Zoë (British singer)

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Zoë
Birth nameZoë Pollock
Born (1969-01-19) 19 January 1969 (age 55)
Camberwell, London
Website zoepollock.com

Zoë (born and nowadays known as Zoë Pollock, [1] [2] 19 January 1969, Peckham, London)[ citation needed ] is a British pop singer and songwriter, who had brief success in 1991 with two hit singles, "Sunshine on a Rainy Day", which climbed to number 4 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Lightning", which reached number 37 (and spent three weeks in the UK Top 40). Zoë has released three solo albums and five singles.

Contents

Career

She initially started her career in the mid-1980s, by auditioning for Jimi Cauty and Youth to be the lead singer for their band Brilliant. [3] She began dating Youth, who would later produce her two solo albums.

Zoë released her debut single, "Sunshine On a Rainy Day", in late 1990, with two different music videos. It failed to reach the UK Top 40. However, it was remixed and re-released in 1991 and it became a Top 10 hit, peaking at number 4. Her début album, Scarlet Red and Blue included "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" and the follow-up single "Lightning", which peaked at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart. The album, despite good promotion and reviews, however, did not sell well, reaching only number 67 on the UK Albums Chart. It featured similar dance-pop tracks as well as soulful ballads. "Holy Days" was the last single from Scarlet Red and Blue, released in February 1992, but only managed number 72. [4] In 1991, Zoë sang backing vocals on Bananarama's Pop Life album, which was produced by Youth.

In 1996, Zoë re-emerged (still signed to M&G Records) with a revamped image, style and sound. Her new album, Hammer, was American rock. The title track was released as a single, but failed to reach the UK Singles Chart. After this album she disappeared from the music scene for several years, travelling around the world and becoming a sculptor and potter.

Zoë recorded an EP under the alias Hephzibah Broom, released by an independent Manchester label. Zoë became part of the female folk duo Mama, with singer Sarah McQuaid. They released their debut album, Crow Coyote Buffalo, in late 2008. The album includes a folk re-recording of Zoë's signature song, "Sunshine on a Rainy Day", which the group also made a music video for. [5]

In 2021, Zoë released Lago Ausente, an album of original songs that celebrate her love of nature and plant medicine. Produced by Liam Fletcher, the album features guest performances by guitarists Fabiano do Nascimento and Sebastian Juliussen, percussionist Ricardo ‘Tiki’ Pasillas, shakuhachi player Adrian Freedman, violinist Bridget O’Donnell, cellist Julia Morneweg and double bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado, plus Fletcher himself on harmonium and synthesiser.

Discography

Albums

YearTitleDetailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[6]
UK
[7]
1991Scarlet Red and Blue19367
1996Hammer
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: M&G, BMG
--

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positions
AUS [8] IRE [9] SWE [10] UK [7] [11] ZIM [12]
1990"Sunshine on a Rainy Day"---53-
1991"Sunshine on a Rainy Day" (remix)14794041
"Lightning"15628-37-
1992"Holy Days"---72-
1996"Hammer"---177-

Personal life

Zoë moved to Cornwall and in 1998 married Murray Lachlan Young, a British poet. They have two children, and divorced in 2009. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katrina and the Waves</span> British-American rock band

Katrina and the Waves were a British rock band formed in Cambridge in 1981, widely known for their 1985 hit "Walking on Sunshine". They won the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Love Shine a Light".

5000 Volts is the name of a British disco recording act that achieved success throughout Europe during the 1970s. The group consisted of vocalists Tina Charles and Martin Jay, with a changing group of session musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lightning Seeds</span> English rock band

The Lightning Seeds are an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1989 by Ian Broudie, formerly of the bands Big in Japan, Care, and Original Mirrors. Originally a studio-based solo project for Broudie, the Lightning Seeds expanded into a touring band following Jollification (1994). The group experienced commercial success throughout the 1990s and are well known for their single "Three Lions", a collaboration with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner which reached No. 1 in the UK in 1996 and 2018, with a re-worked version also reaching the top spot in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transvision Vamp</span> English alternative rock band

Transvision Vamp were an English pop rock band. Formed in 1986 by Nick Christian Sayer and Wendy James, the band enjoyed chart success in the late 1980s, particularly in 1989. James, the lead singer and focal-point of the group, attracted media attention with her sexually charged and rebellious image. The band had 10 UK chart hits and also enjoyed considerable success in Australia. Transvision Vamp's top single was 1989's "Baby I Don't Care", which reached number three in the UK and Australian charts.

<i>Pop! The First 20 Hits</i> 1992 greatest hits album by Erasure

Pop! The First 20 Hits is a greatest hits collection from Erasure, released on 16 November 1992 in Germany and the UK and 24 November 1992 in the United States. The album utilises a straightforward format: all of Erasure's singles up to that point, sequenced in chronological order with the addition of the Hamburg Mix of Erasure's first ever single, "Who Needs Love ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walking on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves song)</span> 1985 single by Katrina and the Waves

"Walking on Sunshine" is a song written by Kimberley Rew for British rock band Katrina and the Waves' 1983 eponymous debut full-length album. The rerecorded version was at first released on the band's 1985 self-titled album as the album's second single and reached No. 4 in Australia, No. 9 in the United States and No. 8 in the United Kingdom. It was the Waves' first American top 40 hit, and their biggest success in the UK until "Love Shine a Light" (1997), which won them the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 held in Dublin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love Your Smile</span> 1991 single by Shanice

"I Love Your Smile" is a song by American singer-songwriter Shanice, released in October 1991 by Motown as the lead single from her second studio album, Inner Child (1991). The song was produced by Narada Michael Walden, and the radio version removes the rap bridge from the album version. It features a saxophone solo by Branford Marsalis as well as laughter from Janet Jackson and René Elizondo Jr. near the end of the song. To date, "I Love Your Smile" is Shanice's best known and most successful hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killer (Adamski song)</span> 1990 single by Adamski

"Killer" is a song by British DJ and record producer Adamski. It was written by Adamski and British singer-songwriter Seal, who also provided vocals, although the original release is credited solely to Adamski. It was released in March 1990 by MCA Records as the first single from Adamski's second album, Doctor Adamski's Musical Pharmacy (1990), and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. The single spent four weeks at the top in May and June 1990 and sold over 400,000 copies in the UK, earning it gold certification. It also reached number one in Belgium and Zimbabwe and number two in the Netherlands and West Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunshine on a Rainy Day</span> 1990 single by Zoë

"Sunshine on a Rainy Day" is a song by British pop singer and songwriter Zoë, released by M&G and Polydor as the first single from her debut album, Scarlet Red and Blue (1991). The song, written by Zoë and Youth, received positive reviews from music critics, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart in September 1991. It also charted within the top 40 in Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden and Zimbabwe, where it reached number-one. Three different music videos were produced to promote the single, one of them was filmed in India and another for the US market. In 2008, Zoë re-recorded the song with her folk band Mama. This version is available on their debut CD, Crow Coyote Buffalo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Healing Hands (Elton John song)</span> 1989 single by Elton John

"Healing Hands" is a song by English musician Elton John, written by John and Bernie Taupin, from John's 1989 album, Sleeping with the Past. The single was released in August 1989 and was a top-20 hit in the United States. A reissued version became the singer's first solo number-one single in the United Kingdom in June 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another Town, Another Train</span> 1973 ABBA song

"Another Town, Another Train" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA at KMH Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stars (Simply Red song)</span> Simply Red song

"Stars" is a song by British soul and pop band Simply Red, released in November 1991 as the second single from their fourth album of the same name (1991). Written by lead singer Mick Hucknall and produced by Stewart Levine, it became the first single from the album to enter the UK top 10, reaching number eight in December 1991. Outside the UK, "Stars" reached the top 10 in Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, and Zimbabwe. In the United States, it climbed to number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the band's last appearance on the listing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Think of You (Whigfield song)</span> 1995 single by Whigfield

"Think of You" is a song recorded by Italian Eurodance project Whigfield, which was performed by Danish-born Sannie Charlotte Carlson. It was released in May 1995 as the third single from her first album, Whigfield (1995), and scored success on the charts in Europe. The single reached number seven in the UK and was a top 10 hit also in Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain and Zimbabwe. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Think of You" reached number four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Go (Yazoo song)</span> 1982 single by Yazoo

"Don't Go" is a song by British synth-pop band Yazoo. It was released in 1982 as the second single from their debut album, Upstairs at Eric's. The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Yazoo's second top 5 hit. In the US, where the band was known as Yaz, the song was their second big hit on the American dance chart, where it spent two weeks at number one in October 1982. Their first American dance chart hit was "Situation", which had also gone to number one on this chart earlier the same year. The music video for the song features band members Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke in a sort of haunted mansion with Clarke cast in the role of Victor Frankenstein. The song re-entered the UK Dance Chart on 13 December 2009 at number 30, peaking at number 15 on 2 January 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Worry (Kim Appleby song)</span> 1990 single by Kim Appleby

"Don't Worry" is the debut solo single of English musician Kim Appleby from her self-titled debut solo album (1990). This was Appleby's first solo-single after the death of her sister Mel. The song addresses the process of getting over being heartbroken. With the aid of her then boyfriend, ex-Bros bassist Craig Logan, Kim launched a solo career with much of her debut solo album composed of songs co-written with Mel, for what was intended to be the next Mel and Kim album. The new album showed Appleby in a more prominent, soulful role, although the tongue-in-cheek humour of Mel & Kim still remained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Motown Song</span> 1991 single by Rod Stewart

"The Motown Song" is a song performed by British singer Rod Stewart featuring American vocal group the Temptations. The song is from Stewart's 16th studio album, Vagabond Heart (1991). It was written by Larry John McNally and was originally recorded by McNally for the soundtrack to the film Quicksilver in 1986. McNally recorded a new version in 2015 for the compilation I. C. Independent Celebration, Vol. 1 for the German label Birdstone Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)</span> 1991 single by Rozalla

"Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" is a song by Zambian-born Zimbabwean singer Rozalla, released in August 1991 by label Pulse-8 as the second single from her second album, Everybody's Free (1992). The song was written by Nigel Swanston and Tim Cox, and produced by Band of Gypsies. It had been a staple in the clubs in Ibiza and Mallorca in the summer of 1991, and hordes of recovering ravers were delighted to find "that tune about being free to feel good and stuff" was available to buy back home. Upon its release, the song reached number two in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain, while entering the top 10 in Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the single reached number six, and in Zimbabwe, it peaked at number four. It also topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Several music videos have been made to promote the song. It is widely regarded as one of the biggest dance anthems of the 1990s and it has been remixed and re-released several times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah McQuaid</span> Musical artist

Sarah McQuaid is a singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist. She has recorded six solo albums: When Two Lovers Meet, I Won't Go Home ’Til Morning, The Plum Tree And The Rose, Walking into White, If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous and The St Buryan Sessions. Three songs on McQuaid's Walking into White album were inspired by the Swallows and Amazons books by English author Arthur Ransome. After recording her first three albums in Ireland with producer Gerry O'Beirne, McQuaid enlisted her cousin, Adam Pierce to serve as producer for Walking into White. Her fifth album, If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous, was produced by veteran English guitarist and singer-songwriter, Michael Chapman. Under the band name Mama, she and Zoë Pollock recorded Crow Coyote Buffalo (2009), an album of songs co-written by the pair. McQuaid has also guested on albums by Clodagh Simonds, Wendy Arrowsmith, Colin Harper and the Cafe Orchestra amongst others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Blind to See It (Kym Sims song)</span> 1991 single by Kym Sims

"Too Blind to See It" is a song by American singer and songwriter Kym Sims, written and produced by Steve "Silk" Hurley. It was released in 1991 by ATCO and EastWest as the first single from her eponymous debut album (1992). It contains a sample of speaking by Rochelle Fleming from the group 1st Choice, from the song "Let No Man Put Asunder". "Too Blind to See It" peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Internationally, it reached the top 10 in Denmark, Finland, and the United Kingdom. A music video was produced for the single's promotion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrill Me (Simply Red song)</span> 1992 single by Simply Red

"Thrill Me" is a song by British soul and pop band Simply Red. Written by lead singer Mick Hucknall and Fritz McIntyre, it was released in April 1992 as the fourth single from their fourth album, Stars (1991). The song reached number 33 on the UK chart in May 1992. It also reached number five in Zimbabwe, number 30 in Ireland and number 58 in the Netherlands, as well as number six on the European Dance Radio Chart. It was later included on the band's compilation albums, Greatest Hits in 1996, Simply Red 25: The Greatest Hits in 2008 and Song Book 1985–2010 in 2013.

References

  1. "BIO". Zoe Pollock. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  2. "Zoë Pollock (10 links)". allmylinks.com. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. Smith, Christopher (6 November 2018). "Where Are They Now? Zoe". talkaboutpopmusic.com.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London. p. 618. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. "Music interview: Sarah McQuaid". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  6. "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 9 September 1991" . Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  7. 1 2 "ZOE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  8. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015". Imgur . Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  9. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know - Zoë discography". IRMA . Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  10. "swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  11. "Chart Log UK - Z2 – ZZ Top". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  12. "Life after million pound poetry". BBC News. 13 January 2006.