SOLO VOICES – INTERVIEW at ZOAX introducing Tears in your eyes

1. Hello and Welcome do the Solo Voices session! You can introduce yourself? Who is ZOAX?

ZOAX is a Belgian producer/composer who will start producing in 2021. The name ZOAX is a compilation of the first names of my 3 children! Originally a drummer, I’ve always been interested in M.A.O., but I didn’t have too much time to invest fully in my projects, which is now the case.

2. How did you first get into music, and what inspired you to pursue a career as an electronic artist?

I’ve always been fascinated by electronic music, ever since Jean-Michel Jarre, and I think that was the trigger for me. I like the sustained, danceable rhythms, that’s what really gets me going. When I played in bands, I often disagreed with their artistic vision, and that’s what motivated me to make my own music.

3 How would you describe your musical style in your own words?

My musical style is influenced by the different kinds of music I listen to. I’m always listening to everything, whatever the style. There’s something good in every musical style, and I think that even if you’re not a fan of rap (for example) that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to what other people are doing, it opens you up to other approaches. But to sum up, my style is rather electronic with a Pop/electro tendency and also a bit of House.

4 How has your Belgian background influenced your music?

Belgium is renowned for being a melting pot – a Belgian expression meaning a mixture of everything. A mix of people from all walks of life who also bring us a part of their musical and artistic culture, which is what makes our country so rich, and as a result, we are also influenced by what they bring us.

5 What were the biggest challenges you faced during the productions of your music?

The handling of DAWs was quite new to me, technology moves so fast that you have to be able to adapt to all these new things. Fortunately, there’s YouTube and the tutorials, which enabled me to familiarize myself with the new software.

6. What role do visuals and aesthetics play in complementing your music?

The visuals I use try to convey an emotion, the listener has to understand just by looking at the visual what the song is about, it’s not always easy to find a visual that explains that, but we try.

7 Can you share a behind-the-scenes anecdote or interesting story related to your journey

as an artist?

The only thing I can say is that, as a composer, I don’t know how to put on a show, so I was asked to DJ my tracks, so I played a bit like David Guetta! It was a success I wasn’t expecting. The anecdote is that I was told afterwards, “but you didn’t play your tracks!” even though I had mixed them well in my set, so I conclude that my tracks go down well at parties!

8. What’s your favorite part of the music creation process, from writing to recording and

performing? Do you have any unique rituals?

The way I work is simple: I compose a demo, send it to a singer, she puts her voice on it, then I send the whole thing to the studio where my sound engineer will mix and master the track. I don’t have any particular ritual, it’s just a way of working, first alone in my home studio, then with my collaborators.

9 What do you hope listeners take away from your music?

I hope my listeners perceive the meaning of my songs which are mostly based on love and the emotions that it can generate in a person. Whether it is sadness or euphoria, this is what I try to convey with my songs, because love is universal.

10 . What are your goals and aspirations for the future? Any specific milestones or projects

on the horizon?

It’s very simple, I’m going to continue composing and releasing tracks hoping that my fans will always like what I do. Reaching as many people as possible is my goal for the next few months.

11 How do you feel your music has helped you in your journey of self-discovery and love?

What I learned about myself is that I was much more sensitive to love than I thought! That’s exactly what I try to convey through my songs and I hope the audience feels it too.

Now we will play your new single Tears in your eyes you can introduce it for us and let us know what do you want to express with that song?

“Don’t hide these tears, let them flow freely, for in their glitter I find comfort, you see. They are the language of the heart, raw and true, in each tear I find my love renewed.”

I think the lyrics of the song explain well the feelings that one can have towards the one loved and that tears do not necessarily mean sorrow.