Zoe Unsworth does not settle for one version of country on her debut EP Old Time Soul. Across six tracks she moves through balladry, sharper country-pop, sultry strings, unmistakable twang and catchy hooks, with her voice giving the whole thing a recognisable centre.
Released on 11th September, the EP brings together ‘Solo’, ‘Daisy’, ‘Tell Tale’, ‘Bless Your Heart’, ‘Old Time Soul’ featuring Rob Jones and ‘Take Me Home’. Samuel Capper handles the production, while love, heartbreak, vulnerability and self-identity run through the writing without every song arriving at the same place.
Twang, strings and a little swagger
Zoe Unsworth opens with ‘Solo’, where violins give the arrangement a richer texture and her sultry vocals immediately pull focus. Zoe sounds especially strong here, and the song gives her plenty of space to use that strength without crowding the arrangement.
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‘Daisy’ and ‘Tell Tale’ work well side by side because they approach hurt from opposite directions. ‘Daisy’ is softer and more reflective, letting unrequited love ache quietly, while ‘Tell Tale’ gives betrayal and heartbreak a punchier country-pop edge.
‘Bless Your Heart’ goes properly country. The twang is front and centre, with a little of the melodic confidence associated with Kacey Musgraves or Miranda Lambert, and Zoe sounds completely comfortable leaning into that side of the genre. There is swagger here without losing the warmth running through the rest of the EP.
The title track changes the pace again. ‘Old Time Soul’ is a deeper country ballad and feels perfectly placed on a record built around Zoe’s love of classic storytelling, modern pop instincts and the perspective she brings as a UK country artist.
Rob Jones is a big part of why the song works so well. His contribution makes ‘Old Time Soul’ feel like a genuine duet, with the two voices giving the track extra warmth and depth rather than treating the feature as decoration. Zoe has described the song as the truest reflection of who she is as an artist, and the duet gives that introduction another layer.
‘Take Me Home’ finishes the EP with another solid country tune, but this one has a more immediate pull. The hook is catchy, the country character stays intact and it closes the record with an easy lift after the deeper title track.
Across Old Time Soul, Zoe worked with songwriters Jenn Bostic, Neeve Zahra, Becky Tate and Rob Jones, while Grainne White and Chuck Walton contribute instrumental performances. Samuel Capper’s production gives those different textures enough room without smoothing away the country character.
Zoe has said “old time soul” is how she explains her love of classic country storytelling and music from another era alongside modern pop and her own UK roots. The EP backs that idea up, moving naturally between the violins of ‘Solo’, the twang of ‘Bless Your Heart’ and the traditional duet feel at the heart of the title track.
Old Time Soul review
Old Time Soul works because its songs have enough character of their own that the EP never feels like six variations on the same idea. Zoe can lean into classic country touches or cleaner pop instincts without sounding like she is trying on different identities, and her voice is the thread that keeps the record together.
‘Old Time Soul’ itself is the standout for me, with Rob Jones helping turn the country ballad into one of the EP’s richest moments. ‘Take Me Home’ then gives the record a catchy finish rather than trying to outdo it. By the end, Zoe sounds increasingly sure of which parts of country music suit her and, more importantly, how to make them sound like her own.
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