Occasionally a song comes across our desk (OK, maybe not an actual ‘desk,’ more of a metaphorical one) where we’re surprised that it’s not already a hit. When I heard Zoe Ko’s “Til U,” I had one of those moments.
And it’s not surprising as Ko is anything but new to the game. At 21 years old, the artist is currently studying to get her BFA from the Clive Davis Institute of Music in NYC and has performed at such venues as The Apollo Theater, BMI Acoustic Lounge, and SOB’s. She even worked with Grammy-nominated mixing engineer Brent Kolatalo (Kendrick Lamar, Lorde) and mastering engineer Andy Krehm (Ariana Grande) on her latest EP.
From the opening notes Ko’s vocal has the same echoes as such singers as Olivia Rodrigo and Alessia Cara. A rhythmic cello part is interrupted periodically by a wailing noise (that is giving me major deja vu but I CANNOT place it… please help?) and then a very Kelly-Clarkson-chorus hits, solidifying the track’s ear worm quality. Take a listen for yourself below.
You can listen to “Til U” on platforms like Apple Music, Soundcloud, and Spotify.
