ISINA Finalist Interview: Zoeann Bassett
Zoeann Bassett is a singer/songwriter from Oceanside, California. She was one of the original ISINA Arrivals and we were happy to bring her back to help make her song even better. We spoke with her about her ISINA experience.
What do you remember from your first experience with ISINA?
Living with everyone -- they were from all over the world and it was amazing. I got to see all the different cultures. It inspired me so much. I want to travel and I want to go international. I want to make different types of music and just really make magical stuff. What’s so amazing about ISINA is how I’m working with people that are from so many different countries and they all have their different perspectives on writing and music and they bring so many different things to the table. They’re all so professional. They’ve taught me so much and that’s what I want to do: I want to go international. I want to take my music everywhere and tour.
After ISINA, I had a lot of time to think about what I wanted and what kind of music I wanted to make. ISINA really changed my perspective on how to create music. I wanted to work more on my writing because I felt like the lyrics obviously change the song so much. I really learned a lot from ISINA. Being around other musicians. They taught me so much.
Tell us about the song you submitted.
When I submitted my song, it was the first song I’d ever made. The first song I’d ever recorded. The first song I ever wrote by myself. Well, with my brother, not by myself, but he kind of let me take the reins on that song. I just felt like this whole shift in my life and I wanted to just take the chance and I thought, you know, maybe people will see the potential that I can see in myself. And then [ISINA] reached out to me. It was probably one of the craziest moments of my life. I just jumped up and down and cried and showed my parents. They were like, “The song is great! This is what you deserve! Just keep making this music from your heart and people will see that and they'll enjoy it.” So it was definitely ethereal.
How does it feel to be an August Finalist?
It feels like right where I’m supposed to be. It feels totally full circle. I love everyone here. I love working with everyone here. They’ve definitely changed my life.
How does it feel to be back?
Obviously I’m super thankful and excited and grateful, so that’s amazing. When you guys reached out to me, it definitely made my heart drop and made me melt, because I had been waiting for that. For that moment to come through. So I’m very grateful, really.
How do you like the new vision of your song?
I love the song. I love it so much. Definitely brings me joy to sing it. And I feel like people are really going to enjoy it and that’s what I want from my music. For people to just feel it and be smiling and happy. So yeah, I’m very very excited for everyone to hear it. I can’t wait.
How do you think this opportunity can help you in your future music career?
I mean, this opportunity has helped me just kind of learn how to perform in front of people and sing in front of people and to record and all the different ways to record and to write and everyone’s different process and just seeing how everyone works and just learning so much from all of you.
I feel like it’s going to take me that one step further. I’d love to go international. I’d love to travel and learn about other cultures and music and just kind of expand my writing even more. And definitely make an album and perform. Tour. All that stuff!
ISINA Team
