Bio

Raw. Lyrical. Absolutely rock and roll.

Formed at Berklee College of Music by lead singer and songwriter Zoey Gulotta, the band brings together rock and roll angst with poetic lyricism and storytelling rooted in the tradition of Patti Smith and PJ Harvey.

Since relocating to Seattle in September 2025 to pursue the project full-time with a permanent lineup, Fatal Femmes have built a sound that is equal parts confession and confrontation. 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 writes about 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. She writes about existential angst: financial struggle, rebelling against authority, and a society that has been conditioned to be isolated and cold. She writes in a way that doesn’t ask for pity, but instead tells listeners that you have the strength to overcome anything and turn it into something beautiful. 

Zoey’s vocals shift between strong, near operatic belting, raw intensity, growls, supported screams, and spoken word, while Lincoln Rasmussen’s face-melting and catchy guitar licks, Cassius Foote’s grooving and effortlessly complex bass lines, Andrew Atkison’s piercing and rich synth, and Jameson Sanborn’s energetic, creative, and perfectly rhythmic drum parts, create a sound that is urgent and alive. On the record and for special shows, they bring on Rogan Kahale, who adds a charged layer with his baritone saxophone, accentuating the music's deep tones, reminiscent to the sounds of Morphine.

For live shows, the meaning of the music is coupled with a cohesive stage presence of the band, seen in black and red, leathers and lace, and dark graphic eyeliner, creating an edgy and feminine appearance. Show-goers come in matching eyeliner as they watch the band perform their music in a way that says “We aren’t afraid to take up space”. From moshing, to head banging, to dancing, they leave with Fatal Femmes merch in hand feeling inspired and introspective. And very sweaty.

Listeners tend to compare them to: PJ Harvey, Destroy Boys, Mannequin Pussy, X-Ray Spex, Amyl and The Sniffers, and Die Spitz. 

The name “Fatal Femmes” has quickly spread across the PNW, the band beginning with local DIY shows, the first one on Halloween 2025 to playing the Museum of Pop Culture and Capitol Hill Block Party in less than a year or relocating to Seattle. By strategically putting together all femme-fronted bills and having a strong and loud presence on stage, the band is pioneering a new wave of femme-fronted rock and punk bands coming out of Seattle, Washington.

The band is in the process of recording their debut album, recorded and mixed by Ken Stringfellow of The Posies, R.E.M. and Big Star, and mastered by Howie Weinberg (whose credits include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jeff Buckley, Fiona Apple, Soundgarden, Ween). They are working with multiple film and video teams to record narrative music videos for every single to be released leading up to the album.

They have come up with creative routes to crowd-fund the project. They started with a live living room session, recorded and mixed, paired with a Go-Fund-Me page. They went on to planning an independent music festival at the Punk Rock Flea Market in the heart of Capitol Hill, Seattle. This two-day festival featured 7 hot local rock bands, art vendors, and skating, and received sponsorships from local surrounding businesses. The event sold over 250 tickets and was wildly profitable.

Both old and new, classic in rock and roll spirit but futuristic in creative sound, Fatal Femmes are a force to be reckoned with, and a band you couldn’t look away from, even if you tried.

WHAT

PEOPLE

ARE

SAYING

“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…after each show, I leave wanting more of the Femmes”

“Vocalist Zoey Gulotta sent tremors down my spine in a skillfully controlled vocal spiral for an unreleased song, ‘Sally May.’”

Zoey’s Grit City interview dives deep into Fatal Femmes history and formation, song-writing process, influences, the DIY/punk Seattle scene, and much more.