Zoe Wees (German[2] and English: /ˈzi ws/;[3] born 13 May 2002), is a German singer. Her debut single "Control" charted in several nations including number one in France (SNEP Radio)[4] and the top ten in Belgium.

Zoe Wees
Image of Zoe Wees from the promo pic of her song "Control" (2020)
Wees in 2022
Background information
Born (2002-05-13) 13 May 2002 (age 22)
Hamburg, Germany
GenresPop
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2019–present
LabelsValeria Music, Capitol Records[1]

Background

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Wees grew up in Hamburg.[5] She has lived with benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE),[6] a syndrome that caused her to have feelings of exclusion from others, helplessness, and loss of control.[6] Wees stated, "The sickness was stronger than me, and left scars that have become part of my life. Accepting them has taken so much time, but they make me what I am today: a fighter."[7]

Wees' music has been described as "raw, deeply emotional", with a voice that ranges "from raspy low to unbelievably powerful and sky high".[8] Wees can often be found playing the piano or guitar.[8]

Wees attended the Grund- und Stadtteilschule Alter Teichweg, a school in Dulsberg.[9][10]

Career

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Wees has written music in English since childhood.[5] She began working on music as a teenager when her teacher came up to her after a school concert wanting to work with her on music. In early 2017, Wees took part in the fifth season of the music talent show The Voice Kids. Wees joined pop singer Sasha's team in the Blind Auditions. In the Sing-Offs, the third of five phases in the competition, Wees was eliminated.[7] Wees released the song "Control" on 13 March 2020.[11] The song is written about anxiety and not being in control, but more specifically, about her battle with benign rolandic epilepsy.[12][8] Her mission in writing the song was to say thank you to her primary school teacher who pushed her along as a young girl into becoming who she is today.[8]

On 19 April, Wees released "Ghost", part of her debut EP Golden Wings, which was released on 21 May via Capitol Records.[13] Wees said that "Ghost" was written about letting someone get too close even if you know they can hurt you and about being vulnerable to that person in a way that could essentially destroy your life.[13][14] Ghost was co-written by Ricardo Muñoz Repko, VVAVES, Nicolas Rebscher, and Patrick Salmy.[13]

Musical style and influences

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Wees noted that she listened to Jessie J and Miley Cyrus as she grew up.[5] Artists that she cited as influences include Jessie J and Lewis Capaldi.[6] She describes her genre as pop.[5]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of albums, showing selected details
Title Details Peak chart positions
GER
[15]
AUT
[16]
SWI
[17]
Therapy 15 43 12

Extended plays

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List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Details Peak chart positions
GER
[15]
SWI
[17]
Golden Wings
  • Released: 21 May 2021
  • Label: Valeria Music, Capitol
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
31 28
Therapy (Acoustic Version)
  • Released: 4 December 2023
  • Label: Valeria Music, Capitol
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
GER
[15]
AUT
[16]
BEL
(FL)

[18]
BEL
(WA)

[19]
FRA
[20]
NLD
[21]
SWE
[22]
SWI
[17]
UK
[23]
US
[24]
"Control" 2020 31 28 6 3 22 63 11 [a] Golden Wings
"Girls Like Us" 2021 9 10 34 51 65 3
"Ghost"[32]
"Hold Me Like You Used To"[33]
"That's How It Goes"
(featuring 6lack)[34]
Therapy
"Lonely" 2022 Non-album single
"Third Wheel"[35] Therapy
"Daddy's Eyes"[36]
"All I Want (For Christmas)" 40 64 Non-album single
"Don't Give Up"[37] 2023 Therapy
"Lightning"[38]
"Sorry for the Drama"[39]
"Never Be Lonely"
(with Jax Jones)[40]
2024 44 41 TBA
"Mountains"
(with Jonas Blue and Galantis)
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.
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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
GER
[15]
AUT
[16]
SWE
[41]
SWI
[17]
"Hibernating"
(Moonbootica featuring Zoe Wees)[42]
2019 Non-album single
"Wait for You"
(Tom Walker featuring Zoe Wees)[43]
2020 I Am
"Love Me Now"
(Kygo featuring Zoe Wees)
2021 69 62 17 28 Thrill of the Chase
"Do It Better"
(Felix Jaehn featuring Zoe Wees)
2022 69 Non-album singles
"At Your Worst"
(Calum Scott featuring Zoe Wees)[44]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Nomination Work Result Ref.
2020 New Faces Awards Music (Bunte) Newcomer Herself Won [45]
Bravo Otto Awards Newcomer/Breakthrough Gold [46]
1LIVE Krone Awards Best Newcomer Act Nominated [47]
Best Single Control Nominated
NRJ Music Awards Newcomer of the Year Herself Nominated [48]
New Music Awards Won [49]
2021 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favourite Musician (DE, AT, CH) Nominated [50]
Favourite Song (DE, AT, CH) Control Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards Best German Act Herself Nominated [51]
Bravo Otto Awards Singer International Nominated [52]
1LIVE Krone Awards Best Female Artist Nominated [53]
Best Single Girls Like Us Nominated
2022 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding New Artist Herself Nominated [54]
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favourite Musician (DE, AT, CH) Nominated [55]
Favourite Song (DE, AT, CH) Girls Like Us Won
1LIVE Krone Awards Favourite Female Act Herself Nominated [56]
Best Dance Song Do It Better (with Felix Jaehn) Won
2023 Radio Regenbogen Awards National Artist of 2022 Herself Won [57]
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favourite Musician (DE, AT, CH) Nominated [58]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Control" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Capitol Records (8 January 2021). "Welcome to the Capitol family, @zoe.wees!". Instagram. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  2. ^ ZOE WEES im exklusiven Interview [UNCUT] BB RADIO Mitternachtstalk Podcast 2021 (in German), retrieved 2 January 2024
  3. ^ Border Crossings: Zoe Wees, 13 November 2023, retrieved 2 January 2024
  4. ^ "Singles Radio (Week 40, 2020)". SNEP. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "Newcomer Zoe Wees Talks Breakout Single "Control" And New EP". Wonderland. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Zoe Wees – Interview". London In Stereo. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Interview: Taking Control With Zoe Wees". Notion. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d Barbeito, Camila (27 January 2021). "Everything to Know About Zoe Wees, the German Singer Behind Megahit "Control"". POPSUGAR Celebrity. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Popstar Zoe Wees singt an ihrer alten Schule für den Frieden". BZ. Axel Springer. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Das sind Hamburgs Sportler mit Zukunft – Die Talente des Jahres: Schwimmer Rafael Miroslaw, Badmintonspielerin Thuc Phuong Nguyen, UHC-Hockey-Jugend". Hamburger Abendblatt. Funke Mediengruppe. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Interview with Zoe Wees". www.wizardradio.co.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Germany's Zoe Wees Owns Her Journey on Powerful Debut Single". Spotify. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Paul, Larisha (19 April 2021). "Breakout Singer Zoe Wees Shares New Single 'Ghost' | uDiscover". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Zoe Wees dares to be emotionally vulnerable on new release "Ghost"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d "Discographie von Zoe Wees" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  16. ^ a b c "Discographie Zoe Wees" (in German). austriancharts.com. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d "Discography Zoe Wees" (in German). swisscharts.com. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Discografie Zoe Wees". ultratop.be. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  19. ^ "Discographie Zoe Wees". ultratop.be. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Discographie Zoe Wees" (in French). lescharts.com. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Discografie Zoe Wees" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 15". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Zoe Wees | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Zoe Wees – Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  25. ^ a b "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Zoe Wees)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  26. ^ "Les Disques D'Or/De Platine – Singles 2020" (in French). ultratop.be. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  27. ^ a b "British certifications – Zoe Wees". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 November 2024. Type Zoe Wees in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  28. ^ "Zoe Wees – Control" (in Swedish). Grammofonleverantörernas förening. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  29. ^ a b "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Zoe Wees)". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  30. ^ "American certifications – Zoe Wees". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Zoe Wees: Les Certification". SNEP. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Zoe Wees Ghost Single". u Discover Music. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  33. ^ "Zoe Wees – Hold Me Like You Used To (Radio Date: 28-05-2021)". EarOne. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  34. ^ "That's How It Goes (feat. 6lack) – Single by Zoe Wees". Apple Music. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  35. ^ "Zoe Wees Shares New Single "Third Wheel"". Broadway World. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  36. ^ "Daddy's Eyes – Single by Zoe Wees". Apple Music. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  37. ^ "Zoe Wees Overcomes Her Burdens On Anthemic 'Don't Give Up'". U Discover Music. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  38. ^ "Zoe Wees Announces New Album 'Therapy,' Shares New Single 'Lightning'". U Discover Music. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  39. ^ "Zoe Wees Reflects On Her Upbringing On 'Sorry For The Drama'". U Discover Music. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  40. ^ "Pokémon Co., Jax Jones & Zoe Wees collab on new single "Never Be Lonely"". Go Nintendo. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  41. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 33". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  42. ^ "Hibernating (feat. Zoe Wees) – Single by Moonbootica". Apple Music. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  43. ^ "Wait for You – Single by Tom Walker & Zoe Wees". Apple Music. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  44. ^ "Calum Scott And Zoe Wees Team Up For New Version Of 'At Your Worst'". U Discover Music. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  45. ^ "Bunte New Faces Award Music: Zoe Wees ist die Newcomerin 2020". FOCUS Online (in German). Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  46. ^ "BRAVO-Otto-Wahl 2020: Vote für deinen Star!| BRAVO". Bravo.de. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  47. ^ "1Live Krone Awards 2020 Voting". 15 November 2021.
  48. ^ "NRJ MUSIC AWARDS: VOTING". ENERGY ÖSTERREICH (in German). Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  49. ^ mdr.de. "NEW MUSIC AWARD | Durchgestartet: Zoe Wees". MDR SPUTNIK (in German). Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  50. ^ "Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | KCA 2021". www.kidschoiceawards.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  51. ^ "MTV EMA 2021: Das sind die Best German Act Nominees". MTV Germany (in German). Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  52. ^ "BRAVO Otto Wahl 2021: Vote für deinen Star! | BRAVO". Bravo.de. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  53. ^ "1LIVE". www1.wdr.de (in German). 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  54. ^ "Nominees Archive". NAACP Image Awards. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  55. ^ "KCA 2022 | The 2022 Kids' Choice Awards | nick.com". www.kidschoiceawards.com. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  56. ^ "1Live Krone 2022 – Musiksendungen im Ersten – ARD | Das Erste". www.daserste.de (in German). Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  57. ^ Regenbogen, Radio. "Alle Highlights in Bildern - Der RADIO REGENBOGEN Award 2023". ATSW (in German). Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  58. ^ "Every Kids' Choice Awards 2023 Winner". Kids Choice Awards. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
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