Rising pop star Zolita has made a name for herself through her self-directed and produced videos as much as she has with her music. Working with an almost entirely queer crew, she creates music videos that tell authentic stories about the queer community. Many of them have gone viral and the 2015 video for her song "Explosion" has been viewed more than 20 million times and counting.

As a queer artist, Zolita is very concerned about representation and the accurate depiction same-sex couples in the media, things she strives to do through her songwriting and videos.

After self-releasing two EPs -- Immaculate Conception in 2015 and Sappho in 2018 -- Zolita put out a critically acclaimed debut full-length album, Evil Angel, in late 2020. The ambitious record examines the nature of toxic relationships and how difficult it can be to shake free of them.

Don't miss the chance to have a cathartic, soul-filling experience when Zolita performs live in a city near you.

Zolita Live in Concert

Zolita, whose real name is Zoë Montana Hoetzel, was born in New York and raised in Calabasas, California. Her father encouraged her to play music from a very young age and she learned to play bluegrass and flat pick guitar.

Citing Lady Gaga and Avril Lavigne as inspirations (Lavigne's album Let Go was the first CD Zolita ever bought with her own money), the pop artist's career took off when she released the video for "Explosion" in 2015 and it went viral, racking up millions of views. It also ranked on Billboard's list of 30 Lesbian Love Songs in 2019.

After two self-assured EPs, Zolita put out the long-player Evil Angel in 2020. The title track boldly explores the complex emotions that arise when you're attracted to someone you know is bad for you. "It's about knowing someone is a bad person and wanting to be with them anyway," Zolita told Paper Magazine, who named her on their list of 100 Women Revolutionizing Pop in 2018.

Rapidly becoming a queer icon who inspires a huge fan base by unapologetically being herself, Zolita has a bright future ahead.