Zoe re-emerges with acoustic ‘Sunshine’

Singer-songwriter Zoë Young (nee Pollock) has re-emerged to the music scene from a twelve year hiatus with a re-recording of one of her most notable songs, ‘Sunshine On A Rainy Day,’ a song originally found on the artist’s debut album, 1991’s Scarlet Red & Blue. The song will be made available on iTunes on July 7, but fans can listen to the song on her MySpace page.

The new version of ‘Sunshine’ is a stripped-down, acoustic revamping, inspired by many of Zoë’s experiences during the many years she’s been away from the music scene.

Here’s a snippet from the press release:

The original free spirit, Zoë is now back in the UK, happily rooted near Land’s End in wild west Cornwall in a windswept cottage by the sea which she shares with her acclaimed poet husband Murray Lachlan Young and two young sons. But in summer she takes up residence in a Kazakhstan yurt – and hopes it doesn’t rain too much!

Zoë believes it’s high time to reclaim her landmark song – but this is a less fierce Sunshine: acoustic, rootsy, ethereal and Eastern with additional, thoughtful lyrics and spoken musings; a melodic melting pot of influences she has soaked up round the globe – percolated with Indian, Arabic and Mexican mariachi sounds. The end result is a recognisable hit, skilfully and sensitively revamped and delivered by her characteristic haunting vocals.

Without the pressures of record label agendas, it reflects something of the personal and geographical journey she has taken in the intervening years. Says Zoë: “I feel that it’s a new phase in my creative life. I feel very good about it. It’s not really a departure, it’s a continuation – and hopefully it will encourage some of my original audience to listen to the new album that’s going to follow.”

Recorded in the Chyglidden studio of Irish sculptor Tim Shaw near the small Cornish village of Mabe, the single features Penzance-based singer/songwriter Sarah McQuaid on guitar and backing vocals as well as Tiffany Bryant (flute) and Andy Jarvis (drums, percussion, trumpet, harmonium) – both members of Thistletown, the quirky, offshore Cornish band, recently signed to the new Big Bertha record label of Will “Song Man” Hodgkinson. *The single will be released on July 7 on iTunes and other music download sites. A video of the song, featuring Zoë and the guest musicians, will be available shortly.

This of course is excellent news for fans who have been wondering what had become of the cherished singer.

In addition news to the new single, Zoë has also recently collaborated with fellow songwriter, Sarah McQuaid and has formed a new band called Mama. Their full album is due for release later this year with the working title of Crow Coyote Buffalo.

The Disappearance Of Zoe

Whatever happened to Zoë?

Despite her two albums, I know very little about the woman. Even resources online provide little insight. What I have discovered is that the England-born Zoë Pollock (who performed under her first name) released two albums in the nineties: 1992’s Scarlet Red And Blue and 1996’s Hammer - and then she just seemed to disappear.


Zoë’s debut, Scarlet Red And Blue was released on M&G in 1992 and featured the single, ‘Sunshine On A Rainy Day,’ which became a European smash a year prior. Other singles failed to perpetuate its success and the record flopped.

Scarlet sounds dated now with its synthesized arrangements, but at the time, it was a fairly strong effort from an otherwise unknown artist .


Four years later, after reported clashes with her record label and producers, Zoë worked alongside producer Youth (Heather Nova) and wrote the songs that would eventually be released her sophomore record, Hammer with RCA.

Hammer’s tone is considerably more harsh and gritty than Scarlet, both in sound and lyrics. Some speculate this is the result of the break-up between Zoë and Youth during recording. Still, it’s a better record than her debut. Gone was the insipid pop and in came a much more powerful collection of songs that blended rock, folk and even Celtic sounds. The title song possesses a driving force of thumping percussion which correlates well with its apt title, while delivering some lyrical rage: “If I had a hammer/I’d hit you on the head/I wouldn’t stop the poundin’ ’til I knew that you were dead.”

Hammer could categorize itself next to releases by Alanis Morissette or Sinead O’Connor. But perhaps this is ultimately why the record went nowhere, as it was released during the onslaught of female singer-songwriters hoping to find a place next to Morissette’s debut juggernaut, Jagged Little Pill.

Now, nearly a decade after Hammer’s release, I have no idea what Zoë is up to. Perhaps there was a third record. Maybe she quit music altogether. If someone out there knows anything, enlighten us, would you?

Update

Zoë is back and is recording new music after a twelve-year hiatus! To read more of the details, click here