Today we’d like to introduce you to Zoe Roubanis
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been very musically inclined since I was a little kid. I played classical piano growing up and tried out all kinds of instruments from saxophone to guitar. In high school I’d perform songs I’d written at open mics and that was also around the time that I started getting into raving and electronic music. In college I learned to DJ at house parties and kind of stumbled into becoming a club DJ. The first “real show” I played ended up happening because I was with a group of friends who were throwing a show at a club in Eugene, and one of my friends who was booked to DJ was sick. Instead of playing longer timeslots to fill his space the other DJs invited me to play, and it went so well that I started getting booked for local events after that! I started DJing in 2012, producing in 2016, and released my first track on Desert Hearts in 2018. This last year has been my biggest yet: I played EDC, released my first full length album on Dome Of Doom, and have collaborated with some of my biggest inspirations. If I could go back in time and tell 2012 me what I’m up to now, she wouldn’t believe me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. In the beginning, I never really considered the possibility of making music my career. I was DJing and making music for fun at first, not because I didn’t dream of making it my life, but because I thought it would be safer to pursue more traditional career paths. I did a BS in chemistry and worked as a chemical analyst for a couple of years, and during the years I was in school and working I barely had any time for music. I realized that wasn’t sustainable and went all in on music in 2020. The deeper I’ve gotten into the music industry, the more the veil is lifted and there’s a lot of aspects to it that drive many artists to give up. Women are still downplayed and ignored, predatory and exploitative people are difficult to avoid, and I don’t know a single artist who hasn’t struggled with keeping up with the marketing and social media side of being an artist. I used to compare myself to others a lot, and that was something I’ve had to learn not to do because all it does is make you feel bad and detracts from that creative energy that makes any of this possible. So it hasn’t been easy, but if you stay consistent with it the opportunities are there and I’m so glad I kept trying.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to produce and write in multiple genres and the way I integrate my own vocals into my music. Most music that I’ve put out is house music, but lately I’ve been leaning more towards bass genres and that’s been super fun. I’ve always been known to play more multi-genre DJ sets and my productions are reflecting that more and more. I think something that’s unique about my project is that I’m not afraid to do something different, whether that’s something different from what’s popular at the moment, or different from what I’ve done in the past. My taste has always been super varied and that is something I want to be able to express in my productions as well. My favorite moments are when people come up to me after a set and tell me they’ve never heard a set like that and that it was refreshing – I’m just playing what I like and what moves me, so it’s cool to see other people enjoy it too. A lot of artists get bogged down in one small niche and I think it can sometimes end up feeling really restrictive. I don’t want to get stuck in that, I want to appeal to the people who are always seeking new sounds.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
persistence and being nice to everyone 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://zofmusic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/zofdj
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/zofdj
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/zofdj
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/zofdj
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/zofdj
