Influenced at an early age, by the likes of Billy Holiday, Teena Marie, Phyllis Hyman, Sade, and Chaka Khan, Zoe realized that being able to deliver a song with true passion involved being able to express her own feelings, experiences, and emotions. It wasn't about "a belt" or "a riff"; it was about the feeling behind the lyric. So, she took aspects from each of these 'True Divas' and used them to begin writing her own lyrics, and cultivating her own vocal style. She began to merge intricate lyrics with intricate vocal arrangements, transforming her poetry into song-under the guidance of the renowned Al Johnson. "I didn't want to belt or riff for 3 out of the 4 minutes of a song in order to move people. That wasn't my style. Anyway, we already had beautiful 'belters' and 'riffers', like Patti, Kelly, and Faith. Nor did I want to infinitely repeat a hook because 'to me' that's not song. I wanted to use melodic intonations and abstract vocal combinations to tell a story that people would hear and feel in their souls-like Lauryn (Hill) does. So, when I first started writing, I would take my songs to Al and he would critique them like a dissertation. It used to make me angry because I would go in thinking it was a good song- but when he finished critiquing it- it wasnƒt so good. He taught me that a song should be like a story. Everything should both fit and make chronological sense to the listener. It had to be succinct. He encouraged me to do more than put words together that may rhyme, but had no real meaning. So, even now, when I finish writing a song, I read it aloud. And then, I think to myself� would Al say? That is the determining factor-what would Al say? " Zoe has already created a buzz in D.C, NY, Atlanta, and L.A where she has focused most of her promotions. One of her songs 'Told Me So' is featured in the Motion Picture 'Trois'. This, in turn, has created a buzz in the industry. And although many compare her to the likes of Erykah Badu, she maintains a vibe of her own. A new vibe for the New Millenium. "Her lyrics are like poetry. She should have been a poet. You definitely have to listen carefully to what she is saying and then you will see that she is a very sensual woman who's been through a lot of pain." Charlie Feldman, VP, Writer Publisher Relations, BMI, NY, NY. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.