At some point, the time comes when all artists have to consider both whether they want to dedicate their lives to what fulfils them and what they are prepared to give up in doing so. Zoe Graham worked for years on her skills as a singer and songwriter, shared the stage with big names from Kate Nash to Jenny Hval to Rae Morris, and garnered appreciation as a musician. But then came the pandemic, and everything got complicated. In 2022, Graham took a break, taught at a college in Glasgow, and wrote new music just for herself. With “Evilin” (2024), the first concrete sign of life after a good three years was released and impressively showed that the time of leisure was worth it. More than ever, an authentic pop appeal shines through with nostalgic vibes in sepia tones carried by guitars and synthesisers as well as by wind instruments and an unusual text. It is about desire and self-doubt, about a woman who is idealised but who actually exhibits toxic behaviour. With a style that lies somewhere between indie and folk, Zoe Graham tells of the ambiguities of life that we are all constantly confronted with and then poses one of the most important questions: “Who do I want to be?”