For Zolita, a rising alt-pop artist based in Los Angeles, each song begins as an elaborate movie in her mind. Her work is deeply rooted in drama and genuine emotion. The singer-songwriter and filmmaker combines her music with self-directed videos, showcasing the unique aesthetic she developed during her film studies at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Recently signed to AWAL after achieving significant success as an independent creator with over 120 million global streams, Zolita now presents a high-concept project highlighting her cinematic storytelling and vibrant sound. Her 2021 release “Somebody I F*cked Once” is part of a trilogy of songs accompanied by episodic videos. This track captures the pop-punk energy of her new material, marking a shift from the darker tones of previous works like her debut album “Evil Angel.”
The video for “Somebody I F*cked Once,” produced, directed, and edited by Zolita herself, features a twist on the classic teen movie narrative. It highlights LGBTQ+ visibility with Zolita starring as a cheerleader who falls for an artsy outsider named Gia. The video went viral quickly after its release, gathering five million YouTube views within its first week.
Following this success, Zolita released “Single in September,” portraying a fading romance through both song and video. It continues the story from its predecessor by depicting summer love followed by heartbreak. “I think it’s so common for people to believe that your first love is going to be your only love,” says Zolita.
Born Zoë Hoetzel near L.A., she grew up in a creative family that encouraged her artistic pursuits from an early age. Initially exploring music through guitar playing with her father and later songwriting during high school, she eventually found inspiration in photography and film production.
Her career took off when she created the viral visual for “Explosion,” which resonated with young queer audiences seeking representation in pop culture. Since then, she has received praise from several publications while continuing to explore new musical directions.
Zolita’s recent work includes tracks like “Holy” and “Somebody I F*cked Once,” where she collaborated with producer Hiser to create more guitar-driven sounds reminiscent of her early experiences playing guitar.
Looking ahead, Zolita plans to release a new EP later this year while developing an innovative live set combining theatrical elements with pop-punk influences. She values connecting closely with fans during performances: “One of the most important things for me is to normalize queerness.”
