Zoë Ferguson
Phantom Power Music Blog
Powerful Pop from the PNW
“Die Alone,” powerful pop from the PNW
“Die Alone” is the latest single from Portland’s Zoë Ferguson, a 19-year-old artist who began writing in high school and released her first single in 2019. This is a strong follow-up to “I’m ok,” the 2020 single that gained her attention all across the indie-pop scene.
There’s a lot to love about this track. For starters, the drums have a unique timbre and mix throughout. When you expect them to drop harder at the top of the 1st chorus, they don’t, and it works. The fills are not what you expect, and we appreciate that. There’s a plucked riff (sounds like pizzicato meets a mallet) that holds the vibe together throughout, but it’s not overstated, and beautifully articulated with rich analog patches that help build the track. Her vocals are a mix of Arianna Grande, Maisie Peters and Katie Gavin, yet uniquely her. The melody is a strong hook, and it counter punches over the rhythms of the verse but then falls right in line with the pre and chorus. The pre-chorus and chorus melody is what hooked us in - it’s an earworm. This is a smartly constructed tune that builds well throughout.
With a voice exhibiting more control than most pop singers, she tells the story of hating every boy she’s ever known – wondering if she’s going to die alone – a sentiment that is highly relatable and one that will certainly resonate with her younger target audience. It’s easy to see why she has had so many streams so early in her career, she’s crafting exceptional pop songs. It will be fun to see how far she goes, she certainly has the vocal chops to succeed at the highest level.
CHECK IT OUT NOW!