An Interview with Zinger Sole: The Queen of Emotion
Interviewer: Today, we sit down with Zinger Sole, the Queen of Emotion. What’s up, Zinger?
Zinger Sole: What’s up, Chaz?
Interviewer: So, your new album, I Rather Be Me, is out now on all streaming platforms. Before we get into the album, I’d like to learn a little about your background. Where were you born and raised?
Zinger Sole: I was born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Interviewer: Bridgeport has a reputation for being rough. What was it like growing up there?
Zinger Sole: Well, to be honest, my life growing up in Bridgeport was a little different from most people.
Interviewer: Why was that?
Zinger Sole: For starters, I never went to regular school. I was homeschooled. So I would get up in the morning, do school for about three or four hours, and then spend the rest of my day working on my singing and piano playing.
Interviewer: You also play guitar, correct?
Zinger Sole: Yes, and drums too.
Interviewer: So let’s jump into the music. When did things really start taking off?
Zinger Sole: I think we have to back up a little first. My mother and father were both singers. Every Sunday afternoon, they would go perform in the park for a few hours. I remember when I was around five years old, they started putting me on the microphone to sing, and honestly, I loved the attention.
Interviewer: So, how long did you all do that?
Zinger Sole: Pretty much until the day they died.
Interviewer: Oh wow… both of your parents passed away? I’m so sorry to hear that.
Zinger Sole: It’s okay. My parents were coming home from a show in Rhode Island when a truck driver fell asleep behind the wheel and slammed into their car.
Interviewer: Wow… that’s incredibly tragic.
Zinger Sole: Yeah, it was.
Interviewer: So, how did their death affect your life?
Zinger Sole: It made me become more serious about my music career. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely went through my grieving period. But what I didn’t know was that my aunt had a lawsuit going after the accident, and when everything was settled, she gave the money to me.
Interviewer: Was it a large amount?
Zinger Sole: Yeah, it was a very large amount. I took some of it and built a recording studio because I figured there was no bigger way to honor my parents than becoming successful doing what we all loved.
Interviewer: Wow… that’s an amazing story, and honestly, your parents have to be smiling down on you.
Zinger Sole: Exactly. Because I’m finishing what they started.
Interviewer: Before we move on, how good of singers were they?
Zinger Sole: Honestly? They were better than me.
Interviewer: Really?
Zinger Sole: Yeah. The problem wasn’t talent. The problem was the industry wasn’t really looking for a singing duo in their 40s. So they never became as big as they wanted to be.
Interviewer: Okay, so you built a studio… then what happened?
Zinger Sole: I had to disconnect myself from all the silly relationships I was involved in.
Interviewer: Can you explain that?
Zinger Sole: Yeah. After my parents died, I found myself constantly looking for the same kind of relationship they had. I thought, for one, it would help me grieve, and for two, that’s all I’d ever seen growing up, so to me, that was what life was supposed to look like.
Interviewer: So I guess things didn’t work out?
Zinger Sole: Exactly. And to be honest, it wasn’t really my boyfriend’s fault—it was mine.
Interviewer: Why do you say that?
Zinger Sole: Because I was a kid dating other kids while expecting them to act like grown men. At the end of the day, some of these guys never even saw real love between a man and a woman growing up in their households.
Interviewer: Wow… that’s deep. So is that where all the emotional songs come from?
Zinger Sole: Exactly. My album I Rather Be Me is basically a snapshot of my life.
Interviewer: Speaking of the album, let’s get into it real quick.
Zinger Sole: Let’s do it.
Interviewer: What is your favorite track on the album?
Zinger Sole: Probably the title track, I Rather Be Me.
Interviewer: Why that song?
Zinger Sole: Because I wasn’t like other kids my age growing up. I never went to regular school. I never played sports. I didn’t really have a lot of friends. My life was basically homeschooling and working on my craft. When my parents felt like I needed a break, I would go to New York City and spend time with my dad’s side of the family.
Interviewer: And that’s where you met Saint Nick Rick?
Zinger Sole: Yeah… when Rick wasn’t in jail.
Interviewer: Oh wow… Rick used to get locked up a lot?
Zinger Sole: Yeah. But when he came home this last time and told me he wanted to rap, I told him I’d help him—if he was serious.
Interviewer: So, is that how Say A Prayer for St. Nick came about?
Zinger Sole: Exactly. He wanted to create something for his project, so I came up with the hook and he wrote the verses.
Interviewer: Okay, so back to I Rather Be Me. Did you write that song to encourage people to be themselves?
Zinger Sole: Exactly. As I got a little older, I realized it was okay to be different. We have to ask ourselves: where would the world be if everyone were the same?
Interviewer: That’s a great point. Well, my favorite track on the album is Crazy Little Crush. Can you talk about that one?
Zinger Sole: Absolutely. When I was about 15 years old, there was this guy I had the biggest crush on. I thought he was single because I never saw him with anybody. I think he was a personal trainer or something like that.
Interviewer: So what happened?
Zinger Sole: One day I saw him with a wife and kids. His wife must have noticed the disappointment on my face because I heard her say, “I think this little girl likes you.”
Interviewer: No way.
Zinger Sole: Oh, it gets worse. He looked at her and said, “Give me a break. That little girl is like ten years old.”
(Both laugh.)
Zinger Sole: The funny thing is, right then and there, the crush was officially over.
Interviewer: So you have a lot of music online. All someone has to do is type in “Zinger Sole,” and they’ll find plenty of songs. How did you choose these ten tracks for the album?
Zinger Sole: To be honest, the songs I picked were the most personal stories I had to tell. These were the experiences and emotions I wanted to share with the world.
Interviewer: So where can fans find the album?
Zinger Sole: The full album is available on YouTube and at ZingerSole.com.
Interviewer: You gave the album away for free?
Zinger Sole: Yes. I can’t charge people to listen to my life story. This album was written to inspire, encourage, and uplift people.
Interviewer: Is there anything else you’d like to say before we go?
Zinger Sole: I’d just like to thank everyone for the support they’ve given me so far. It truly means a lot to me, and I hope and pray you’ll continue this journey with me.
Interviewer: Well, Zinger, thank you for your time.
Zinger Sole: You’re welcome. Thank you for having me