Meet Fatal Femmes at CHBP
Capitol Hill Block Party is one of Seattle’s biggest events of the year. The event brings in artists from around the world to perform in one of the U.S.’s most iconic cultural and artistic neighborhoods, Capitol Hill. With that, local acts are also invited to perform and bring their talent to the big stage. I was lucky enough to get to sit down and talk with local act Fatal Femmes and see them bring their gritty, rock-and-roll-inspired act to Barboza. Lead singer Zoey Gulotta moved to Seattle in September of ‘25 to pursue her project full time with a permanent lineup, and the Femmes have already dominated and are emerging out of the Seattle scene. With this transition, Gulotta has begun bringing Fatal Femmes to the masses, gaining support from the DIY and underground punk communities before having any songs on streaming platforms.
In our interview, Gulotta talks about how the band came to be, what fans can expect in the future, and why you should come to a Fatal Femmes show.
How did the “Fatal Femmes” come to be?
I went to school in Boston, … I had been a part of a few different bands that weren’t fully my own. [It] helped me develop my stage presence and the way that I perform. But throughout that time, I started writing a lot more songs that I thought really started defining what my sound would be. I had to start something that was my own, and I couldn’t stop performing.
When I first started the band, my lineup in Boston was all women or non-binary people that were femme presenting, except for one, who was also a guitarist with long hair. Our logo is barbed wire roses which showcases “Fatal Femme” imagery, and also represents the merge of poetry with rock & roll. It’s a tattoo I got on myself to represent my love and dedication to it, and now makes our branding even more personal to me. Even though not everyone in the band identifies as women, everyone here are very feminine as people. The point is that everyone is a “Fatal Femme,” and what that means is you can overcome anything and turn it into something beautiful.
What should people expect from the band in the future?
We worked on four music videos that will be released with our debut album. So far, we’ve recorded half of it, and we’re going back to the studio at the end of October to record the other half.
How are you guys feeling to play Capitol Hill Block Party?
The band gave numerous answers, but a resounding plea of excitement, anticipation, and a calmness was present for everyone. The Femmes are excited to break out into the festival scene, but also to bring their own unique experiences and tastes to new audiences of all ages.
What should people expect from your show?
I think they should look forward to a show that feels very new and unlike others, but at the same time very classic in feeling. Says Zoey.
Start to finish, it’s one piece. Just a continuous in-your-face, with parts that are still free and atmospheric. Says Jameson (Drummer).
People coming to the show should expect to dance the whole time. We have a very energetic set, and we like a lot of audience interaction. It’s a really good time, and we really pay attention to the details of our set. So it’s definitely an experience. Says Cassius (Bass).
Fatal Femmes performed on Sunday for CHBP at Barboza. The venue slowly filled with eager music enjoyers, waiting to hear the Femmes go on. Once the crew had appeared on stage, it felt like the whole audience was captivated. Femmes’ performance is instantaneously magnetic. From the moment the first note was played, the audience had already moved closer to the stage to catch the action. Zoey writes about the childhood trauma and abuse she experienced growing up in New York with rotating mother figures, a narcissistic, angry, and neglectful father, and learning how to fend for herself at too young an age. She expresses looking for love, sometimes in the wrong places, the uncomfortable feelings we don’t always want to face, as well as the glory that comes with finding good love.
Zoey writes about existential angst: financial struggle, rebelling against authority, and a society that has been conditioned to be isolated and cold. She communicates so personally yet universally that anyone can listen and apply it to themselves. Zoey’s energy on stage is non-stop. She is constantly switching instruments, dancing with band members, and going out into the crowd to part them for a mosh pit. The songs range, with inspirations taken from classic rock and roll, first-wave punk, spoken word and beat poetry, and hints of heavier sounds you might get at a hardcore show. The performance feels so cohesive, however. The band is trusting in each other, and you can feel it. Zoey makes sure to highlight everyone’s parts while on stage in a way that makes everyone feel so crucial to each moment. I couldn’t help but headbang while I was taking photos for most of the songs as they are so easy to get into rhythm with. After the show, so many people in the crowd instantly cheered for an encore. After each show, I leave wanting more of the Femmes.
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