Zoe Wees
{{short description|German singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Zoe Wees
| image = Zoe-wees2022 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Wees in 2022
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2002|05|13}}
| birth_place = Hamburg, Germany
| genre = Pop
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2019–present
| label = Valeria Music, Capitol Records{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CJzCHEAjAAw/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/capitolmusic/2482337101044777008 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Welcome to the Capitol family, @zoe.wees!|author=Capitol Records|publisher=Instagram|date=8 January 2021|access-date=9 January 2021}}{{cbignore}}
| website =
| alt = Image of Zoe Wees from the promo pic of her song "Control" (2020)
}}
Zoe Wees (German{{Citation |title=ZOE WEES im exklusiven Interview [UNCUT] BB RADIO Mitternachtstalk Podcast 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz-CaGxAkoM |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=de}} and {{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|z|oʊ|i|_|w|iː|s}};{{Citation |title=Border Crossings: Zoe Wees |date=2023-11-13 |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/7352548.html |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=en}} born 13 May 2002) is a German singer. Her debut single "Control" charted in several nations including number one in France (SNEP Radio){{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/classement-radio/?semaine=40|title=Singles Radio (Week 40, 2020)|author= |date=2 October 2020 |website=SNEP |access-date=16 October 2020}} and the top ten in Belgium.
Background
Wees grew up in Hamburg.{{cite web |title=Newcomer Zoe Wees Talks Breakout Single "Control" And New EP |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2020/07/14/new-noise-zoe-wees/ |website=Wonderland |access-date=13 October 2020 |date=14 July 2020}} She has lived with benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE), a syndrome that caused her to have feelings of exclusion from others, helplessness, and loss of control. Wees stated, "The sickness was stronger than me, and left scars that have become part of my life. Accepting them has taken so much time, but they make me what I am today: a fighter."{{cite web |title=Interview: Taking Control With Zoe Wees |url=https://notion.online/taking-control-with-zoe-wees/ |website=Notion |access-date=13 October 2020 |date=18 September 2020}}
Wees' music has been described as "raw, deeply emotional", with a voice that ranges "from raspy low to unbelievably powerful and sky high".{{Cite news |last=Barbeito |first=Camila |date=27 January 2021 |title=Everything to Know About Zoe Wees, the German Singer Behind Megahit "Control" |url=https://www.popsugar.com/node/48127211 |access-date=26 April 2021 |website=POPSUGAR Celebrity |language=en-US}} Wees can often be found playing the piano or guitar.
Wees attended the Grund- und Stadtteilschule Alter Teichweg, a school in Dulsberg.{{cite web | url =https://www.bz-berlin.de/leute/popstar-zoe-wees-singt-an-ihrer-alten-schule-fuer-den-frieden | title =Popstar Zoe Wees singt an ihrer alten Schule für den Frieden | date =25 March 2022 | website =BZ | publisher =Axel Springer | access-date =11 April 2022 }}{{cite web | url =https://www.abendblatt.de/sport/article227442605/talente-hamburg-sport-nachwuchs.html | title =Das sind Hamburgs Sportler mit Zukunft – Die Talente des Jahres: Schwimmer Rafael Miroslaw, Badmintonspielerin Thuc Phuong Nguyen, UHC-Hockey-Jugend. | date =23 October 2019 | website =Hamburger Abendblatt | publisher =Funke Mediengruppe | access-date =11 March 2022 }}
Career
Wees has written music in English since childhood. She began working on music as a teenager when her teacher came up to her after a school concert wanting to work with her on music. In early 2017, Wees took part in the fifth season of the music talent show The Voice Kids. Wees joined pop singer Sasha's team in the Blind Auditions. In the Sing-Offs, the third of five phases in the competition, Wees was eliminated. Wees released the song "Control" on 13 March 2020.{{cite web |title=Interview with Zoe Wees |url=https://www.wizardradio.co.uk/news/interview-with-zoe-wees |website=www.wizardradio.co.uk |access-date=13 October 2020}} The song is written about anxiety and not being in control, but more specifically, about her battle with benign rolandic epilepsy.{{cite web|date=6 July 2020|title=Germany's Zoe Wees Owns Her Journey on Powerful Debut Single|url=https://newsroom.spotify.com/2020-07-06/germanys-zoe-wees-owns-her-journey-on-powerful-debut-single/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=Spotify}} Her mission in writing the song was to say thank you to her primary school teacher who pushed her along as a young girl into becoming who she is today.
On 19 April 2021, Wees released "Ghost", part of her debut EP Golden Wings, which was released on 21 May 2021 via Capitol Records.{{Cite web|last=Paul|first=Larisha|date=19 April 2021|title=Breakout Singer Zoe Wees Shares New Single 'Ghost' {{!}} uDiscover|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/zoe-wees-ghost-single/|access-date=26 April 2021|website=uDiscover Music|language=en-US}} Wees said that "Ghost" was written about letting someone get too close even if you know they can hurt you and about being vulnerable to that person in a way that could essentially destroy your life.{{Cite web|title=Zoe Wees dares to be emotionally vulnerable on new release "Ghost"|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/song-of-the-day/zoe-wees-ghost|access-date=26 April 2021|website=The Line of Best Fit|language=en}} Ghost was co-written by Ricardo Muñoz Repko, VVAVES, Nicolas Rebscher, and Patrick Salmy.
In January 2025, Wees released "Traitor", the first new solo song in two years.{{cite web|url=https://sportplaylists.com/zoe-wees-traitor/|title= Zoe Wees returns with first new track in two years ‘Traitor’|website=Sports Playlist|date=17 January 2025|access-date=20 January 2025}}
Musical style and influences
Wees noted that she listened to Jessie J and Miley Cyrus as she grew up. Artists that she cited as influences include Jessie J and Lewis Capaldi.{{cite web |title=Zoe Wees – Interview |url=https://www.londoninstereo.com/zoe-wees-interview/ |website=London In Stereo |access-date=13 October 2020 |date=27 July 2020}} She describes her genre as pop.
Discography
= Studio albums =
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, showing selected details ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Details ! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions |
scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| GER ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| AUT ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| SWI |
---|
scope="row"| Therapy
|
| 15 || 43 || 12 |
= Extended plays =
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of extended plays, with selected details ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |
scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| GER ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| SWI |
---|
scope="row"| Golden Wings
|
| 31 | 28 |
scope="row"| Therapy (Acoustic Version)
|
| — | — |
colspan="9" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released. |
= Singles =
== As lead artist ==
== As featured artist ==
Awards and nominations
class="wikitable"
! Year ! Award ! Nomination ! Work ! Result ! Ref. |
rowspan="6"| 2020
| New Faces Awards Music (Bunte) | Newcomer | rowspan="3"| Herself | {{won}} |
Bravo Otto Awards
| Newcomer/Breakthrough | {{Won|place=Gold}} |
rowspan="2"| 1LIVE Krone Awards
| Best Newcomer Act | {{nominated}} | rowspan="2"| {{Cite web|title=1Live Krone Awards 2020 Voting|date=15 November 2021 |url=https://www.1livekrone.de/1live/ovcbadc1fb}} |
Best Single
| Control | {{nominated}} |
NRJ Music Awards
| rowspan="2"| Newcomer of the Year | rowspan="3"| Herself | {{nominated}} |
New Music Awards
| {{won}} |
rowspan="6" | 2021
| rowspan="2"| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Favourite Musician (DE, AT, CH) | {{nominated}} |
Favourite Song (DE, AT, CH)
| Control | {{nominated}} |
MTV Europe Music Awards
|Best German Act | rowspan="3" |Herself | {{Nominated}} |
Bravo Otto Awards
|Singer International | {{Nominated}} |
rowspan="2" |1LIVE Krone Awards
|Best Female Artist | {{Nominated}} |
Best Single
|Girls Like Us | {{Nominated}} |
rowspan="5" |2022
|Outstanding New Artist | rowspan="2" |Herself |{{Nominated}} |
rowspan="2" |Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
|Favourite Musician (DE, AT, CH) |{{Nominated}} |
Favourite Song (DE, AT, CH)
|Girls Like Us |{{won}} |
rowspan="2" |1LIVE Krone Awards
|Favourite Female Act |Herself |{{Nominated}} |
Best Dance Song
|Do It Better (with Felix Jaehn) |{{Won}} |
rowspan="2" |2023
|Radio Regenbogen Awards |National Artist of 2022 | rowspan="2" |Herself |{{Won}} |
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
|Favourite Musician (DE, AT, CH) |{{Nominated}} |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wees, Zoe}}
Category:German women pop singers
Category:English-language singers from Germany
Category:German people of African descent
Category:German women singer-songwriters
Category:German singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century German women writers