Originally from Philadelphia and now based in Los Angeles, Velvet Rouge is fronted by former NBC’s The Voice contestant Gina Zo. The trio came together shortly after Gina’s experience on The Voice and signed with a small label in Philadelphia. The band faced early challenges, including a disheartening experience with the label, which led Gina to take a step back from music. “I wasn’t proud of what I had done before at the small label, and I wanted a fresh start,” Gina reveals. However, her passion reignited, and with newfound determination, the band reassembled with a commitment to doing things their way, maintaining total control over their music. This desire led to the formation of the name Velvet Rouge, symbolizing the “velvet curtain” of the music industry and their refusal to put up with any more nonsense.
In her chat with InMusic, Gina also reflected on how crucial her experience on NBC’s The Voice was, with Gwen Stefani as her mentor, who helped her find her own identity, both musically and in life.
On Friday, July 26th, Velvet Rouge released their second self-titled EP. The project features five tracks, each inspired by essential life elements. In her interview with InMusic, Gina explained that the EP serves as an exploration of internal dialogues and relationships with oneself, rather than focusing solely on external relationships. Now that the EP is out, the group is fully focused on their US tour.
In her conversation with InMusic, Gina talked about Velvet Rouge’s origins, her time on NBC’s The Voice, the new EP, and revealed which new song she is most excited to perform live.
How would you define your music?
It’s a monologue of my inner mind polished with incredible guitar riffs, snappy drums, and a catchy melody.
What inspired you to form a trio and pursue a career in music together?
We started as a band when I got off The Voice. I had found each member in a unique way: one (Joe) on Craigslist and one (buddy) through a musician friend of mine. After signing to a small label in Philly and feeling completely taken advantage of, I needed a break. A complete step back from music. When I reached back out to get the band back together, we agreed that we were going to do everything differently, we were going to take control. That guided us to start our careers in a new way, and make music that meant something to us.
Why did you choose Velvet Rouge as your band name and what does this name mean to you?
When I decided to get back into music, the first issue I was having was that I didn’t want the new music completely connected to the old music. I wasn’t proud of what I had done before at the small label, and I wanted a fresh start. We came up with a ton of band names but this one fit the most because of it’s story. Velvet is to recognize what goes on behind the “velvet curtain” of the industry, and being willing to share it. Red is the color you feel when you are angry and are not willing to put up with anything anymore.
Can you share any memorable stories from your journey as a trio so far?
Truthfully, we are so much more than a trio, we are a sister and two brothers (figuratively). Because of that we have seen each other through so much. Breakups, death, triumphs, wins, and big moments in our lives… because of that, every day is so special. My favorite moment thus far was traveling to LA together to play our first shows on the West Coast last year. It was unlike anything I had ever known and we did it TOGETHER. Traveling by plane with 3 guys was simply hilarious – they didn’t even know where to attach the bag tags!!!
Gina, you were a contestant on NBC’s The Voice. Can you share one thing that you will always carry with you from that experience?
That being yourself is what gets you far. Gwen Stefani was my mentor on the show, and she really called me out for being too much, for being someone I wasn’t. She could tell I was forcing it. At the time I don’t think I knew who I was, but now even more-so I take that into everything that I do – that sentiment from her. To be myself.
Can you tell us about your new EP “Velvet Rouge”?
We self-titled the EP because it is the CORE of our songwriting. It is what I think people can come back to when they think of us and can say “okay that makes sense as to why their first full-length album sounded like ‘x’”. One thing that I am most proud of with this record is that it really doesn’t have to do much with external relationships with men and women. It has a lot more to do with the relationships you have with YOURSELF and what that internal dialogue sounds like when brought out into the world.
The project features five tracks inspired by essential life elements. How did you come up with this theme?
When I am working on a project I am trying to constantly come up with ways to make the imagery digestable and understandable to my audience. I want them to also feel like this is something they have never seen before, and while the life elements isn’t “new” it is something that I don’t think is being attributed to music. I often find my best times writing are in nature, as are Joe’s, our guitarist. It just fits perfectly with us as a band.
You are currently on a US tour, with the next stop this weekend in Philadelphia. Which new song from the EP are you most excited to perform live?
Omg… I am most excited to perform I Don’t Know Why! I have been playing this song to our fans for about a year and so for them to get the first listen of it after the EP has come out is going to be huge… I am so excited to share it with them.
This new EP follows your 2021 debut, “Dark Hallways.” How has your music evolved since then?
It has become so much more mature. Those songs were beautiful, but they were all deeply rooted in fantasy, story-telling that went beyond realism, and a young person doing what we do best which is shouting from the mountain tops. I don’t have any regrets with that music – but what it really shared was how creative I could get when problem-solving a situation and turning it into a song. The new music is much more REAL. I don’t know how else to describe that.
What is a message you would like to give through your music and why?
That it is okay to not know who you are, what you want, or who you will become. That is completely acceptable. All of my songs are about conflict with the inner self in this album and that is meant to be something that everyone can relate to. We all are just trying to figure our shit out.
Write here something you want to let people know.
I want people to know that we are just getting started and we cannot wait to sell out an arena with our fans one day
Listen to “I Don’t Know Why,” from Velvet Rouge’s new self-titled EP, on our Spotify playlist:
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