“We struggle with the riddles of thirty-year-olds like butterflies against glass,” once wrote F. Scott Fitzgerald, subtly noting the time when youthful decorations crumble, and new ones have not yet been built. Such a borderline state is a slightly awkward draft in a room where you suddenly understand: the life that you so diligently created is no longer the right size. From this aching feeling of mismatch the new album by British multi-instrumentalist Zoe Konez – “Everything’s Fine,” the official release of which is scheduled for June 12, 2026, was born. The title, of course, is deceptive. A kind of routine “everything is fine,” behind which hides existential fatigue from noisy, pressing London and an attempt to feel solid ground under one’s feet.
All 12 tracks Zoe wrote, recorded, and produced alone, moving between Brixton and Brighton. The current music industry is increasingly going into sterile AI algorithms. However, Konez makes a therapeutic escape toward radical sincerity. She deliberately left “imperfections.” Barely noticeable rustles of room spaces and field recordings. Breathing between phrases and fragile vocal takes not smoothed by studio gloss. Impeccable fingerstyle guitar that sounds truly real. It resembles an acoustic imprint of human presence.
The album moves in waves – from melancholic numbness to timid and confident light. Every disappointment Zoe balances with self-forgiveness. “Nudge” is a track where fatigue transforms into a request for human contact. “I Don’t Want To Be Lonely Anymore” is touching and honest. In it, the singer says what is usually avoided. “Easy To Learn” is a surprisingly soothing song. And the track “I Know It Happened But I Can’t Explain” is a sentimental canvas woven from fragile memories. My personal favorites became the incredibly tender song about adult friendship “Friend like That” and “Yeah I Know” – a hypnotic, pulse-slowing piece. It seems to slow down time and return that very feeling of hope that is so lacking in one’s thirties.
In the final third of the album, especially in the track “Human,” the record finally opens toward warmth.
Zoe Konez admits: ““Everything’s Fine” came from realising that the life I’d built wasn’t actually the one I wanted. It became a way of working through that confusion, and slowly figuring out how to build something that felt more truthful.” And having listened to the album I cannot but agree with her. However, from myself I will add, Zoe Konez does something more important – she shares with the listener their anxious in-between state. And while the final chord sounds, it seems that everything really will be fine.
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