Another day, another THP exclusive interview slay! This time, we got to chat with the lovely Gina Zo, front-woman of Velvet Rouge. Gina has probably been on your radar for a while, as she competed on The Voice in 2015/2016. Since then, Gina’s artistry has evolved several times, and she’s found a root in her work with Velvet Rouge. Fresh off the back of the release of ‘Lonely Since The Day We Met,’ and ahead of the band’s EP release, we were so hyped to discuss it all with Gina Zo in this interview! So, without making you wait any longer, here it is…
Gina Zo x THP Exclusive Interview
Congrats to you and Velvet Rouge on the release of ‘Lonely Since The Day We Met!’ How does it feel to have the track out in the world?
Thank you so, so much!! It is crazy to think that this track has been sitting in my lap since last fal,l and I have just been waiting to be able to give it to everyone. This song means so much to me as it really is a testament to a lot of my previous relationships – so to get to sing it live and have people feel the way I feel… it is truly so special.
What can you tell us about the creative process behind the track?
This track is interesting because it started off as two different songs! I had written one track in this “look I can write a song in 5 minutes” session with an ex-boyfriend – I guess I was trying to prove something to him, needless to say it did NOT work out lol. Then I wrote ‘Lonely Since The Day We Met’ while I was in the car one day – I randomly got the hook line stuck in my head… no idea how it got there but it did and then I went to my family piano and started writing. Our guitarist Joe had the great idea to put the two songs together – and here we are now.
Velvet Rouge’s Debut EP
On the release day for ‘Lonely Since The Day We Met,’ you also announced Velvet Rouge’s debut EP! What makes now the right moment for the band to release this, and how did the project come together?
We have been releasing singles for about 2 years now – just track by track showcasing our songwriting abilities. These songs have been so fun to put out, like our Pride month song, ‘Faking It,’ or our first single ‘Save Me.’ Finally though we got to a point when we said “we really need to give people a full record…” We knew we were not at the point where we wanted to release an album, but we did want to start making a statement. Debuting an EP just felt so right – we are ready to make that leap with our fans.
We went to one of our producer duos, Brian McTear and Amy Morrisson, and said we had the dream of making an EP. We knew they would do an excellent job of recording and bringing to life these songs because they have that special touch of being able to transform music into a whole new beast. You bring an acoustic song in – it becomes a massive thrilling rock tune. You never know where the music will take you when you enter their space.
Are there any hints you can tell us about the EP? Is there a specific song or lyric we should keep an eye out for when it releases in July?
Yes… my favorite song (the final single) comes out right before we release the record. I don’t really know if I am supposed to or allowed to say that… but I will say ONLY that. It is a song like no other. It is by far my favorite song I have written in my life.
Touring And Performing
You’ll also be heading out on the road for various shows and festivals this summer! What are you most excited about with these shows?
I am most excited to have people see us that have never heard of our band. We played a festival in Wilmington, DE to a gorgeous, massive crowd. Only a small portion of people knew our band, but when I tell you we left with SO MANY fans… holy guacamole, I am assuming I can’t curse. I was so thrilled to have made an impact on people. Then of course, I am even more excited to play XPoNential Festival at Camden, NJ – this show has been on my mind for YEARS. I have been wanting to play this since I was in high school and to have been asked to be a performer for this festival this early in my career – I am just so thankful.
Is there a specific track that you always look forward to playing live?
I really love to play that final single that I oh-so-secretly mentioned live. It is the song that I feel like people really get a taste of who we are when they listen. They get goose bumps that I feel like I can literally see from the stage. I think it is the song that resonates the most with every single person in the audience – it is a song not about a relationship with another person, but the relationship you have with yourself and your journey.
Pride And Empowerment
Happy Pride! This will mark one year since you released the anthem ‘Faking It.’ How has your life changed since you released it?
Since releasing ‘Faking It’ the biggest change is that I am now out as bisexual – I told everyone with the release of that song that I was bi- and since then, I have never felt more “myself” in my sexuality. I have never felt more connected to my audience since releasing that song either. So many people were in the community with me, but I was conditioned to think that people in the community had to fit a “stereotype” based on what the media says being queer should look like. This newfound view of those around me has completely changed my perspective and has made me feel a comfort I had never known in my sexuality.
If we were to create an empowering coming-out playlist with ‘Faking It,’ what are some other songs or artists you’d recommend we add?
I love, love, LOVE this question… okay first off–immediately off the bat–I would say ‘Red Wine Supernova’ by Chappell Roan, ‘One of Your Girls’ by Troye Sivan, ‘Antidote’ by Fletcher, and ‘Pretty Girls’ by Renée Rapp. There are so many more… but now I am going to make a Pride playlist and send it to you.
These are stunning choices, and we would love that!
We love that you also champion support for women in the music industry! What is your number one piece of advice for young women who want to make a name for themselves in the industry?
That you don’t need people to give you contracts to make you a success, especially at the start. So much of what I have done has been entirely myself and with my incredible band. There have been benefits to being able to work with people, but I didn’t need to have them to get myself started. As you grow, slowly add on people to your team because you will only bring on people you truly trust – that is an absolute MUST – you have to TRUST the people you are bringing in. Only then will you truly be a success.
You essentially grew up in the industry after taking part in The Voice in 2015/2016. How do you think that has impacted your creative process?
It is funny you say that because I never thought of it that way…but you are totally right. I was 17 when I had my first audition for The Voice, which IS truly a child. It wildly impacted my creative process, but more specifically, the confidence I had in my creative process. Before the show, I didn’t really know that I was a singer… I mean I was singing in school, but I wasn’t really doing it all that professionally. When I got onto The Voice, I could now say to myself that people wanted me, and they knew I had what it takes. It wasn’t just in my mind – this is wildly impactful for a 17-year-old to hear. I cannot imagine having it the other way, if they said I was no good… but I am just glad to know that that didn’t happen.
Lastly, what message would you like to give our THP readers today?
Be YOU. Stop trying to be who everyone else is. Stop trying to be the next “put in any famous person’s name here”. Instead, try to find who you are and what makes you unique. What makes you special/different and makes you someone that people can look up to? That’s what you need to figure out; not how to become the next person that already exists.
Sounds like great advice to us! Thanks so much to Gina Zo for taking the time to chat with us for this exclusive interview! We can’t wait to see what the rest of 2024 looks like for Velvet Rouge!
Have you been listening to ‘Lonely Since The Day We Met?’ And what are your thoughts on that Pride Playlist! Let us know on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!
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