that I came out with. Like when I wrote that song, I really felt like something had shifted. Like I feel like this is actually me. And, then it kind of just took off from there and I just like made a whole bunch of songs and brought it to like the producer that I connected with most throughout the years that I had been like running or running around and working with people and stuff.
And that's kind of how, yeah, the first three singles kind of came.
Q: How did the pandemic affect your sound and sonic Identity?
Yeah, no, I mean, kind of like what I was saying before. The transition of like being in like so many sessions and then all of a sudden being in nothing and like having nothing going on.
And I, my mom actually like moved us out to-- to rural Pennsylvania. So instead of being in the big city or whatever, like living next to horses. And so I think like literally just completely forced me to focus on my own internal monologue and whatever. And yeah. So yeah, I think that that was a big thing.
And then my songwriting process, like completely switched to literally writing songs over just two chords, random two chords and, and then like just completely a cappella. And so I would like literally, my producer and co- songwriter, like really shitty, acapella voice memos . And he'd be like, I don't know why, but it's kind of good. And I was like, okay.
Q: New York versus LA. What differences do you see in the music scenes?
No, I know. Yeah, no. So like, just my, my life, like in the last few months, I've just been really going back and forth, and now I'm going back to LA in January. So like, that's just like a new experience for me. like, yeah, no, it, it's actually quite, quite, quite intense anyways, like, or like the difference between the two. Yeah, like scenes, like I, I, I don't know, like I was so like New York is like, you know, the place to be like you cannot possibly like, need to go to LA or anything. And now, you know, I'd be booking my flights every month now to go back and begging my boss to not fire me for taking like two weeks off.
Yeah, no, it's just kind of interesting. How much-- how much different it is, like yeah, I didn't like the New York music scene was so tiny, but no, I refuse to move for right now anyways. Like everyone in LA is like, come to LA and I'm like, I will not join this right now. I'm gonna still be the New York girl who sometimes goes to LA.
Q: You recently performed at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC! How did that come about and what was it like?
Yeah, that was like, it was crazy. Like me, I did some Buzzfeed quiz or something and it was like right in your, like most like memorable or like one of the most special moments of your life or whatever.
And I like, it shifted to the night I performed at the Bowery Ballroom and I was like, whoa, crazy. That it took the cake in my life or whatever. And yeah. Yeah. I used to genuinely hate performing. Like it was like I would have panic attacks before and like anxiety shakes and like peeing an abnormal amount and like coughing.
I don't even, like, I would like to be literally breaking down physically and now it's like, I don't know. Like it's completely different. And I think like the Bowery Ballroom Show I got to open for 660 and it was so amazing for them to even reach out. Cause I was like, yeah, I literally only had like two songs out and they didn't even listen to anything else.
And I was like, wow. Like thank you so much for having me. And the Bowery Ballroom is just like my absolute favorite. Venue in the city as well. So it was just like a full dream come true moment for me and like I got to perform with an amazing band and we really rehearsed. And it was just like the first time I was really present on stage and I like, like, I feel like I actually experienced it now, just like a little ghost of me was on stage, you know?
And so now I'm just addicted and I just really, really want to go on tour. Do the whole thing open for another artist thing. But yeah, so that was like a really big moment just for me and like a huge bucket list moment.
Q: Who inspires you as an artist? And to whom do you attribute your style?
Yeah, I mean, like, it's always hard cause I never like to say like, I don't know, like older bands.
Like I'm always referencing newer ones, which I feel is like lame. But I think, I think I, well I reference Holly Humberstone all the time and I think like for her, like I followed her from like literally before she even had had like Deep End and her first song out just because I followed the company that she was like on.
And something about her music, just like completely, like rekindled me with my music and like, it was just so like timeless and like personal and clever with the lyrics and like, yeah, like I think one quote she said in like an article was like her and Rob in the studio like are constantly trying to like beat each other on lyricism and like, you know, get like lyrics that are tattoos.
in like every line. And so that's kind of like the mentality that I went into ever since I read that and kind of listened to our music and yeah, I just, like, it felt, it felt just like really timeless and that was like a big, a big thing for me. And then I also would say The Beatles, I don't know them, like, I'm not like some crazy diehard fan, but it was just like their storytelling was a really big thing for me.
And just like how I felt, like all the songs were really simple, but just like, yeah, like so meaningful and universal. And then I loved the Talking Heads growing up. And just like there was like this one song Stay Up Late or something and it was like just about them, like talking about this like a baby that they were like watching and I just thought it was so funny and unhinged and like I kind of wanted to incorporate that vibe.
And then a huge recent. Reference that I've been like working with his wet leg. I fell in love with them like a year ago. And yeah, I just love their like, stream of consciousness lyricism and how funny they are and like their whole personalities come out in the song like, it's like reaching at you.
And so that's like really what I strive to do now and just kind of like, have fun with my music.
Q: I feel like it's really interesting that you focus more on the lyricism and kind of the deeper meaning behind the song and like not, I mean the music and the like, yes, production is really strong, but like, would you say that that's more of where your mental focus is when you're writing?
For sure. I mean, like, even like starting out acapella, I feel like I'm just strongest in lyrics and melody. I always just do that first. Yeah. And then it's really just like, and I'm, yeah, I barely play guitar and that's like actually it, like I don't even play other instruments, which I always feel like a fake musician for.
I'm getting better. It's like, it really matters like who I'm in the room with and like, we have to have that real connection on like, like, I don't know, just like musical understanding with each other.
And yeah, so like, yeah, with the few producers that I like, love working with now and who are like my main people yeah, it's really like co-writing the melody and lyrics with them, but then like, just like figuring out the, like the right and weird chords that like highlight the melody and the lyricism.
So like for me, the production is kind of just like backing for the vocal and the song. and yeah, so that's the, I never like, like I even, like didn't do like solos for a minute, like my songs, and like if there's like a solo part of like, instrumentation, like it's really purposeful and it's supposed to like be a metaphor for the lyricism that's happening and stuff.
Q: So you have three songs out, so I wanted to talk through the process a little bit more in depth about the songs and how they came to be. I’m also really interested in your approach to social media. Let's start with your first release. What was the process there? How did that come to be?
Yeah. I mean, “Line” was honestly what, what will be like a thorough line through all of that. Even like the social media stuff is like, what really feels like the most me and natural and kind of like unplanned, like. have always been like a very type A person in general or like just planning every single word that I would ever do and every step that I would take in the future, you know?
Yeah. And I don't know, kind of like, I just kinda threw that to the wind. For some reason, and I never planned to, I thought like every release was gonna be planned perfectly and whatever, but it completely just wasn't that way. Line. I like it when it came out in May. I made it probably like four months before that.
That was like the most recent song I had made, and it just felt like me and I was like, I'm so tired of not releasing music at this point. I'm just releasing it, like no questions asked. I didn't have anyone. I just randomly chose Lander as my distribution service because it didn't cost anything. I didn't do any marketing.
I didn't have a manager. , like I had gotten a lot of advice and I had mentors, but other than that it was just me. And so I was just, Done waiting and I just wanted to start the process and start the ball rolling.
So what you're saying is you started your career in May and now it's December and you have three songs and 70K monthly listeners. And played the Bowery Ballroom.
Yeah, it's literally crazy. I might write a journal entry about it and get sappy because it's crazy. I don't understand. Hopefully [2023] is gonna be even cooler. 22 though is good. Like two is my favorite number.
So like, if it wasn't a good year, that would be really tragic. You know?
Yeah, no, so “Line” just came out, which was crazy. And then I had reached out to my manager Ava, who I met through the Clive High School program, so I've known her for like five years. And I reached back out and she was like, she was always just like brilliant to me and like always wanted to reconnect. And I was like, oh my God, I need a manager now. like, you know, like the song's doing kind of well and I like, don't know what to do with my life.
And yeah, so she just like immediately got on board and helped out and brought Harry my other co-manager on and yeah, it's been amazing working with them and. Yeah. And then randomly it started like a line just started getting playlisted. I had done like a pitch and I like worked on the editorial pitch for Spotify for like literally seven hours and like turned in an assignment at Clive, like way late because of it,
But it worked and it got on to like Fresh Finds and Young and Free and like, yeah, like five playlists. And I was literally sobbing on the ground. There is a video of me sobbing on my phone. I just didn't expect it. I didn't know like independent artists could have that happen. I just like, yeah, it genuinely shocked me.
And yeah, and then we just like started planning the next release and every, I mean like forever from now on, like I just really want consistent music coming out and so yeah, "Til You" just happened to be the next single that felt right. And also, I was kind of playing catch up for a lot of the time until like just now where I just didn't have that many songs to choose from and whatever.
And I never really let the internet decide either. So that just felt like the right one and that came out. And then "Lovesick in Public" was a little bit more of like a random moment I had written it like a week before I like performed it at this like show that I did and everyone just like loved it and like asked me when it was coming out and like the response that I had gotten from the show and then like two other shows where I performed it too was like so different than any other song that I had.
I was like, maybe I should go for it. Even though it was, it was like stylistically kind of a risk to me and like a new vibe. Incredibly like stream of consciousness and unhinged and like, I wrote most of it, like on this like walk home at 2:00 AM on my phone with a voice memo and I was just like, fuck it.
Like, I just kind of was like, I don't know. And I started teasing it on TikTok and it did kind of well, and I was like, okay, I guess it's the next single. So that was that. That was like genuinely it. And like that was like the quickest turnaround time I'd ever had. And I didn't expect, you know, like a song I'd made a month before to be like the next single.
And then, yeah, and that one that has literally, I feel like I owe everything to that song. It's like genuinely like reached, like, it's like reached so many people and it's like I get to like meet all these, like new fans, but really like friends and I like genuinely talk to people all the time. and like the DM now and it's like, like genuinely an adorable experience.
And yeah, I just feel like my music finally really found its people and that's like really, really cool and special to me. And yeah, and then like now get out. My next single coming out on December 15th and that one too, like, I literally wrote-- I mean, now it's been like a month and two weeks ago, but yeah, I think two days after it got written, like the first demo of it after like the four hour session, we were like, , I think that's the next song.
And so we're just kind of like, yeah, saying fuck it a lot and just like going with what feels right. And that's kind of how the music is happening right now, so yeah, it'll be a lot of that.
Q: So your new song, “Get Out”, is coming out in like literally a week?
No, literally. Which is actually crazy.
I didn't even realize it was really December until like yesterday, so yes,
We just were actually on this little camera right here, My hd, camcorder, my manager and I went into Washington Square Park and like did the music video. I was trying to save money on this music video.
So we did it on the little camp corner and I was like, Ava, can you please record this music video? I didn't even tell her what was gonna happen. I just told her I was gonna be riding on a skateboard and someone's gonna be dragging me. And she was like, okay. And so, yeah, we like did that yesterday and it was like, it was actually so easy and fun and it's gonna be the funniest little fucking music video.
I'm just like literally getting dragged by a rope. That's attached to the skateboard that I'm sitting on. Cuz like the, in the pre chorus, the lyric is like, are you getting off to stringing me like that? So it's literally just me getting strung along the whole time. Like Washington Square Park, the most public spot that you never wanna be in New York, and there's just so many people. There's, I'm gonna make a full bloopers video too because the amount of times I ate shit falling off of the skateboard and like the amount of weird people that. What's going on? I hit things like accidentally the skateboard would like to go into things and I'd be like in the middle of the take.
And then I think my favorite moment was when this guy was like, you know what would make it better if you were smoking a blunt anyway.
I was like, no, you're so right. That's definitely what I need for the music video.
Q: Is video content a big part of your media strategy? Or have you always loved making videos?
Yeah, no, I've always liked, loved just visuals in general. Like I kind of grew up, especially in New York and being really into fashion and thrifting and whatever. I would like to always do photo shoots and, and shit like growing up with like other kids in school or other creative outcasts, and so and yeah, so like I, I've always like fell in love with visuals and just doing like photoshoots and videos and whatever.
And I've learned some video editing and color grading. And then naturally I just like seeing visuals paired with most things. So yeah, I've co-directed or directed all my music videos with either me or just my best friend and, and then, Helped shoot some of them or or, and then I've edited all of them too and still, still working on the Lovesick music video.
It's been so long. I just, like, haven't done it, but it's happening and it will happen.
Q: Social media. How do you approach it as an artist? A lot of people get caught up in this era of short-form content and virality and forget to balance it with truly being an artist and making, you know, art.
So in the pursuit of a music career where obviously you want to build a following and you want to have people pay attention and listen to your music, how do you balance that?
Yeah, I mean, like, I mean, I mean it's, it's quite literally almost everything in this, in this moment in time and in the culture and the music industry.
And yeah, I think like, like just like a crazy percentage of people and like all music engagement just comes from TikTok and it's like, why would I ignore that? Like I'm, I'm trying to make this as a career. , I'm sure maybe it could happen without TikTok, but like if that'll streamline any process and save me any money and, and you know, any time and effort, like of course I'm gonna do it.
And it's been like, and it's so, so rewarding, like actually reaching people and the correct people. And yeah, and it's like, I just think if you have the right intention with it and like to try and have fun with it, I think that was like, Switch for me where it just felt so taxing and like, I was just so hard on myself.
Cause I just didn't know how to be myself in front of the camera or how to showcase my music or anything. And then I just kind of stopped caring and, and really, and realizing like, whatever. Like I, I just have to try and just kind of have fun with it. And so like, the second I, yeah, like started just kind of like doing these like on the street dancing videos and stuff, like, that's kind of when I started having fun with it.
Cause I was like, that's actually what I'm doing right now. Like, a lot of times I. listening to music, unsafely walking home or something, at like 2:00 AM and then I would like to be like, oh, maybe I should film a TikTok. And those ones happened to always do the best for me too. So yeah, I was just kind of like, I don't know, not making it so hard on myself and like comparing myself to other people and what worked for them.
And like, every time I try to copy one of those, like more standard ways of like, promoting it honestly doesn't work for me. . So like, I. , you just have to like be yourself and, and kind of have your own vibe and whatever on it. And yeah, I think like a big focus for me because I am such a visual person.
Transitioning from sh to short form was a little difficult for me because I felt like I was more of a photos first person. And then, so I, like, Instagram has always been my whole life and I've liked it because I love like photos and curating whatever, but. Yeah, I think you get to show a lot more in videos and, and say a lot more.
So that's, that's exciting to me and kind of like actually really building a world out, you know? And yeah, I just think social media is incredibly taxing, unfortunately. It is like something that we have to do and there's definitely negatives, but it's also like an insane tool and I would never be where I am now without it.
So whatever, just go with that, I guess.
Q: Who is your dream collab?
I mean, the long, the super long shots ones are Harry Styles, and I always say the name wrong, Maneskin.
[On Maneskin] First off, I'm in love with 'em. Second off all their music. And yeah, I just love them. I love that they're just like, literally just grinding on stage. I just like, want, I just like, wanna feel that confidence in my life.And then, yeah, I like it, I just love the music. I just wanna make a little rock song with them.
And then I don't know, another one is like, like, I don't know, like maybe Miley Cyrus. I just like, I, I, I don't know. I love her.
And then yeah, no Harry Styles. I think we can make a beautiful duet, a beautiful one.It'd be iconic.
Q: How about tours? Is there like a place that you really wanna play or a venue or a city you wanna go international?
Who knows. I mean, in general, I just like, I think the ability that a tour will allow you to just travel the world is crazy. So I think doing an actual world tour would be genuinely mind blowing to me, , and I don't know if it's gonna happen, but that would be cool and I would love to do that.
I don't know, I don't even have a specific person that I really even like just want to go on tour with or anything. I just want to go on tour. Like I'll take anything , like literally anything. I'll be there. I just like, I think, I think I would like to thrive. I mean, I might die a little bit, but like I might thrive also in tour life cuz like, it's kind of how I live anyways.
Like constantly chaotic, constantly like eating on the go, not really sleeping the proper amount. And it seems. Make it be like, make me better . Maybe not for the long run, but like, you know, the music.
Q: So Busker is a startup that focuses on digital collectibles for artists and helps artists fundraise in, in the creation of projects by using Web 3 technology. So in these interviews we always like to talk about what the industry is like in its current setup and how what we’re doing can change that.
Do you have any experience with labels and how has your experience in the music industry been so far in terms of being able to ~afford to live~?
Oh my God, what a crazy concept, having money in the music industry. No, it's crazy. I mean, it's basically impossible to get any money from anywhere without strings attached or negative strings. Anyways , being able to fully trust where that comes from. And yeah, so like I, you know, I've, I've like chosen to stay independent this whole time and will continue to be independent for a little bit until it really makes sense and until, like, I'm not giving literally everything away for like, not that much and yeah, so like technically, yeah, I haven't, I've been independent and I've, I've, I've been like loving getting to know everyone in the industry and like meeting everyone. I think that's important and like for me, when I do eventually sign to a label and publishing and whatever in the future the biggest thing for me is the people and like really finding my people.
So it's like most of these companies can do all the same things, you know, and like they have probably the same connections and whatever. And so it's really just, yeah, like I, I just care about the people.
Q: At Busker we pride ourselves in being a place for music fans to find emerging artists! Are there any artists or bands you found early that you’re proud of?
I mean all of them.
I definitely Wet Leg, I would say like, can't imagine me not being a diehard fan for literally the rest of my life. Same with Holly. Yeah. I mean, just like most, most of the artists that I actually like listen to, like more than like three songs, I'd say. Sure. I'm so down. And I think like, even just like, like. Yeah. Like the whole conversation of money and stuff. Like the only power I have is to keep things in my own power. Right? And so like yeah, just like opportunities like that and different tools in which to continue , like getting money and being able to like, stay independent and like to fund and reinvest into the music.
Like that's just crucial. So. Yeah, for sure. Anyway, supporting that concept is very important.
Q: What does 2023 look like for Zoe Ko?
Yeah, I mean, just like literally so much more music. Like, I, I'm like so, so genuinely like, excited and proud of like the stuff that I've been making recently and I cannot wait to share it, and I can't wait to like even do the little, like, teasing of the different demos and like seeing what people really respond to the most.
And I'm just excited to like, I feel like, yeah, like this was just like just the beginning and like tip of the iceberg for me. And I just like, now I kind of like have my footing a little bit and understand what it all means and how to actually finish a song and like get it out in time and all.
And so now I'm just ready to roll 'em out and I like hope. I hope to have, you know, another single every now and then or coming out every like six to eight weeks for sure. So yeah, that's kind of it. Hopefully going on tour with someone and liking lots more music videos, and, hopefully some features and collabs and, you know, all the good stuff.