By Colin 
Zoe Unsworth continues to carve her name into the UK country-pop landscape with her heartfelt new single ‘Collide’, released on 24 October. Blending pop sheen with the emotional storytelling of classic country, the track explores the bittersweet beauty of love that cannot last.
‘Collide’ captures the tension between passion and acceptance, the moment when two hearts meet knowing they will eventually part. It’s a timeless theme, but Zoe approaches it with striking intimacy and emotional control. Her smooth, soulful vocals deliver both tenderness and strength, balancing sadness with resilience. The result is a song that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Built around shimmering guitars, soft percussion and the distinctive tones of pedal steel and Dobro, ‘Collide’ finds a perfect middle ground between modern pop and traditional country. Every element feels intentional, adding depth without losing clarity. The production, handled by Tim Prottey-Jones, complements Zoe’s voice with warmth and balance, creating a sound that lingers long after the final chorus.
The single follows her recent release ‘Playing Your Game’, marking her second collaboration with Prottey-Jones. Together, they’ve refined a sound that highlights Zoe’s strengths as both a storyteller and performer. The pair manage to keep the arrangements crisp and contemporary while allowing the organic instruments to shine, giving the track a familiar but fresh identity.
A story of connection and closure
Lyrically, ‘Collide’ speaks to the tension between love and circumstance. It reflects on the experience of meeting the right person at the wrong time, when desire and duty are at odds. Rather than focus on heartbreak, Zoe turns the story into one of gratitude and reflection. Her writing shows maturity and restraint, painting vivid emotional moments without sentimentality.
The song’s hook, carried by a melody that climbs and settles gracefully, makes it instantly memorable. Its chorus lands with quiet power rather than volume, using repetition and phrasing to let the emotion sink in. There’s a sense of finality in her delivery, as though she’s saying goodbye to something beautiful and fleeting.
Zoe describes herself as an “old-time soul”, and that authenticity comes through clearly here. Her tone is warm but expressive, conveying the kind of natural sincerity that defines the best of modern country-pop. It’s the quality that has already begun to distinguish her from her peers on the UK scene.
After just a year of releasing music, Zoe has shown an impressive grasp of identity and craft. Each new track deepens her connection with listeners, showing an artist who writes not from formula but from truth. ‘Collide’ feels like a continuation of that journey – a confident step that cements her as one to watch.
Review
‘Collide’ is an understated triumph. It delivers the emotional weight of classic country storytelling while sounding entirely modern. The production sparkles without overdoing it, and Zoe’s vocal performance is rich with feeling. Every phrase carries intent, each line delivered with the poise of someone who understands the space between strength and vulnerability.
There’s an intimacy to the arrangement that makes the listener feel close to her world. The interplay of pedal steel and guitar textures creates a dreamlike softness, allowing her voice to take centre stage. It’s a single that reveals new details with every listen, proof that subtlety can be more powerful than spectacle.
If ‘Playing Your Game’ showcased potential, ‘Collide’ confirms it. Zoe has arrived with a sound that feels both grounded and timeless. With its mix of honesty, melody and polish, this is a release that places her firmly among the brightest emerging talents in British country-pop.
You can follow Zoe Unsworth over on Instagram and pre-save ‘Collide’ here.