Zoe Gotusso

A leader, both sweet and spicy: Zoe Gotusso in her own words

For International Women’s Day 2023, Argentine singer-songwriter Zoe Gotusso invites us to discover her musical journey.

We’d like to begin by learning more about you and your musical journey.

I’d describe myself as a music lover, then as a music maker, because I’ve built my life around my passion and through this love of music I discovered myself as a human. It’s hard to pinpoint the beginning of my journey because there were different events that left a mark on me. I was born into a music-loving family and both my parents listened to music. I’d say my mom has been a key figure in my path.

When I was around three years old, I crawled into an open oven and burned my hands. While I was recovering, my dad took me to get treatment every day, and my mom became the driving force behind my dreams. Doctors said I had to move my hands, so she made me take piano lessons. That’s when I first encountered music. As a teenager, I connected with the guitar, an instrument in which I found an infinite world.

Can you describe your relationship with music?

I have a very healthy relationship with music. I don’t demand anything from it. I don’t force it. I don’t wonder what to do, I just do. What inspires me is feeling alive, seeing people doing things. Music inspires me, and that can’t be explained. When we listen to a song and it moves us, I don’t know what happens there, but it inspires me. Stories, life, flavors… Anything that excites the body. When creating music, it’s good to be lost, so that you can find yourself later. I never said, “I’m going to be a leader,” but I must have done something to have people watching me. Apart from making the music that brought me here, I have to think about what I say. But I guess I am the message. I say what I am. I live.

How would you describe your relationship with education?

My relationship with education has been defined by freedom. I started studying after I burned my hand. When I understood that wasn’t my thing, I asked my mom for guitar lessons, but she said no. Then, I studied with a teacher, but I didn’t connect with him, so I continued on my own. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I went to a very demanding school. I used to complain about it, but it helped me learn about discipline and perseverance. Still, my education has been atypical. I have studied by hearing, feeling, listening.

What changes should be made to empower women and girls in music?

Connecting with other women has always been important to me. My biggest inspiration is my mother, who is my dream guide. I like women. I love working with women, having been born a woman, and feeling like one. Although I have faced difficulties in my career, I don’t think gender inequality has been a barrier for me, because other women did a great job paving the way. Before, at the studio, nobody noticed me. At times, I even felt a bit inferior. The world is misogynistic. Most positions are held by men. But thanks to the women who paved the way, when I got to this world, I felt respected pretty quickly. Today, I feel like a leader who is both sweet and spicy.

The changes needed to empower women and girls can be achieved by doing, by learning, by talking about this issue. I ask women to never lower their voices, and I ask men to listen. I invite both sexes to do these tasks.

Do you have a message for the next generation?

Follow your desires. Don’t look at other people, search for greatness within yourselves. If we look at the people we consider great, what they have in common is that they are unique. Let others inspire you, but always look within yourselves. Follow your dreams and do whatever you want. Don’t try to be great like other people. You’re going to be great in your own way.