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Zoe Viccaji
 Tell us a bit about your background; where you grew up, education, family, etc.
I was born in Pakistan, actually all the way up in Kharian and came to Karachi when I was two or three. My mother was born here, while my father came over with his family from India in the late 1940s. That is my family history in brief!
I studied here all the way up to my A’ levels and then on a stroke of good fortune, I received a scholarship at Hamilton College in upstate New York where I spent the next four years for my education. After working in New York for a year, I returned to Pakistan to reconnect with family and find my calling.
How did you get into singing?
I don’t know how much anyone gets into singing as much as it takes over them! My mother, for as long as I can remember, sang with a guitar in her hands. Family picnics and social gatherings were always full of people singing. My best childhood friend Sana and I would spend evening after evening learning songs and then performing them in the front lawn to an audience of stuffed toys.
 It was when I first picked up the guitar and found an interest in song writing, that I began to take singing more seriously. I had a few brushes here and there with some recordings and concerts, and only really began to look at music as a career in the last two years.
What is your source of inspiration? Any particular musicians?
I first started paying attention to songwriting when I was introduced to Sarah Maclachlan and Alanis Morisette. As far as singers go, I’ve always been in love with Ella Fitz Gerald and all the singers from that era. Of late, I’ve been focusing more on the performance aspect of music and have found people like Lady Gaga, Queen, Jamiroquai and Madonna absolutely fascinating to watch.
Do you write your own lyrics? Are you currently working on an album, and if so, when can we expect to see one released?
For my English songs, I do write my own lyrics. My mother has contributed to a couple of songs because she has a gift when it comes to words and creating imagery in her writing. I am currently working on collaborating with various lyricists to write some Urdu songs. I’m looking to release these songs as singles in the next three or four months.
How was the experience of being a part of Coke-Studio? Who did you get to collaborate with?
Coke studio has been one of my staple sources of inspiration musically. I really needed that grounding and exposure to local music and our heritage, and I couldn’t have asked for more than Coke Studio, which brings a whole plethora of music under one roof. As part of the house band, we’ve been able to collaborate with all the artists that you’ve seen on the seasons so far- the learning is endless.
You also were part of the hit musical "Mamma Mia"; tell us about your experience. How was the response?
Theatre is another world altogether, but musical theatre once again catered to my love for singing. It was pretty tough because we had to sing lead parts as well as the backing parts for the rest of the songs, but I loved every minute of being on stage. The response was mostly positive, and it’s given me the confidence to be on stage on my own.
What do you foresee for the music industry in Pakistan?
It’s getting better. There are more shows, and people are beginning to take it more seriously. I think as long as musicians and singers stay true to their music and passion, rather than to the superficial aspects of fame and fortune, things can only move forward.
 Have you ever considered being a part of TV/Film industry?
Not really.
What words of wisdom would you like to share with young artists who aspire to be like you?
You can never stop learning, and there is always room for improvement.
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