Chloé Caroline – Messy

By starrymag | July 21, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I call it a “New Southern California Sound.” It’s got elements of old school 60/70s and even late 90s twisted in with 2019. Little bit organic, little bit funky and a lotta bit fresh that (hopefully) makes you go “why does this feel familiar.” [laughs]

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) Stevie Nicks, Carole King, Michelle Branch, Avril [Lavigne], the Bee Jee’s, Prince, Gavin DeGraw, Shania Twain…just to name a few

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Messy.”

 

A) I wanted to write a song that was really candid in the content yet felt like it had some feel-good energy. As an artist I feel like it’s my duty to put out music with a message and if it can be “real” but have a positive effect on somebody then why not. “Messy” follows two different stories with two different characters, one addressing social media comparison and on the opioid epidemic. Both issues are extremely important and of varying weights—but are used to remind everyone that no matter who you are, life is messy in some form and that’s ok. If you’re reading this, you are alive to tell your story and that’s important.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) The honesty, honestly. 😉

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) I wanted to show the contrast between two sides of me. One was completely casual working at a car wash and the other in a kinda sexy woman’s suit playing the electric guitar. Both end up letting loose, kinda making light out of life. And the VHS tape idea kinda throws reference to my old school influences and also hits at what the “inside look” at someone’s life is before there was an iPhone to just post the highlights. A video camera in the past caught everything.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

 

A) It varies. When I write alone, often times the lyrics and melody flow out at the same time. I start mumbling a melody and throw in random words and sometimes they stick. Other times, if I don’t have both, I’ll come in to a co-write with just a melody or just a lyric and will frame it from there. I’d say I’m definitely both a melody and a lyrical person and a stickler until I feel like they’re right. I also do love having someone in the room, sometimes it’s the producer, who is way better at guitar or keys than I am because it lets me just get lost in my ideas and doesn’t limit me to what I know instrumentally.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music? 

 

A) The last two years I have gotten really into being part of building the song from the ground up with the producer or track writer. When making my record, I wanted the sound to be intentional and intentionally authentic to me. So, I sat there through every stage from tracking to overdub ideas, tuning, comping and just soaked it in. Now when I write with a producer, I’m all hands in especially now that my sound is more pop. I love throwing out weird melodies or ideas to put sounds/track parts to. I love being able to be like, “Hey let’s not do snaps exactly like this girls song, let’s try _____.” I think it’s the only way to make your sound yours and original.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Chloe Caroline performance?

 

A) Lots of storytelling behind the songs, and lots of vibe.

 

Q) Will there be a full EP or album coming in the near future?

 

A) YES. Very near.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

 

A) I love the Bluebird in Nashville because it’s iconic and super intimate. I also love The Listening Room in Nash for the same reason. I just played a really cool theater while opening for Lee Dewyze on a mini tour (in Franklin, TN), which was great too, called The Mockingbird. So cool. In LA, Hotel Café and Saint Rocke. All these venues allow you to be extremely personal with the audience and that works really well with me.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) From the past, Stevie Nicks. From today, right now it’s Shawn Mendes because I really think he’s doing a great job at keeping his music commercial but having it have some legs. It’s got a similar organic twist that my stuff has.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) King Princess. Her music is really cool because it’s pop but she steps out of the box and I like that.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) It’s 100% necessary. As much harm as social media can do, it all depends what you choose to do with it. I still personally chat with fans I met on socials years ago and it’s because of a real interaction. I don’t always post the “coolest” stuff or posts I know would gather lots of likes, but I want fans who can relate to being human and stick around in the long run because they like “me” for me. And if I can’t meet every single person in real life and let my music speak for itself, my social media needs to represent who I am enough to where I can still connect with these people.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) Thank you for sticking along for the ride. I promise to give you the best of me always.