Yes, you can make music that fits neatly into an era, a genre, or a category. But you can also make the kind of music you love — music that brings you closer to yourself, and in doing so, quietly reaches other people’s hearts. That’s what Gina Zo does. “I praise myself every day for not falling back into a trap,” she tells us at one point — and it lands not as a dramatic declaration, but as a quiet kind of courage. The kind you build slowly, note by note, heartbreak by heartbreak.
Raised just outside of Philadelphia and now based in L.A., Gina grew up making microphones out of flashlights, dancing through the living room with her grandparents. Her artistry, shaped by the mystical edge of Stevie Nicks and the raw soul of early 2000s rock, has always blurred the line between performer and person. After stepping back from an early record deal that left her disillusioned, she found her way back to music through the kind of pain that demands reinvention. Out of that came Velvet Rouge — a rock project full of defiance and honesty — and now, her most intimate solo chapter yet.
“Only Bad Men Make Me Feel This Way” is a kind of breakup anthem. Built on glistening synths and mellow guitar, it captures the aftermath — the ache, the clarity, the strange freedom that follows. It’s about the things we know logically but still feel emotionally. The moments we yell-sob into our pillows, then laugh about it in the car with our best friend five minutes later. “This song is classically about my history of liking bad men,” she says. “That doesn’t mean hateful — I’m honestly grateful for all the men I’ve had in my life. They’ve taught me so much about myself and what I’m willing to fight for in a relationship.”
In this conversation, Gina speaks with the same honesty she sings with — about letting go, finding your own rhythm again, and writing the kind of truth that doesn’t need to be loud to be heard.
photography by Hunter Carrico
Gina, congrats on your new release! What do you hope people feel when they hear “Only Bad Men Make Me Feel This Way”?
Thank you so much! The song is about my affection for men that I shouldn’t have – AKA some of my ex-boyfriends that still cloud my mind a bit. What I really want people to take from it though is that two things can be true: you can believe that you don’t need someone because you are beautiful, kind, funny, and perfectly-imperfect the way you are, but you can also want that person back even when deep down you know it’s not good for you.
I really appreciate that you took a serious approach with the video for it and included a content warning for violence upfront. Why was it important for you to make that choice, and how did it shape the way you told the story visually?
My mom was actually the biggest proponent to the content warning. I had shown her the video, and she said you know, there is a lot of violence in this and I see what you are trying to show but this can be very triggering. It was an eye opener for me – as someone who didn’t grow up in a domestic violence household, but has had friends who have suffered, it snapped me back into the reality that while slasher films can be fun, they can also be extremely traumatic. We took out some scenes that felt too violent and triggering, and we took the moment to recognize that this video should be used to show that violence of any kind, but especially in a romantic relationship, is not tolerated and should be taken seriously. I’m grateful my mom opened my eyes to adjustment of focus we needed to have as we moved forward with our release.
“My art is my therapy, and my performance is the release.”
You’ve said, “I’m honestly grateful for all the men I’ve had in my life — they’ve taught me so much about myself and what I’m willing to fight for in a relationship.” What are some of the things you learned about yourself through those experiences — maybe things you wouldn’t have discovered any other way?
I am grateful for all of the men that have shaped me in my relationships, because they’ve shown me some really important things about myself. For one, my career in music is so important to me and I don’t want a romantic partner to come between me and that dream. I have had boyfriends ask me “well what will I do when you go to practice every other night?” or they will come to a show and be upset that I didn’t pay enough attention to them. This has proven not only the type of person that will fit correctly into my life, but also that music is my calling. I didn’t think that that was going to be so important to me – but it turns out it is. You cannot have someone holding you back – I want to cheer that person on, and I want them to cheer me on. It will take a special person.
When you first shared the title with people around you — what kinds of reactions did you get? Did anyone try to talk you out of it? (smiles)
Yes… (laughs)! It made some men very uncomfortable. When I brought this to my previous team originally, they did not love the title – and it actually just turned them off from the entire song. Unfortunately, that just is how it goes sometimes and not every man is going to understand the humor that can come from poking fun at toxic relationships and ferociously bad men. Otherwise, my new team loved the song, thought it was a hilarious concept for a song and was worth shouting it from the mountain tops!!
Has writing this song helped you forgive those men, or more importantly, forgive yourself for the version of you that loved them?
I will one day forgive the leading man of inspiration for what he did to me, but for right now I cannot. What they did to me was just a bit too much for me to forgive in such a short time. I also can hold a grudge a bit too tightly – something I am working on in therapy… (smiles)! I definitely forgive the version of myself that loved them. She was naive to their manipulation. While I do still think about this person, I praise myself everyday for not falling back into a trap, and for recognizing that I cannot reach out to them. I would never forgive myself if I went back.
Looking back on your journey from ‘The Voice’ to Velvet Rouge and now your solo work — how has your understanding of artistic authenticity changed?
I think that there is a difference between playing/writing music that sounds like styles/eras of music you love, and playing/writing music that is authentically you and your voice. For a long time I wanted to be the next 70s rock queen, and with Velvet Rouge we fit that mold very well. But I just was not targeting the audience I wanted… I was targeting 50 year old men, and while that was lovely because I want my music to be heard – we just aren’t doing the same things. I want men and women my age to be hearing these songs that I am singing and saying “I totally get that, I almost threw a giant rock at my ex’s window too!!!” We weren’t singing about that, or if we were it was masked in metaphors that fit the time that we were aiming at. I now know that for me to do what I want to do in this career, I have to consistently pivot to what is getting me closer to finding my people.
“Being a rockstar isn’t about fame — it’s about fearlessly being yourself.”
In your Instagram bio, you call yourself a “full-time rockstar” — do you actually feel like one? And what does being a rockstar mean to you beyond the cliché?
I think it should really say “a full time businesswoman and part time rockstar” because being in the music business is a business. There are times when I do feel like a rockstar – like when I am on stage, or selling my merch, or filming a music video. But a lot of the times, I feel like a business woman. I am filming content, answering emails, running rehearsals, and a lot more less glamorous things. However… that is how I thrive. I have always been someone that loves to steer a ship, and this feels like that but with some art attached to it. Being a rockstar beyond the cliche is never accepting “no” as the final answer, its being stern in your belief that you can achieve anything, and its going on stage even when you’re having a rough day.
You described childhood moments singing into makeshift microphones with your grandparents. When did you first realize those small, joyful moments were the beginning of your artistic life — not just family memories?
I didn’t realize it until I was on the Voice auditioning honestly. I think it was probably the 3rd pre-audition I had when I was in front of executives that I realized this could be a career for me. I was writing and recording before that moment, but it still felt like small fish to me. There was something about realizing that people that “mattered” were noticing me – that’s when I took the leap of faith and jumped right in. I think my mom and dad would tell you sooner – there was never a moment that I wasn’t dancing, cheering, writing, singing, or acting… That was always me. Although my dad to this day says I could have been a great golfer – but I was always a girl meant for the stage (sometimes the golf course but I’m mediocre at best).
You’ve shared a lot of truth and vulnerability through your music. Has that emotional honesty changed how you approach life outside of music, too?
I am a very honest and forefront person with my feelings. My heart is on my sleeve. This year I have finally settled with the fact, that I don’t want to take the front seat when it comes to directing my relationship with my person, I want to be pursued and chased. I was always someone who thought well if I like them, they should know. If I want to see them, I should ask. I now am taking a different route which is – focus on me. The right person is going to make sure they get to see me, have me and hold me. I don’t have to push it so hard.
What has been the most important life lesson for you so far?
Your biggest success will come from hard work and luck. You can’t just bet on either one to make you a success.
Follow Gina Zo for more:
www.ginazomusic.com/tour
www.instagram.com/_ginazo_
www.tiktok.com/@_ginazo_
