Q&A: Pop music’s ‘Queen of Hearts’ Zolita is bringing her beats to the Bay
Zoë Montana Hoetzel, better known by her stage name Zolita, is a rising star in the American music scene. Her unique blend of morbidly storied alt-pop, infused with themes of witchcraft, religion and queerness, has carved out a loyal fanbase known as the “Cult of Girls.”
Zolita’s journey began in her youth. She grew up playing bluegrass and flatpick guitar with her father, building a strong foundation for her future as a songwriter. Her breakthrough came in 2015 when the music video for her song “Explosion” went viral. She followed up with self-directed music videos for “Holy” and “Fight Like a Girl,” flexing skills honed at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
For Zolita, the visual often comes first. Her success has largely come about not from extravagant marketing but her innovative, storytelling-based approach to music videos, which play out like short films reminiscent of the iconic VH1 and MTV era.
Meanwhile, Zolita has curated a distinctive sound through her singles, albums, and EPs. Her songs explore themes of love, lust and heartbreak, filtered through her unique queer perspective.
Zolita’s latest album, “Queen of Hearts,” is a powerful and cohesive collection of songs that flush out universal experiences of heartbreak and self-discovery. This album showcases her versatility as an artist, seamlessly blending elements of queer pop, country, and alternative music. She’s bringing her tour to San Francisco’s The Independent on Oct. 15. She spoke to us by phone about her her new album, guiding inspiration, queerness and other artistic tidbits.
Q: Tell me a little about the influence and inspiration behind the “Queen of Hearts.” Are the rumors true, is this a breakup album?
A: For this whole album and storyline, I wanted to do a pageant video, and I was very inspired by “Drop Dead Gorgeous” and “Miss Congeniality.” However, I didn’t necessarily know what the through line was gonna be. I was writing about a bunch of different things in my life, but then I decided to tie it all back to that Pageant theme. And then is it a breakup album? I would say that there’s hints of the beginning of the breakup on the album and then on the Deluxe album, there’s definitely some breakup music.
Q: You announced some concert themes for your tour, and I saw you’ll be doing a sash competition. What does your sash say?
A: Miss Lesbian Supreme.
Q: Well, this album, and your discography as a whole, is heavily queer. Queer music has been on a steady rise for decades, but there’s definitely been a prominent uptick in recent years, with artists like Chappell Roan and Renee Rapp coming onto the scene. How do you feel about that? Is it exciting to have that acceptance, freedom and trendiness? Or, is it intimidating to have more competition, because being gay is less of a niche selling point now?
A: I think it’s amazing that there are so many different queer artists across so many different genres right now. It used to be like they were only limited to a few genres, and now, it’s like there is literally a queer artist for everybody. There’s even queer country artists now. But I don’t feel a sense of competition. I just feel overwhelming support. It’s also nice to see people, that I personally have witnessed work so hard, finally get their flowers.
Q: You have a queer pop-country song on this album called “Small Town Scandal.” Was that an intentional decision on your part, to try and queer country as a genre, or did that just come out of your bluegrass background?
A: It’s a mix of both. Personally, I just love country music so much. I spend 80% of my free time listening to country music. I also love line dancing. I go to this place called stud country that does queer line dancing. It’s so much fun to get to move your body in sync with a bunch of queer people for hours at a time. It feels spiritual. It’s also such an incredible feeling to get to take part in a part of American culture that we’re typically excluded from. So yes, that was definitely a big part of making that country song was taking all of those tropes that I hear in country music that I know weren’t made for me. Like, I’m listening to these “bro” country songs in an almost ironic way. These songs aren’t for me, but I still enjoy them. So I’m gonna take those parts that I enjoy, and I’m going to spin them, and I’m going to make it really unabashedly gay country bop.
Q: Your music is often really vulnerable. For example, your new song “Hypocrite” owns up to certain behaviors you might not feel very proud of. How does it feel to take up that anti-hero persona so publicly?
A: It’s definitely freeing. I definitely wanted to take accountability for my behavior. I think that’s important as an artist. I’m writing from my own experiences and my own hurt and my own pain when it comes to a thing I’m going through, like breakups. However, there’s obviously another side to it as well. That side doesn’t get to be expressed if you’re not dating another artist. So yeah, I thought it was important to call myself out.
Q: During an appearance on Shannon Beveridge’s “Exes and O’s” podcast, you mentioned how it’s somewhat strange to be singing songs made in the throws of a relationship that’s now several years past, and that you’ve healed from. How are you reckoning with that gap between initial inspiration and personal growth?
A: It’s interesting playing the love songs on tour, because so many of them came out of my last relationship. I didn’t know if it was gonna be hard to sing those, but it’s honestly been so nice. I’m like, it’s a testament to the love that did exist. Even though it doesn’t exist anymore, it shows me that it is possible for me. I also love the idea that music and art I’m proud of can come out of a time where I’m happy as well. I think there’s such an idea and a stereotype that artists have to be miserable all the time for good art to happen, and I am happy to know that that’s not true. Good art can come from both places.
Q: The Queen of Hearts once famously said “Off with their heads!” If you are the queen of hearts in this scenario, who is the “their?”
A: Easy. Donald Trump.
Q: Well there you go. Your songs often make really…strong statements. Your lyrics “All girls go to heaven and God is gay” come to mind. Is it scary to be that aggressive or political with your music?
A: Maybe this is so naive of me, but I feel like I’m in such a bubble of queerness. Both online in my real life, I’m in such a bubble of like-minded queer people. So, I feel like that fear doesn’t enter me so much. It’s more like I want to make things for all those people to feel empowered and feel good. And I don’t really think too hard about the other people that are not going to like it. It’s so rewarding! Like that song “All girls Go to Heaven” has definitely quickly become one of my favorite ones to perform. It’s important and it’s special to be in a room full of weird people, celebrating each other and singing that song.
ZOLITA
On the Queen of Hearts Tour, with Meg Smith
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 15
Where: The Independent, 628 Divisadero St., San Francisco
Tickets: $25; theindependentsf.com