CHLOE STAR – A GNARLY INTERVIEW WITH A BRASSY TALENT

LA singer/songwriter Chloe Star is an amazing powerhouse. She just released the second in a trilogy of singles entitled “Found My Peace”. It’s the follow-up her prior track, “Fool”. Both songs are accompanied by cinematic music videos that will eventually comprised a short film. Her previous single “Straight Girls” became a fan favorite garnishing over 64k YouTube views and 17k streams. The singles were recorded with Grammy nominated producer Kevin Thrasher (Jelly Roll, Gwen Stefani).

Star‘s sound is forceful and original. Her voice carries a wicked harmonic vibrancy combined with a brazen intensity. Chloe‘s lyrics are edgy with a crushing realism that totally resonates with her followers. She easily floats between hip-hop, pop and punk sensibilities in order to create something boldly dynamic. Born of Indigenous/Persian parents, Star uses her background as a sonic foundation to deliver her poignant insights of today’s complicated world. Chloe is an artistic avalanche.

Chloe Star was kind enough to sit with AMP for this gnarly interview.

AMP: Can you give our readers a little background of your musical career?

CHLOE: This project I’m currently working on is new. It’s been about a year and a half in the making. Before that, I worked projects with several writers, artists and producers. I began journaling at a very early age It went from writing poetry to songwriting. I then wanted to learn the guitar and piano in order to mesh my poetry to music. My high school was very artsy and I hung out with a lot of creatives. We started playing music all the time. I was constantly writing.

It became my therapy. I don’t know where I would be without it. I tried to quit but I always came to the realization that I would probably die without my music. That’s kind of extreme but it is basically the truth. This new project is totally my authentic self. It feels like all the hard work, late sessions and all the shit I’ve gone through is finally letting me find my true identity.

AMP: Your music harbors elements of varied genres such as rap, pop and punk. How would you describe your sound?

CHLOE: It definitely has a bunch of different vibes. My current project has more of a pop/punk feel. My manager actually told me that I sound like if Billy Eilish and Alanis Morissette had a baby. I feel that actually lines up with my sound. They’re both huge inspirations and musical icons. That’s where I’m looking to go.

AMP: What is it about music that makes you so passionate?

CHLOE: A few things. First of all, all the different sounds and frequencies just do something to my body. I can tell by how my body reacts if I will be listening to a song for an entire week straight. I’m not listening to anything else because it’s soothing to my soul. To me, music has this positive body reaction. It brings me peace and calm. In addition to love and understanding. Also, I love that artists get to share their stories and you get to relate to people. That connection is so beautiful. As artists, we get to convey a message. That’s how you build a bond with your listeners. I think that is just fucking rad.

AMP: Can You give us a peek into your songwriting process?

CHLOE: It varies. I’ve been working with this producer, Kevin Thrasher, who is just phenomenal and legendary. He’s a true mentor. We usually start with laying down some melodies. That is honestly my favorite part. At the beginning, I just sing gibberish into the mic. Nothing is making sense but the melody is coming through. Once we go through all the different melodies, we start laying down verses, choruses and bridges. From there we are off to the races.

In truth, I have endless song concepts. I’m writing them down all the time. When we are in the studio, it amazes me what comes out. The process just feels so freeing. It’s organic in nature and really expresses what I’m going through at the moment.

AMP: Who were some of your early inspirations and who do you admire in today’s music scene?

CHLOE: I’m a huge Amy Winehouse fan. She is a huge inspiration. Also, I listened to a lot of Guns N’ Roses because of my dad. He really ingrained that hard rock sound in me. Others include Janis Joplin and Third Eye Blind. As to today, there is this guy who I’ve been listening to that is so good. I believe he’s French and I don’t really know what he is saying but I’m obsessed. His name is Stromae. And his sound is like sex to my ears. Billie Eilish is another modern day hero but my inspirations are constantly evolving.

AMP: Does your diverse cultural background play a part in your musical universe?

CHLOE: Definitely! My mom’s side is Native American and my dad is Persian. A very strange mix. I was raised between LA with my dad and my mom’s reservation. Because of my mother, I have all these Native American traditions. One of them is Birdsinging or Bird Songs. My family sings with rattles in our Serrano language. It all about storytelling. We have songs for different specific occasions such as gathering and for funerals. There is very deep emotions in each song.

That’s something I hold tight in my own songwriting. I don’t want to make music for the hell of it. It has to have meaning. I want to tell a story and have it resonate with my listeners. I want all of us to have a special experience. That is how i was raised. The message is always important.

AMP: What prompted you to write “Fool” and “Found My Peace”? They both seem so emotionally personal.

CHLOE: “Fool” is just about feeling like an idiot. In relationships, I’ve made such bad decisions and been played in such foolish ways. It’s about a toxic relationship that is just push and pull. Like fire versus fire. Being stuck and not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. These decisions weren’t with my true authentic self. It kind of segues into “Found My Peace” which references getting out of that destructive entanglement. Then finally realizing that you don’t need someone else to control your happiness. I don’t need someone else dictating my self esteem. Find peace inside yourself in order to breathe and spread your wings.

AMP: Going back to your singles, why do you feel “Straight Girls” resonated so strongly with your listeners?

CHLOE: I think a good portion of my audience is in the LGBTQ world and are able to relate to my experiences. It goes back to the heartbreaks I’ve had with my bisexual relationships. It’s just a relatable topic for people in the Queer community. People get it and that’s what I got from the feedback I received.

AMP: If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Chloe: It’s hard to pick one. First there would be Amy Winehouse because I’m enthralled by her sound and rasp. Another one from the past would be Janis Joplin. If I could meet that woman, I would be happy to die tomorrow. I feel that there is nobody out there who has as free of a soul as Joplin. She was truly one with the universe and understood the real meaning of life. Joplin did that through her music and her actions. I love that she didn’t give a fuck.

As to a current artist, Post Malone would be a trip to work with because the man is simply an icon. He’s a master of mixing the right blend of rap, pop, country and rock. Malone is simply a fucking rockstar.

AMP: Where do you see yourself five years down the line?

CHLOE: I see myself doing so many different things. A world headlining tour. Ton of creating actual art because that’s another passion of mine. Collaborating with other artists. Also, dabbling in acting. I hope to drop an album a year. So that makes five full lengths. It’s all so possible.

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