Zola Simone’s Music Is Anything but Typical

For 18-year-old singer-songwriter Zola Simone, music is much more than just a passion; it’s a way for her to make sense of the world and move through the ever-changing conditions of life.

Hailing from Boston, Simone learned the importance of her individuality at a young age. She is not afraid to unapologetically express herself as an artist. Blending indie, pop, and R ‘n’ B matched with raw, vulnerable, and honest lyrics, her music manages to traverse the challenging terrain of being both deeply personal and undeniably relatable.

In August, Simone dropped her latest album, Now You See Me, which features a single called “Easy” that was inspired by the queer relationship of Netflix’s Atypical characters Casey and Izzie. Through luck and determination, Simone connected with one of the show’s producers, and the song went on to be featured in the series finale’s closing credits.

OFM had the opportunity to connect with Simone and talk more about the track and album, as well as her overall passion for music and creativity.

I would like to begin by talking about your single, ‘Easy,’ which was inspired by the queer relationship of Atypical characters Casey and Izzie. Can you talk more about that?
I was in a place in the pandemic where I was consuming a lot of media. I am just a person who really enjoys TV and movies in general, especially ones with good queer storylines, which are hard to come by, but we are definitely making a lot of progress in that aspect. I had been watching Atypical for a while and started to rewatch the third season, and just being isolated in quarantine, I didn’t have many stories to tell about my own life because it was just kind of boring.

I guess I just found inspiration in places where I wasn’t really looking, and I was just trying to distract myself by watching TV, but it turns out that became the inspiration for my music. I think I have been limiting myself in the past. Being like, you’ve only had one girlfriend, or whatever. You don’t have that much to write about, but it’s like, I can write about whatever I want. Especially things that I personally like. Not even as a musician, but just as a person. I am just a fan.

Why is Casey and Izzie’s relationship appealing to you?
I think because they took the classic enemies to friends to lover’s trope, and made it gay, which is cool. It is really refreshing to see those classic tropes be used in that way, and it is not a big deal that they are gay. They just happen to be, and I think that is really cool.

Would you consider Atypical a groundbreaking show?
I would say so, yes. I’m not autistic, and obviously, the show revolves around Sam and stuff, so I can’t really speak on that, and it has received mixed reviews, but personally, I think it is a great show. Especially with the queer storyline, seeing a love triangle between two girls and one guy. I feel like that is something you don’t see a lot. When was the last time that was done? Maybe Artie, Santana, and Brittany in Glee, which I wasn’t really around to watch that air. So, it is groundbreaking in that aspect, and because like I said, taking classic tropes that have always been used for straight couples and applying that in a sapphic context.

Do you believe a lot of LGBTQ kids can relate to ‘Easy?’
Yes, because I do (laughs). I wrote the song because I think a lot of young LGBTQ folks can relate to crushing on their best friend and being like, ‘What the heck is going on?’ Feeling conflicted about that, so I think that part definitely resonates. Even though it is not a story about my own life, part of the reason I was drawn to it is because I love watching gay storylines because I can relate to that and feel represented, but also just the storyline itself. Crushing on someone who you are friends with and feeling conflicted. I think a lot of people can relate to that.

Has the song been received well by listeners?
Yes, it has been amazing. It has over 388,000 streams right now, and I have gotten so many new fans. It has been a surreal experience.

The most exciting part is the fact that ‘Easy’ is featured on Atypical’s series finale. What were you feeling when you found out this was going to happen?
Yes! This happened a couple days before my 18^th birthday, and I had gotten an email from the music sync publishing person who works with the show saying they were interested in using ‘Easy’ on a TV show, and they said, a Netflix show. I was hoping it was Atypical, obviously because I was inspired by the show to write the song, but I did not want to get my hopes up. So, I asked, and they said it was Atypical, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, oh my God.’

Of course, the way they worded it was, ‘We’re potentially interested in maybe using it,’ so I sent them all the stuff that they wanted, and three months later, we got an update. All the producers thought it would be great to put it in the show; it just needs to pass some editing and stuff like that. Mary Rohlich, the executive producer of the show—she’s the one who made the whole thing happen and recommended the song to the music sync people because I DMed her a while back the link to the song. Like, why not? I never thought this would happen. She liked the message and said she loved the song, but I thought that would be the end of it.

She told me that the song was going to be in the show and that it would be in episode 10, and I was given a little description of the scene, but I didn’t know that it would be playing during the last title credits of the last episode ever. That is usually reserved for the theme song. I still cannot believe they used my song for the last title credits. Plus, it’s in a scene of Casey and Izzie. Everything came together.

Have you always had a passion for singing and songwriting?
Yes, basically for as long as I can remember. I was obsessed with John Denver when I was younger (laughs). I don’t know why, but I loved ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads,’ and my parents just encouraged me, even when I wasn’t great. I was just born with a passion for it, and at least some talent, even if I sang off-key until a certain point. Then songwriting, I had always loved writing poems, like for school and English class. School is not my favorite, but my teachers have always said I was a great writer and should keep doing it.

What do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Just that they like it, honestly. I make my music for me, first and foremost, just as a way to cope with life and do what I love. Growing up, I think I had this idea that success was just about accomplishing things and people loving you, but I didn’t specifically know that it would be people resonating with my music and saying that it personally touched them. I never imagined that growing up. I was just like; I want to be famous. I now know that is not the important thing. The fact that people can relate to it, love it, and apply it to their own life and make them feel hopeful, or less alone, that is an added benefit.

You recently released a new album called Now You See Me. What can you tell us about that?
I started working on it in February 2020, right before the world went to, you know. I wrote this one song, ‘Witness,’ and I was like, ‘I think I need a new producer and studio because it was time to level up in my life and career.’ We found my producer, The Arcitype, and I found the Bridge Sound and Stage Studio in Cambridge, MA. It was like destiny. I don’t really believe in all that, but he has been the biggest blessing in my life in the past two/three years. We work great together. I’m left brain, he’s right brain, and we just have the best professional chemistry. He is a great guy and so supportive; always looking out for me.

Now You See Me has 12 songs, and they are stories and feelings from my life. The song topics range from my struggles with an anxiety disorder, to all the craziness going on in the world, to a song about a gay fictional couple. I think I have a great range there. Whether it’s about things that I love or about a show or person, the songs are about something that I have gone through. They are about the ways that I felt. It is very much about me. I don’t feel like I wrote it about anything else.

What are some future goals you would like to achieve with your music?
Getting placed on a TV show was definitely one of them, and I didn’t know that would happen! At least, happen that early and the way that it did. I cannot imagine a better situation. I have always wanted to play at The Middle East, which is a club in Cambridge, and I got to play my album there on August 20. I just want as many people as possible to hear this album. I want it to reach as many people as possible, but I guess my next goal is to collaborate with some artists that I love, which there are a lot. That would be such a big deal.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention our plug?
Just make sure to watch the final season of Atypical on Netflix, and check out my album, Now You See Me!

Stay up-to-date with Simone by following her on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Now You See Me is available on all digital streaming platforms.

Photos Courtesy of T.L. Litt