Zolita
Zoë Montana Hoetzel (born September 23, 1994), known professionally as Zolita, is a German-American singer-songwriter. She gained viral success with the music video for "Explosion", which has over eight million views on YouTube as of May 2018. Following its success, she released the music videos for the singles "Holy" (2016) and "Fight Like a Girl" (2017) directed by herself.[1] On October 13, 2015 she released independently her debut extended play Immaculate Conception, and on May 18, 2018 she released her second extended play Sappho.[2][3]
Zolita | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Zoë Montana Hoetzel |
Born | September 23, 1994 |
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Occupation(s) |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 2015–present |
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Website | zolitamusic |
Early life and career
Zolita was born on September 23, 1994, in New York to Heidi Schwarck and Holger Hoetzel, and was raised in Calabasas, California. Her father is of German descent, and her mother is of Danish descent. Her father inspired her to start making music and she grew up playing bluegrass and flat pick guitar.[4] She has a brother, Max, a basketball player, and a sister, Luna, a YouTuber and ballerina. She and her siblings all share the middle name Montana.[5]
She started her career with the music video for "Explosion" which gained viral success, it was also listed on Billboard's list of "30 Lesbian Love Songs".[6] She further released the second video for the single "Holy", the concept is exploring themes of female sexuality, spirituality, and feminism.[7] On October 13, 2015 she released her debut extended play Immaculate Conception.[8] In 2017 she released the first single from her second extended play Sappho titled "Fight Like a Girl", which is a protest song with feminist themes inspired by the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump.[1] On October 26, 2017 she released "Come Home with Me" as the second single, and on May 4, 2018 she released "New You" as the third single from her second extended play Sappho which was released on May 18 of that year.[9][10][3] On December 5, 2018 she released "Truth Tea" along with a music video as the first single for her third upcoming extended play.[11] On March 8, 2019 she released "Black Magic" along with a visual video, and on June 28, 2019 she released "Shut Up And Cry" along with a lyric video.[12][13][11] These songs are singles for her upcoming album which is confirmed as her first full-length album. The project is known as "Evil Angel". On February 14, 2020 she released a cover of Usher's song "U Remind Me" with a video. This song won’t be included on "Evil Angel".[14] On August 7, 20§0 she released the third single ”Oblivion“ including a music video off her upcoming album ”Evil Angel“.
Personal life
Zolita is an open lesbian, and she identifies herself as a feminist. She came out at an early age. In a 2017 interview she expressed how lucky she was for growing in a liberal family surrounded by open-minded friends. In her school days, she was afraid to come out to her female friends, saying "I was also worried that my female friends would no longer want to have girls' nights or sleepovers for fear that I might be attracted to them. So, I decided to keep my newfound queerness a secret."[15] She also identifies herself as a witch, she explains this in videos on her YouTube channel, but also in her music videos where witchcraft is incorporated.[16]
Discography
Extended plays
Title | Details |
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Immaculate Conception[8] |
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Sappho[3] |
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Singles
Title | Year | Album |
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"Explosion"[17] | 2015 | Immaculate Conception |
"Holy"[7] | 2016 | |
"Fight Like a Girl"[18] | 2017 | Sappho |
"Come Home with Me"[9] | ||
"New You"[10] | 2018 | |
"Truth Tea"[19][11] | Non-album singles | |
"Black Magic"[12] | 2019 | |
"Shut Up and Cry"[13] | ||
"U Remind Me"[14] (Usher cover) |
2020 | |
"Oblivion"[20] |
Promotional singles
Title | Year | Album |
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"Like Heaven"[21] | 2018 | Sappho |
References
- Moran, Justin (August 17, 2017). "Zolita: The Queer Feminist Pop Star We Need". Out. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- Scott, Jason (May 7, 2017). "Zolita Celebrates Her Sexuality In New 'Holy' Music Video". PopDust. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- "Sappho - EP by Zolita". iTunes Store (US). May 18, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- Sirisuk, J.L. (August 4, 2017). "Video premiere: future queer icon zolita's feminist pop anthem". i-D. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- Schmitt, Ralf (February 7, 2019). "Basketball-Profi Max Montana Vom 90. Geburtstag zu den Towers". Bild (in German). Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- Vincent, Brittany (September 20, 2017). "30 Lesbian Love Songs: Tegan & Sara, Hayley Kiyoko, Le Tigre & More". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- Bulut, Selim (June 21, 2016). "Watch love blossom in a dystopian schoolhouse". Dazed. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- "Immaculate Conception - EP by Zolita". iTunes Store (US). October 13, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- "Come Home with Me - Single by Zolita". iTunes Store (US). October 26, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- "New You - Single by Zolita". iTunes Store (US). May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- "Zolita Talks 'Big Dyke Energy' and Her Queer Heartbreak Banger". Papermag. December 5, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
- "Black Magic - Single by Zolita". iTunes Store (US). March 8, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- "Shut Up and Cry - Single by Zolita". iTunes Store (US). June 28, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- "U Remind Me - Single by Zolita". Apple Music. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- "Zolita on Coming Out & Owning Her Queerness in Music". Out. October 11, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- Damshenas, Sam (February 18, 2019). "Zolita on why she incorporates witchcraft into her music". Gay Times. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- "Explosion - Single by Zolita". iTunes Store (US). August 11, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- "Fight Like a Girl - Single by Zolita". iTunes Store (US). July 28, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- "Truth Tea - Single by Zolita". iTunes Store (US). December 5, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
- "Oblivion - Single by Zolita". Apple Music. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- "Like Heaven - Single by Zolita". iTunes Store (US). May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
External links
Media related to Zolita at Wikimedia Commons