Biography- Layla Zoe
Layla Zoe has been called "the Reincarnate of Janis Joplin" and deemed Canada's "Darling of the blues."
She is a young powerful vocalist who was born in British Columbia, Canada but now calls Montreal her home after a recent move.
Layla Zoe has been singing since the tender age of four years old, including performances with her father's band at the age of fourteen. She has performed all over the world and has been wowing crowds with her vocal power since the beginning.
Layla has worked to release an album every year, and has five independent releases to date: You Will, Shades of Blue, Hoochie Coochie Woman, and Live at Errington Hall and The Firegirl. Her albums can be heard on radio all over the world and showcase many of Layla's original songs as well as classic cover tunes.
Her albums, as well as her ability to stun crowds with her power and talent, has been critically acclaimed by the media and reviewed and showcased in publications such as: Canadian Musician Magazine, the Globe and Mail (Toronto), Toronto Blues Society monthly edition, DOWNBEAT magazine (Illinois, USA), Blues Matters (UK), Crossroads (France) and many more.
Layla Zoe took home the "Female Vocalist of the Year" award at the Vancouver Island Music Awards in 2006 and won the Compo 10 International blues songwriting competition in Jaarvenpaa, Finland in 2006. She was the only woman and the only Canadian to make it to the finals of the Compo 10 contest in Finland and she humbly took home the prize.
Layla Zoe has performed with the late great Jeff Healey, the Downchild Blues Band, Danny Marks, Henrik Freischlader and countless others, who have sung high praises of Layla's ability to channel her strong emotions into her performances. She has also been recognized for her songwriting and professionalism.
Layla Zoe is a force to be reckoned with, and is changing the face of the blues and roots music scene.
QUOTES:
JEFF HEALEY:"She has created probably the biggest buzz vocally of any singer I've heard about in years in Toronto. All of the comments, compliments and credos going around the city about her are not unfounded. She is wonderful."
RICHARD FLOHIL, First Music Promoter to bring Muddy Waters to Canada (Oct/09):"My favourite illustrated woman - a tiny firecracker with a voice that shifts the back wall out a couple of feet every times she lets loose!"
BLUES MATTERS magazine (UK) (Jan/09):"Perhaps this tenacious redhead has the best chance of crossing over into the mainstream. It's her songwriting and vocal clout which have attracted serious attention."
DOWN BEAT Magazine- Frank-John Hadley (Jan/08):"Zoe's a talent to keep tabs on. Possessed of formidable lung power and control-her closest antecedent being the young Tracy Nelson."
BLUES MATTERS, (UK)- Graeme Scott(Dec/07):"Layla is possessed with one of those fantastic Maggie Bell, Janis Joplin or Kitto voices that reach down into your soul and is able to rip your heart out."
BLUESMAGAZINE.NL, (Netherlands,2009)-"Layla Zoe from Canada was the first big surprise on day 2, a small lady covered in tattoos but what a voice . Her voice, one moment loud, then full of sensitivity, reminds one very much of Janis Joplin. Accompanied by Henrik Freischlader and band! A fantastic combination, magisterial even. Henrik played much more rocking, more robust than the day before. The enjoyment in their playing was palpable. The public enjoyed itself tremendously and after 2 encores they had to be chased' off the stage"
AHLENER ZEITUNG newspaper,(Germany,2009)-"Layla Zoe has more than one way to draw eyes and ears to her. The show of the singer, who had specially flown in from Canada for the festival, captivated because of Zoe's amazing voice and stage presence. The blues lady with the fiery red hair flirted with the public as much as with the musicians of Five Live', Henrik Freischlader's Quintet that accompanied the Canadian, who had come without a band. From the exuberant performance and harmonious teamwork you would never guess that the six had only been in contact by e-mail before."
CANADIAN MUSICIAN MAGAZINE-"Musicians who care" article(Mar/Apr/07)
:"Layla is a gifted blues singer from Nanaimo, BC on Vancouver Island; she plays with passion, has a loyal following, and most of all, she is not waiting for a break to make a difference."
GLOBE AND MAIL- Brad Wheeler (Dec/07):"Vancouver jaw-singer Layla Zoe walked the divide of Janis Joplin and Joss Stone, showing off her tattoos and a suggestive nature that drew wolf whistles and applause from the male part of the audience. A brawny Hoochie-Coochie Woman was what she sang – and was."
NOW magazine, Toronto (Dec/07):"BC's Layla Zoe almost stole the whole show with her long red hair, glittery blue dress and skyscraper, tattoo-adorned legs. Her seductively serpentine sway and Joplinesque energy had the crowd hypnotized."
TORONTO BLUES SOCIETY- John Valenteyn:"Ms. Zoe left behind a very impressive CD. It shows her to be a powerful singer and a very good songwriter."
