ZOË FERRIS releases new EP PUSHING DAISIES
Emerging Toronto-based singer-songwriter ZOË FERRIS released her debut EP Pushing Daisies on April 4th on all major platforms.
“Pushing Daisies” just might be the catchiest pop song of the present day that isn’t written and performed by someone named Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, or Carly Rae Jepsen. Like those pure-pop singer-songwriters, Zoë Ferris transforms heartbreak into sweet sonic confection. On “Pushing Daisies,” buoyed up by sparkling electric guitars and gorgeous, melodic three-part vocal harmonies, she balances the inevitable, impending, long-delayed end of a romantic relationship against the attempt to wring as much love and joy as possible out of it before that happens.
“The concept of the song originated from the phrase ‘pushing up daisies,’ which refers to something being dead or buried,” says Ferris. “Something that flowers are now growing over, because it’s so long lost. I heard the phrase, and to me, it relates to the feeling of being in a relationship in which the end is long overdue. It’s often hard for us to admit and accept a relationship’s obvious fate, so we continue to hold on, even when it’s not the healthiest thing to do.”
Another beautifully-produced pure-pop song about romantic complications, “Fuel” deals with the vagaries of self-sabotage — as in, when it comes to giving up on the relationship, “I’m my own fuel.” Says Ferris, “It’s about recognizing destructive behavior, the regret that follows, and the inability to break free from this pattern.”
The romantic relationship in “First Glance,” a soaring ballad, also runs the risk of falling apart — this time, because of unrealistic expectations for a new partner to fully understand us right from the start. But Ferris understands that “to get a piece of another, gotta give a piece of yours,” and appreciates a partner who takes the time to move past the first glance. “It’s a realization that relationships require time, grace, and patience,” says Ferris, “both for learning how to understand each other, and how to love one another.”
Another masterful pop song, “Touch Ground” features gloriously swirling production from co-producers Annelise Noronha, and Ferris, that leans in a more alternative rock direction, with a hint of country in the vocals. From the gentle squeak of distorted acoustic guitar strings in the opening; through atmospheric reverb and distortion, applied to multiple guitars, vocals, and synth; to Ferris’s naked vocal at the end, the sonically adventurous “Touch Ground” captures the struggle of losing touch with reality and succumbing to self-sabotage, only to find your foundation again through the support of a partner.
“It symbolizes a return to oneself, appreciating the real, tangible beauty of a relationship, rather than the distorted narratives created in the mind,” says Ferris. “Ultimately, it’s about breaking free from cycles of doubt, and re-connecting with the love that keeps us grounded.”
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! I’m Zoë—a 23-year-old indie-pop/pop singer-songwriter from a small town in Eastern Ontario, in the Thousand Islands region.
I’ve been passionate about making music since I was a little girl, but over the past few years, I decided to take it more seriously. That journey led to my debut EP, “Pushing Daisies” which has just been released!
I love traveling, trying new foods, being on the water, and spending time with good people. And, of course, playing a lot of guitar and singing whenever I can.
Congrats on the release of your debut EP Pushing Daisies! How does it feel to finally share this collection of songs with your fans?
Thank you! It feels amazing! I still get caught off guard when I search myself on Spotify and my artist page pops up. My friends and family feel the same way—it’s been really fun sharing this experience with them. Now that I’ve got a few songs out, I love hearing people’s favourites—whether it’s friends, family, or listeners. I only released my first single two months ago, so having multiple songs out there now for people to compare and connect with is really exciting.
I actually wrote these songs a couple of years ago while at university. I was just writing songs for fun but quickly realized I wanted to turn them into something more. So, it’s been a long time coming but it feels great to finally share them. I’m really proud of this project—it feels like an authentic reflection of my sound as an artist, but also of who I am as a person.
Your single “Pushing Daisies” is such a catchy pop track! What was the creative process behind writing this song, and what inspired the concept of the song?
Thank you! The concept and sound of “Pushing Daisies” came together from a few different pieces.
I stumbled across the phrase “pushing up daisies” one night while casually scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram. It’s a metaphor for something being dead and buried, and for some reason, my mind immediately connected it to a relationship that’s long over—one where the ending felt inevitable. I jotted the idea down and left it for a bit. A couple of nights later, I was in the shower just humming, and the melody for “Pushing Daisies” hit me. I loved it, but I’m terrible at remembering melodies, so I literally ran out mid-shower to record it as a voice memo. From there, the song came together pretty quickly over a few writing sessions with my guitar. I always envisioned it as a catchy pop track, but finding the right production was a process. I went through three different versions before landing on the one I made with my producer, Annelise Noronha. I love the energy of it and how it blends acoustic elements with a bigger, polished production.
“Fuel” dives into the theme of self-sabotage in relationships. Can you tell us a little more about how you recognized and explored this feeling in your songwriting?
I wrote so many different versions of “Fuel”. Each one had slightly different lyrics or concepts, but all of them circled around the idea of self-sabotage impacting a relationship. At first, I didn’t even realize that was the theme I was trying to explore. I just kept writing different songs that all seemed to touch on the same feeling. It was a process of circling around the idea until something finally clicked and I landed on “Fuel”.
Self-sabotage is such a layered thing to explore. It can feel like a cycle—something harmful that so many of us struggle with. There’s how we react to it, how our partners react to it, and how it shapes the way we connect with others. It definitely became a central theme of the EP.
How do you balance the more upbeat, pop elements of your music with the introspective themes and emotional depth you explore in your lyrics?
My favorite songs are the ones that make you move and want to dance while also making you feel or think deeply about the lyrics. That’s what I wanted to explore with some of the songs on this EP, especially “Pushing Daisies” and “Fuel”.
Since the lyrics carry a certain emotional weight, I didn’t want the whole collection to feel too heavy. That’s where the production really came in to help balance things out—keeping the songs light and dynamic. I wanted to still feel as though I could play these songs to dance to or belt out in the car or shower. Maintaining a fun energy.
I wrote all of these songs acoustically with my guitar at first, and they stayed in that raw form for about a year before I decided to layer in more production. In terms of production, I think it’s all about knowing when to hold back and when to add something new. Sometimes it’s best to just allow the vocals and lyrics to bring the emotion—other times it elevates the song to bring in a new sound or texture. A lot of this I am still learning, but working with Annelise Noronha (who produced much of the EP) has been incredible. She’s taught me so much about striking that balance between lyrical depth and pop production.
What’s next for you after the release of Pushing Daisies? Are there any upcoming projects or performances you’re excited to share with your fans?
Right now I’m enjoying the feelings that come along with finally having this project out! It’s been quite an experience working on these songs over the past year. In a way, I feel very free and open now for new creations which I’m really excited about. I’ve already been back in the studio recording new material and am constantly writing. I’m headed to NYC this fall to do a master’s program at Berklee NYC in music production and songwriting which will be a big step for me. I think this year is going to be a huge period of growth for me as an artist, both in what I create and in what I learn. I can’t wait to see what projects come out of this next chapter!