iHeartRadio's newest On the Verge artist is 17-year-old, Zoe Wees! You may recognize her from her song, "Control," broadcasting on Z104 now.
ZOE WEES
Growing up in an underprivileged part of Hamburg, Zoe carried a heavy burden from an early age: as a young girl, she developed childhood epilepsy and has since lived a life in fear of losing control over her own body.
Her single mother, aunt, and grandparents provided a sense of security for her, but Zoe was excluded by her school peers. With seizures happening sometimes several times a day, her illness was a constant companion, requiring her to seek medical attention on a regular basis. Her teacher became a formative figure in her life, accompanying Zoe day in and day out to ensure she had the support she needed in school.
Zoe eventually found refuge in the world of music, and at the age of 14 she encountered a music teacher who recognized her potential. The two began making music together, and thanks to her deep dedication, they managed to change her schedule in order to work on voice training and expression. They went on to release videos of song covers and play first shows together.
This experience has come in handy for Zoe at the studio. Since 2018, sheâs been working together with producers, Patrick Pyke Salmy and Ricardo MuÃąoz who wrote Lost Frequenciesâ âLove To Goâ and produced and co-wrote German radio top10 hits like âBack To The Startâ, âKeep Me Upâ and âAll I Needâ by Michael Schulte and Adel Tawilâs âTu Mâappelles,â amongst others. Songwriters Emma Rosen aka VVAVES and RenÊ Miller (Topic feat. A7S âBreaking Meâ) are helping her with writing her first self-composed tracks. The special constellation of artists and their strong bond of trust has enabled the young talent to tap into her deepest fears and to tell her moving story which she's now sharing with the world.
Zoe about her debut single âControlâ:
âIâm so happy that I can finally tell the story of the most important and also the most difficult phase of my entire life with my first single âControlâ. The song served as the most direct way to process and tell my own story. It was painful to write but also very healing. The process was therapeutic, giving me an opportunity to contain the fear and to deal with the pain.
"Losing control during my seizures made me feel claustrophobic, and that affected everything I did. The confrontation that takes place through my music has a healing power.
"âControlâ is also intended as a thank you to my teacher who helped me through the darkest time in my adolescent life. She protected me and cared for me, and even offered stability and support to my entire family. The first time I played her the song we both cried. I am forever grateful to her!
"This song has enabled me to cope in a way that I hope also helps other people who are dealing both with similar and with completely different problems. It captures all of my energy, my soul, and the feelings of pain, helplessness, and gratefulness all at once. I hope the people listening to it can feel the same dedication that I do.â