An Interview with Zoe Infante (via amp)
Bittersweethearts are an amazing indie ensemble based out of L.A. The main players in the band are the bewitching Zoe Infante (Vocals) and Declan O’Raidy (Guitar/Producer). The two, with a select group of talented musicians, have just released two brazen singles that are just the tip of their creative iceberg.
Their debut single is “Hate To Love”. It features Infante’s beguiling vocals and Tarantino-esque rock vibes. Its ethereal cadence and wonderful arrangement captures the listener’s soul with its mystical aura. Speaking about the song the alluring Zoe states:
“Hate To Love is about being stuck in a toxic relationship that you can’t find a way out of, all the while being unsure you even want to find a way out“.
The Bittersweethearts‘ newest single actually drops today (11/17). Entitled “Polly Plastic”, the track is vibrant and imaginative. It’s also full of wonderful punk flourishes. Zoe goes on to explain the nexus of the tune:
“Polly is about your typical fake friend in L.A. It’s about how hard it is to make real genuine connections when it feels like everyone is so materialistic and they only care for themselves“.
Zoe Infante graced AMP with this engaging interview.
AMP: Can you tell us a little about your debut single, “Hate To Love”?
ZOE: It’s a really special song for me. It was the first song I wrote with this band. It got me through a super hard time in my life. People who know me probably know that I went through a divorce earlier this year and they know that that is what this song is about. But, I also believe you can apply it to all aspects of life. No matter the struggle, “Hate To Love” is relatable. I love the fact that it can be interpreted in so many ways. For me, the song is cathartic and has brought me to a new understanding.
AMP: What got you into music?
ZOE: Growing up in music, my dad is a musician (Joe Infante-Roxanne), I was always surrounded by it. I basically grew up backstage. He always took me to his shows. I thought being a rockstar was normal. To me, every dad was one. So, it came naturally. As soon as I got older I knew I wanted to have a musical career.
AMP: Describe your creative process when you write new material?
ZOE: Growing up in the arts, my mother is an artist, I have it in my blood. I grew up writing a lot of poetry. It was a way of putting down my thoughts on paper. All my songs start as poems. I have tons of them on my phone and they translate well to songs.Usually I have the lyrics first but when I start with a melody, I can go through my list of poems and fit one to the tone I want.
AMP: “Hate To Love” has a real cinematic vibe. Was that your objective?
ZOE: I think that I was so vulnerable when writing this song. It definitely created a softer and sensitive vibe. On a whole, I’m a little more punk rocky but I love venturing into the more mellower side of indie. This was basically a love letter to the person I used to be when I was married. It was coming to terms with my past and moving on from there. It really just wrote itself. “Hate To Love” was what I needed in order to grow.
AMP: How would you define your music to someone who has never heard you before?
ZOE: It’s primarily indie rock with alternative leanings. When people ask for references, I usually answer Blondie, Zombies or Fleetwood Mac. It has a 60’s to 80’s retro feel with modern stylings.
AMP: Continuing in the same vein, Who were musical inspirations and why?
ZOE: I love Blondie. Debbie Harry was definitely an inspiration. She has a marvelous voice. It is amazing how much she accomplished in the music scene. She is so rad. I was raised on the Beatles and the Stones. The Beatles were so inspirational. I’m sure they inspired my style of songwriting. The storytelling in their songs is marvelous. The songs are so relatable and their message always seems to come through. I love songs where I can follow the story. That’s what music is all about. That’s my goal. To tell stories.
AMP: When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?
ZOE: This is hard! I worked in Beverly Hills for about a year and saw so many celebrities. I’m kind of numb to it all. I never freak out when I see a star. Being that I grew up in the limelight, it all seems normal. The only time I may have been dazed is when I saw One Direction and Blink-182. Most of the time I’m pretty oblivious to stardom.
AMP: If you could collab with any artist, past or present, who would it be?
ZOE: I’ll give you my dream collaborators to play with. I would say Etta James, Carole King and David Bowie. I think those three would be very interesting to work along side of. And Billie Idol. The Zombies would be another band I would love to collab with. I love that era of music. The feel is amazing and I try to capture that in my music.
AMP: Any plans for a full length album?
ZOE: We are recording our first album as we speak. We are going on a European tour in January and we were hoping to have it done by then. So far, there are only seven songs recorded. So, I’m not sure if that is going to happen. Hopefully it’s out by early next year. It’s so exciting. Everything is coming together nicely!
AMP: What’s next for the Bittersweethearts?
ZOE: Today we are releasing a new single and video. The song is called “Polly Plastic”. The track and video are insane. It’s probably the coolest video ever (lol). We are playing more shows and jumping back in the studio like I mentioned before. Touring Europe! We are so excited to see where this all leads us. It’s a fantastic time in our lives.
