Australian born artist Zoee is carving out a bold space in Nashville with a sound she describes as her most authentic yet. After years spent cutting her teeth in the UK music scene through relentless busking, grassroots touring, and international festival slots, she made the move to Music City in 2022. This year has marked her strongest momentum to date with her debut album, The Butterly Effect, standout performances at CMA Fest and Whiskey Jam, and a recent run of shows with rising star Jenna Davis that recharged her creative fire.
Below, Zoee talks about the transformative impact of touring, the evolution of her sound, the winding path from Tasmania to Nashville, and the new era she is preparing to share with fans.
RR: You mentioned that touring with Jenna Davis refilled your creative tank. How so?
Zoee: Just being on the road… there is nothing like it. The reason we make music is to perform it for people, and it was especially fun with Jenna. She has the best energy, and her show is so fun. Her fan base is incredible.
It was also my first real run of shows in the US since releasing my new album, so getting to play different cities here was exciting. I have done a lot of stuff in the UK and in Europe, but this was my first run here since I moved. I am already pumped for the next one.
Q: You’re working on new music. How is it different from what fans have heard before?
Zoee: I feel like I have figured out my sound and who I am as an artist, and this next chapter is going to reflect that. I can’t say a whole lot, but it feels more like me than anything I have done before. I will have announcements coming soon.
Q: How would you describe it?
Zoee: It’s not quite like what I have done before. I would say it leans more into my pop style, which I have not really done yet. Country and pop bleed over easily, so it’s a natural crossover.
I’m also leaning more on the country side. I just finished recording a song with fiddle on it, which I have never done before. I am doing things in more extreme ways than I have before.
Q: You mentioned moving around the world twice. Can you walk me through that journey?
Zoee: Before I could come to the US, I had to get a visa. I had not done enough to come, so I moved to the UK and lived there for six or seven years. Nobody knew who I was there either, ha.
In my head I thought I was going to go and play stadiums, but nobody knew who I was. So I started busking on the streets and playing for anyone. I worked my way up to local venues, then headlining shows, then festivals, then touring internationally in the EU and Scandinavia.
When COVID shut things down it gave me a chance to focus on my songwriting, and by then I had done enough to get my visa for the US, so I moved here in 2022. This is home now. It has been a hop, skip, and a jump.
Q: When did Nashville start feeling like it was working?
Zoee: Honestly, this year. This year has been full on. I played CMA Fest, Whiskey Jam, released my debut album, and went on the road with Jenna. I had not been able to do those things earlier because it takes time to settle into a new country.
You have to do everything from getting a new driver license to meeting people and building a community. But this year it all started to come together. With the new music I am writing, I feel more aligned with who Zoe is.
Q: How long did your debut album take to make?
Zoee: About two and a half years. One song was written when I first got here, and another was added about three weeks before the album released. I wrote over a hundred songs and had to find the best ten for the album. It is hard to kill your darlings.
Q: What is your writing process? Solo or co-writing?
Zoee: I love collaborating with people that are better than me. I wrote a lot by myself before Nashville, and I still love solo writing. A lot of the new stuff is solo.
The whole album was co written. Sometimes as an artist you get in your own way, and having other people in the room helps pull those obstacles out of the path.
Q: Is new music or touring on the way?
Zoee: There should be a song before the end of the year, if all goes to plan. I am planning to hit the road a lot in 2026, in the US and overseas if possible. It is all in the pipeline, but 2026 looks like a really big year.
Check out Zoee’s introductory album, The Butterfly Effect, below. And be sure to follow her on socials to stay up to date with her new music and live shows!