Earlier this year, rambunctious rocker Zoe Ko unveiled “DIRT,” her first release with Big Loud Rock (the alt-rock imprint of Big Loud Records), in partnership with Double Down 11. “DIRT” was the B-side of a power-packed double single – it’s A-side, “EAT,” was co-written and produced by Jonny Shorr (UPSAHL, Catie Turner, GAYLE).
Though “DIRT” is rapidly approaching two million streams and has almost 70K video views, Ko decided that the song needed another layer of filth (in the best possible way).
“I had to take the dirt up to another level,” Ko.
“I knew I wanted sick women artists on this remix, and immediately thought of Sophie Powers and Emi Grace. Sophie is so unapologetically herself and Emi is one of the baddiest guitarists of our generation. ‘Dirt(ier)’ is ‘DIRT’ but literally dirtier.”
Ko’s decision to feature Powers and Grace does indeed make the track inherently dirtier. Powers is known for her emotionally charged, in-your-face, punk-pop songs about human suffering. And Grace is 21-year-old guitar phenom who bends minds with her unique blend of rock and electronica.
Though Ko is now based in L.A. and has learned to love it, “DIRT” – and now “DIRT(ier)” – is something of ode to New York City.
“I’m from NYC baby,” says Ko, enthusiastically. “I was raised there. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the crazy, bad-ass bitch that I am. It’s the often looked down upon elements of NYC – the grit, the grime, the garbage, the hustle and bustle, the roaches, rats, and pigeons – that shaped me into an adaptable and adventurous person. When I moved to L.A., I missed all the grit and all the dirt back in NYC. So, I walked into the studio and started ranting about how much I miss NYC and its dirt. I loved the word ‘dirt’ so much that I turned it into a song – the kind of song that I might hear in one of my favorite New York clubs.”
