Kelowna singer-songwriter Zoe Marie Welch has heartbreak to thank for much of the lyrical content on her new EP As Promised. 

The four-song offering serves as a meditation on the healing journey to being 'okay again' following a breakup and is set atop a bed of contemporary soul beats. 

“Before the breakup, I struggled to write songs that I thought people could actually connect with on a deeper level,” reflects Welch ahead of her album release show at Fernando's on Wed, Oct. 9. 

“Once the emotions began to flow it was like a switch went off and suddenly I was writing songs left, right and centre.”

Welch credits musical theatre with helping her to find her voice and inspirations spanning from Lauryn Hill to Amy Winehouse and Frank Ocean for helping her realize the type of music she wanted to create. 

“The lyrics are emotional, but musical arrangements keep it light and the underlying truth of each song is actually pretty happy,” laughs Welch. 

“It suites several moods, from driving on a beautiful day to dancing in your room by yourself.” 

Recorded with Kelowna producer Mike Pederson, the album features several local musicians like Darcy Booth on bass, Neville Bohman on keys, Kelly Grant on guitar, Tony Ferraro on drums and Julia Watson on strings. 

Lead single “Turn off the Lights” is accompanied by a fast-paced music video shot by local videographer Chelsea MacEvoy that follows Welch from a downtown rooftop to a moody art studio. 

Those joining Welch at her album release at Fernando's on Oct. 9, might notice a slight contrast between the artist's recorded sound and her live presentation. 

"I love performing live, my stage show involves a lot of energy, movement and crowd participation," explains Welch. 

"Some people might be a bit surprised at first." 

To learn more about Welch and to follow her on social media, click here.