Zoe Viccaji (Urdu: زوئی وکاجی) (born 1983) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter and actress from Karachi.[2][3][4] She began her career as a backing vocalist at Coke Studio and later moved on to becoming one of the featured artists. Viccaji has released one studio album which received various accolades.[5]

Zoe Viccaji
Born (1983-10-25) October 25, 1983 (age 40)[1]
Kharian, Punjab, Pakistan
EducationHamilton College
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • Actress
Years active2009–present
Spouse
Kamal Khan
(m. 2018)
RelativesRachel Viccaji (sister)
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • Guitar
Years active2009–present
Labels
Websitewww.zoeviccaji.com

Early life edit

Zoe Viccaji was born in Kharian, Punjab, Pakistan, to Adi Viccaji and Lynettee Viccaji, a Parsi father and Christian mother.[6][7] She was raised in Karachi, Pakistan. According to Zoe, she has been playing guitar and writing her own songs since the age of fifteen.[8][9] Singer Rachel Viccaji is her younger sister.[citation needed]

Personal life edit

Viccaji got married on December 23, 2018, to producer and director Kamal Khan [10] in Karachi, Pakistan. Her sister, Rachel Viccaji and fellow Coke Studio backup singer and actress Sanam Saeed, were among the bridesmaids in the traditional white wedding. The couple had another event the next day on the traditional Pakistani side of things.[citation needed]

Career edit

Zoe started her career at the age of seventeen by joining a local band named Ganda Bandas.[citation needed] A few years later she moved to the United States where she studied in Hamilton College, New York. She also worked in the stage musicals Mamma Mia! and Chicago, both alongside Sanam Saeed.[11] After returning to Pakistan, she released her debut single "Thinking About You" in 2009. She joined Coke Studio in 2010 and collaborated with Strings and Bilal Khan and released the singles "Mera Bichra Yaar" and "Anjane" featuring Strings and Bilal Khan. "Mera Bichra Yaar" was nominated at the 11th Lux Style Awards for Song of the Year.[citation needed]

Zoe released her debut album Dareeche in September 2014 under Universal Music India.[citation needed] In 2015, it won the Best Mixed Album award at the Indian Recording Arts (IRA) in India and Lux Style Award for Best Album in Pakistan.[12][13][14][15][16] The album spawned a single “Phir Mili Tanhai”. Zoe stated in an interview that “Phir Mili Tanhai” was one of the first songs she wrote and was inspired by her real relationship. "Phir Mili Tanhai was one of the very first songs I wrote. In fact it’s a marker of the period when I turned to songwriting in the first place. I was going through my first major breakup with someone who I had been with for a very long time."[17][18]

In 2013, Zoe made a cameo appearance in the film Good Morning Karachi as Salon Bride.[19][20][21]

Awards and nominations edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 "Mera Bichra Yaar" 11th Lux Style Award of Song of the Year Nominated
2013 "Hain Yeh Silsilay" 12th Lux Style Award for Best Original Soundtrack Nominated
2014 "Jab Koi" ARY Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer Nominated
2014 Zoe Viccaji 4th Pakistan Media Award for Best Singer (Female) Won
2015 Dareeche Best Mixed Album Award at IRA Won
2015 Dareeche 14th Lux Style Award for Best Album Won


Filmography edit

Year Film Notes
2013 Good Morning Karachi Salon Bride
2014 The Journey Within Cameo Appearance[22]
2018 Cake Cameo Appearance

Discography edit

Albums edit

Sr.No. Album Producer Year
1. Dareeche Zoe Viccaji 2014
Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Jis Nay Bhi Aana Hai"03:48
2."Phir Mili Tanhai"04:56
3."Sau Dafa"03:26
4."Kaisay Yeh Hua"03:46
5."Raat Gaye"04:26
6."Keep me in Your Memories"03:50
7."Mera Bichra Yaar"02:56
8."Ab Aao Na"04:40
9."Neend Ati Nahin"04:23
Total length:00:35:21

Singles edit

  • "Tanhaiyan"
  • "Jhoom"
  • "Ho Jao Aazad"
  • "Ruk Tau Zara"
  • "Hum Har Qadam Aagay Hon" (All Stars Grand Finale Song)
  • "The Time Has Come"
  • "Josh"
  • "Yeh Dil Kiyun Mera"
  • "Jis Nay Bhi Aana Hai, Aik Din Jaana Hai"
  • "Thinking About You"
  • "Alvida (Feat. Zohaib)"
  • "Bichra Yaar (Feat. Strings)"
  • "Bolo (Feat. Zohaib)"
  • "Breathe in Breathe Out"
  • "Jab Koi"
  • "Jo Chaho"
  • "Kaisay Yeh Hua"
  • "Street Signs (Feat. Aamir Zaki and Maaz)"
  • "Vamp (Feat. Omar Farooq)"
  • "Weave a Sweet Dream"
  • "Ishq Kinara (Feat. Sumru Agiryuruyen)"
  • "Baray Pyar Se Samjhaen"
  • "Ashiqi Angar (Irfan Ali Taj Feat. Zoe Viccaji)"

Coke Studio edit

  • Senraan Ra Baairya - Asif Hussain Samraat Ft. Zoe Viccaji
  • Jaana
  • Raat Gaey
  • Ishq Kinara (Zoe Viccaji & Sumru Agiryuriyen)

References edit

  1. ^ "Zoe Viccaji a Pakistani Parsi female singer and song writer". Christians in Pakistan. 26 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Profile: Zoe Viccaji - Arts & Culture - Newsline". newslinemagazine.com. Retrieved 13 May 2015.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Zoya Anwer (29 April 2015). "I want to release songs and not have expectations: Zoe Viccaji". dawn.com. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Zoe Viccaji (Interview) ~ Islo Times". islotimes.com. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  5. ^ Hasan Ansari; Saadia Qamar; Maryam Rashid (October 1, 2015). "Naysayers for good reason". The Express Tribune. Karachi, Pakistan. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Zoe Viccaji – Interview with Mnewz". MNewz,Net. 31 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  7. ^ Saadia Qamar (1 September 2012). "Dream team: Cultures in Harmony collaborates with the Viccaji sisters". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  8. ^ "German glue, pinching ears and music — Zoe Viccaji's favourite things". The Express Tribune. Rida Naeem. 15 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Zoe Viccaji a Pakistani Christian female singer and song writer". christiansinpakistan.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  10. ^ "IN PICTURES: Zoe Viccaji ties the knot in Karachi". 23 December 2018.
  11. ^ "Zoe Viccaji". Mag 4 You.
  12. ^ Rodricks, Allan Moses (6 January 2015). "Dareeche - Zoë Viccaji". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Zoe Viccaji's album Dareeche earns a technical nod from India". DAWN. ENTERTAINMENT DESK. June 2015.
  14. ^ "Zoe Viccaji's 'Dareeche' bags Best Mixed Album award in India". hipinpakistan.com. 2 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Zoe Viccaji's album Dareeche earns a technical nod from India". The Nation.
  16. ^ "Zoe Viccaji's 'Dareeche' Wins Best Mixed Album Award in India". Brand Synario. 2 June 2015.
  17. ^ "ZOE VICCAJI ON HER ALBUM RELEASE". Zoe Viccaji. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  18. ^ Fatema Imani (19 August 2014). "Zoe Viccaji's 'Phir Milli Tanhai': Visually stunning, mediocre music". DAWN. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Good Morning Karachi (2013)". IMDb. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  20. ^ "The good, the bad and the ugly of Coke Studio episode 3". tribune.com.pk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  21. ^ "Rachel Viccaji". cokestudio.com.pk. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  22. ^ "The Journey Within (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 2 July 2015.

External links edit