Zolita has unleashed her incredible new EP, Falling Out/Falling In, alongside an unhinged Coyote Ugly-inspired video for her single Crazy Ex.
In the visual, the U.S. singer-songwriter mourns the loss of a relationship before channelling her inner “crazy ex” slash “psycho bitch” with a fierce homage to the Piper Perabo and Tyra Banks-starring cult classic.
Described as a “sapphic revenge moment,” the Crazy Ex video concludes with Zolita’s arrest – “by a hot gay cop” played by influencer and model Brittenelle Fredericks – after she films a solo sex tape in her ex-partner’s house.
“Oh my goodness, Crazy Ex was the most fun video to shoot,” Zolita tells GAY TIMES. “Coyote Ugly was absolutely an awakening for me, so I knew I wanted to reference that in the video. It was so fun to channel crazy ex impulses as well because I definitely don’t think I am one in real life!”
Crazy Ex is the fourth single from Zolita’s third EP, Falling Out/Falling In, which marks her first full-length collection since her lauded debut album Evil Angel.
The star has become notable for her unapologetically queer and cinematic music videos, with the visual for her 2020 pop-rock anthem Somebody I Fucked Once becoming a viral smasher with over 50 million views on YouTube.
“My entire artist career was built off my love for music videos,” explains Zolita. “I went to film school at NYU and realised music videos are my favourite medium. I love how they have no rules and how accessible they are.
“They are the combination of so many mediums that I love. So, for me, making music has always been intrinsically bound to visual creation.”
Although Zolita has always boasted a passionate following amongst the LGBTQ+ community – particularly amongst queer women – as a result of her previous “witch-pop” bangers, the music video for Somebody I Fucked Once saw her star rise exponentially.
She says her career shifted with the release of the video as it allowed her to “connect” with her current team and label: “I now have many more opportunities to be in sessions with writers and producers I’ve always dreamt of working with. It’s also afforded me much more time to work on music than I was able to in the past.”
This year, Zolita embarked on a run of U.S. headline dates in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, with $1 from every ticket sold donated to LGBTQ+ charity The Trevor Project. She will continue to tour the U.S. festival circuit this summer at Boston Calling (May 26) and the Governors Ball (June 10).
Zolita describes her live shows as a “massive gay celebration” (on board with this) whilst simultaneously serving as a “pop-rock concert and cathartic post-breakup cry session” (yep, sold).
“So many people are making friends at the concerts, people are running into their exes…. It’s the best kind of chaos,” she says. “It’s been so unbelievable to hear everyone sing these songs back to me and actually put faces to all the names I see online!”
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Of her devoted following, Zolita adds: “The community is everything to me. It’s the reason I make this art in the first place. All I want is to tell authentic queer stories that people can see themselves in. It’s been so incredible to finally get to meet so much of the community I’ve built on tour.”
Falling Out/Falling In also includes fan-favourite singles such as 20 Questions, Ruin My Life and Ashley. Zolita wrote the six-track collection while she was “processing the end of a very long term relationship and falling in love with my now-girlfriend,” hence the title.
She says it was “joyful and cathartic” to write music about love because, as she jokes, “I didn’t know how inspired I could be whilst happy! And of course getting to channel heartbreak into songs always feels like a release.”
Zolita wants the EP to “signify a shift in the maturity” of her music and lyrics. While her music videos have “always been refined” with a high production value, she finally feels the same about her music, “which I’m really proud of”.
Falling Out/Falling In is now available on iTunes and streaming services.
Listen to the EP on Spotify and Apple Music below.
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