Spotlight On... Zoe Graham

After releases in 2018 (Hacket & Knackered) and 2021 (Gradual Move Alterations), Zoe Graham returned with a bang earlier this year with the infectious, St. Vincent-indebted Evilin. A statement of intent, Evilin is gritty and full of attitude. Packed with sassy guitar embellishments, punchy brass and gurgling electronics, it's safe to say we'd never heard Zoe Graham sound quite like this before.

Evilin marked a change in direction for the Glasgow-based singer-songwriter, with follow-up singles Even Though I'm Scared and Push and Pull following suit. Proving that Evilin wasn't merely a flash in the pan, it feels like Graham has truly grown into herself as an artist and we couldn't be more excited for what the future holds. With the ultra catchy, Americana-tinged Push and Pull freshly released just last week, we catch up with Graham to find out more about the single, her change in direction and what's next.

We last spoke to you in 2018 ahead of your appearance at that year’s Wide Days. In the gap between then and now, it feels like the sound and vision you have for yourself as an artist has changed a lot. What have the last six years been like and can you tell us about this change in direction?
Wow, 2018, that feels like a lifetime ago. Yes a lot has changed! COVID was… well… we all know what that was like. I think, like a lot of people, my mental health wasn’t too fresh after the lockdown was lifted. I ended up enrolling in a couple years of therapy that became one of the best things I ever did. Therapy helped me adjust my whole relationship to music and life in general. I ended up writing a whole bunch of songs that reflected my time in the therapist's chair. And with my new-found knowledge on managing my anxiety came a freedom of expression that I’ve taken with me ever since. This whole new direction is exactly that! 

For the last couple of years you’ve been working with co-producer and collaborator Ben Christophers – what has this been like for you? Has Ben been a big part of helping develop your new sound?
Ben is one of the best people I’ve ever met. He’s a true artist and a deep, thoughtful musician – exactly what I needed at this time. Someone I could trust with all these very delicate feelings. He’s also a good hoot and many an evening at the Cowper Arms in Digswell was spent rambling about life and music. Ben helped push me out of my comfort zone too. Helping me walk to places I didn’t feel artistically safe, no matter where or who I work with in the future, Ben’s wisdom and spark will make a mark in everything I do. 

We’ve loved all the new singles so far, and Push and Pull is another beaut – can you tell us a bit more about the song; who/what inspired it and what is it about?
Push and Pull is a song about letting go, about letting life take you where it will take you and not challenging lady fate. Sometimes you find yourself pushing hard for something only to find that if you stop trying so hard you might find yourself ending up exactly where you wanted to be all along. 

You announced the new single after performing at Waves Vienna festival, and you’re just about to play Reeperbahn in Hamburg – how important are these kinds of festivals for you to play as an artist?
I’ve played quite a few showcase festivals at this point and I think they’re really important for artists to play. They’re exhausting and sometimes a lot of planning and prep for ultimately one show. But the connections you can make are really valuable; for me the most valuable connections are the ones I make with fellow artists and musicians. It’s exciting to make friends in new countries, which could possibly lead to collaboration or maybe even someone you can borrow a guitar or a keyboard from in an emergency! 

After Reeperbahn, next month you play a headline show at The Poetry Club in Glasgow – what are you most looking forward to about the show, and what can people expect on the night? 
Ahh I’m so excited about my headline show. It’s quite unnatural for me to put on a gig and for people to buy tickets to come and see me. Usually I’m on support duty and the pressure of hosting is off my shoulders. But I’m excited to welcome people in and to create a fun creative space. I’m going to play a whole bunch of new songs with a couple of surprises thrown in too. You won’t regret coming, I promise! 

And what’s next for Zoe Graham? Do you have any more plans for the rest of this year and into 2025?
After I come back from Germany I think I might sleep for a full week. But then there’s more music coming, my headline, a couple of gigs here and there. And hopefully I’ll be back in Europe again. Don’t think I’ll switch the engine off for a wee while yet. 

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Push and Pull is out now; Zoe Graham plays The Poetry Club, Glasgow, 17 Oct; advance tickets available here

Follow Zoe Graham on Instagram @iamzoegraham