Zoe Wees

Biography

Zoe Wees (German and English: ; born 13 May 2002) is a German singer. Her debut single "Control×Control13 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Control3:51" charted in several nations including number one in France (SNEP Radio) and the top ten in Belgium.

Background

Wees grew up in Hamburg. Her father is Jamaican and her mother is German. 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."
Wees' music has been described as "raw, deeply emotional", with a voice that ranges "from raspy low to unbelievably powerful and sky high". Wees can often be found playing the piano or guitar.
Wees attended the Grund- und Stadtteilschule Alter Teichweg, a school in Dulsberg.

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×Control13 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Control3:51" on 13 March 2020. The song is written about anxiety and not being in control, but more specifically, about her battle with benign rolandic epilepsy. 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×Ghost19 April 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Ghost2:52", part of her debut EP Golden Wings×Golden Wings21 May 2021 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Control3:502Girls Like Us3:093Hold Me Like You Used To3:074Ghost2:515Overthinking3:01, which was released on 21 May 2021 via Capitol Records. 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. Ghost was co-written by Ricardo Muñoz Repko, VVAVES, Nicolas Rebscher, and Patrick Salmy.
In January 2025, Wees released "Traitor×Traitor17 January 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Traitor2:27", the first new solo song in two years.

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. She describes her genre as pop.