Layla Zoe

Originating from Vancouver, British Columbia, Layla Zoe has earned international recognition as a blues singer and songwriter. Her vocal gift emerged early after she came across her father’s blues record collection and stepped in to front his band. In her late teens she performed with one more local blues group before striking out independently, moving to Toronto and issuing her solo debut Shades of Blue in 2006. Capturing first place in a Finnish songwriter competition that same year unlocked touring and recording prospects across Europe. During the following five years she issued four additional albums and eventually signed with Cable Car Records, the label owned by German blues guitarist Henrik Freischlader, with whom she also collaborated. Back in Canada she worked alongside established artists such as Sonny Landreth and Jeff Healey. Her commanding voice has frequently drawn comparisons to Janis Joplin. The Lily, her 2013 LP, became something of a breakthrough and was named among Down Beat magazine’s best blues albums of the year. After the 2015 concert album Live at Spirit of 66, she signed with Ruf Records, another German blues label, and released Breaking Free, her sixth studio effort.