When I first listened to Chloe Star’s music, I was immediately transported back to the peak of early 2000s DIY alternative rock pop era. As I listened to these songs, I could see so clearly the TV/film type montages of those times in my mind. This isn’t just nostalgia bringing the feeling that it does, the artist delivers a sound that is undeniably fresh and undeniably hers. Her music is made for the stage and I'm sure that Chloe Star will become a firm live and festival favourite in the coming years.

While I've just finished my day job, Chloe is starting her day over in California. Over the short time talking to artist, she radiates a peaceful confidence throughout – someone who is very in tune with herself. This combined with both the timeless yet current sounds and stories, and the intentional production choices is what makes the artist's music engrossing. Chloe Star’s music bridges together fierce high-octane dynamic sounds, juxtaposed with delicate unfiltered thoughts about her relationships, identity and more.

We chatted the day before the release of her 7th single this year, ‘Games’. The song captures Chloe’s pull towards “the thrill of not knowing how something will end, even when I know it could destroy me”. Chasing adrenaline, ‘Games’ is about following the chaos, and whatever version of yourself is waiting on the other side. We chatted about the song's creative process, how her Persian and Native American identity impacts her art, music as a healer as well as mentions of Schitt's Creek and U-Hauling.

Interview by A. Hazarika

Photo by Lucienne

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You’re next single ‘Games’ drops tomorrow, how are you feeling?
I’m excited! I’m really excited for this song to be out. It’s one of those songs where it’s been almost a year now...It’s been through the process of production and this and that. You know, you listen to song so many times that you forget no one else has heard it. That’s where I’m at with it right now, so I’m excited to put it out into the world.

Tell us a little bit about the story and the creation?
I wrote it in New York with this amazing producer called Alan Markley. I wrote and recorded it out there with a full live band, so every instrument that you hear on there is a live instrument. It was a really fun process being able to work with such talented musicians and tell them "Do this" and they’d just fix it on the spot. It was a really cool process.

The song itself is really just about being free and not caring what anyone thinks. Doing things my way and living in the [mindset of]: "I’m good at games, and you can come play some games with me if you want. We can see what happens and go from there. Not take life so seriously and do whatever we want to do."

Nice! So you’ve told us a bit about the process. Compared to the other songs you’ve released this year, as you’ve said it’s a lot more fun, it’s playful. There’s this smug confidence, there are these great instrumental breaks. Was the creative process different from the other tracks?
Not that different. I guess with this song we had a few different versions. This song had a full chorus, where I’m singing. Something about the chorus wasn’t hitting the way that I wanted it to, and I told the producers "Let’s just take it out". Let’s completely take out the chorus and have it be this instrumental moment, where it feels powerful, you know? A big head bang. It felt stronger without there being any lyrics or anything, and I would say that’s about it. Doing a drastic change like taking out a chorus feels like a really big deal to me, because the chorus is so important to a song.

I’ve had 2 different processes. One working in New York and then some songs I’ve put out already I wrote in Nashville. That was more very one on one, me with one other producer. We just sat in a room and cooked together, there wasn’t really any live band recording – which is also really fun too. I love both ways.

I think taking that chorus out and having it this big moment, I felt it actually really leaned into the song. Because there is this confidence behind it and as you say you’re playing games and it’s kind of this ‘I don’t need to explain myself’ vibe.
Exactly!

Do you have any favourite moment or line from the song?
I think there’s a really funny part in the second verse. It’s like "I’m a staaar" and then a chant "Chloe Star!", I think it’s so silly and so funny. It brings light to the whole thing because I’m lowkey making fun of myself, and being like ‘look at me haha’.

My favourite section is the second verse, because I think it’s so visual as well. Every time I hear it or play it, I feel like I’m watching a little movie in my head.

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I go on to ask if Chloe has seen Schitt's Creek. I bought this up because I just happen to be binge watching it for the first time.  For the seasoned fan, you might guess where I'm going - the line Chloe mentions instantly reminded me of Alexis during the episode with her audition for the town's Cabaret musical show, and the delivery of the line "I'm a Hollywood star". Which I did proceed to imitate on the call, just that line though. Much like 'Games' the line is in equal parts funny but confident. "That's 100% the vibe. Also haven’t seen Schitt’s Creek in years, but I used to be obsessed with that show.". 

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Photo by Tallulah Alice Photography

I believe you’ve now played this song a couple of times live, like at your London headline. How did that go, how was the experience?
I was very nervous, because it’s the first time playing a song I hadn’t played before and you always want it to be. You imagine it to be perfect and sound exactly like the record and all this. The cool thing about this song is, the grungier and messier the song is, the better it sounds [live]. I also played live guitar on this song at the London show, that was also so much fun. Being able to hit those notes and those chords with the other band mates, it makes the song come to life even more. 

I can imagine the crowd was also bouncing with that one!
Yeah, it was a lot of fun. I wish I could redo that show again because it was such a good show.

Hopefully you’ll be back here soon enough.

You’ve been releasing a song every month [this year]. If I remember correctly the vibe was, when you picked what song to release each month it was a ‘What would I [Chloe] want to listen to at this point’. Why July for ‘Games’?
One, it’s my birthday month. I think it falls into place with who I am, I really relate to that song. Not just lyrically, even musically. I just love where it’s at musically.

And you know, July is Summer, it's party vibes, people are just trying to live their best lives and do whatever they wanna do. I just felt like it aligned.

We’re going to talk more broadly musically. All of these songs that you’ve released this year, they are very very high energy. However, the lyrics, whether it’s fun or more serious, they are actually very introspective. What’s the most recent thing you’ve learned about yourself through creating these tracks?
I’ve done a lot of energy releasing throughout the process of writing the songs, releasing the songs. Also having people reach out to me and say that they relate, or that they’ve been through a similar situation – I always say this, it literally makes me feel less alone. It makes me feel heard and understood and it makes me feel less crazy. I guess that form of connecting with other people is really important to me. 

I learned resilience through this whole process as well. Overcoming these bad relationships or experiences and being able to talk about them.
 
That leads nicely onto the next question. You’ve spoken quite openly about your struggles, whether it be identity related or your experience with rehab. What would be your advice to artists who are trying to find their own voice, but going through similar?
Definitely talk about it. Talk about it. Write about it.

Just start having those conversations, being open with people. The thing is, when you’re in such a dark muddled, mudded mind set - I don’t even know if that’s a word, I think I made that up ‘mudded’ – you lose sight on a whole bunch of stuff. You forget that there are also other people struggling with the same thing, even if you are talking about it you can be helping other people. I feel like how people heal is by sharing their experiences and connecting with people in that way. 

Sing about it. Write about it. Talk about it.

I can really feel through all your songs that you’re really putting a piece of yourself in and that specific experience into whichever the topic may be. 
Yeah, that’s the goal!

Asian Tones works with a lot of Asian heritage artists. You’re Persian and you’re Native American, for both cultures storytelling and music are so significant. To you, how does your identity impact your art?
It’s everything. These [are] two completely different cultures – I love talking about this because, my Dad is Persian, comes from Iran, comes from the just the complete opposite of what my Mom has come from. It just sometimes doesn’t make sense, but, here we are. I’m very proud and very grateful and happy, and now I get to talk about it! – They both are huge on story telling and especially on my Mom’s side I was raised with these different traditions. 

We have traditional songs and through these songs we’re telling stories about our culture, we’re educating people where we came from and how everything started. Music is a healing tool - Music helps people heal and how important frequencies are [for healing]. Because back in the day when there was no medication to help someone with something, they used everything that they had their hands on. Sometimes that was just music. Music also combined with prayer. Now I find that I live in that, when I make music it’s healing for me. My hopes is that it’s healing other people. That’s the whole purpose of why I do this, why I want to do this. It just makes sense to me.

That’s beautiful. Do you think maybe one day you’d explore incorporating the sounds and languages of your backgrounds?
Totally! I’ve definitely thought about it about for a really long time. We have our instrument which is called a rattle, which is usually made out of a gourd and you put something inside of it. It makes that kind of rainy noise. I’ve considered using that in songs, starting somewhere small.

The really cool thing about what I’ve been taught, is that some of our traditional songs should never be recorded. Because they’re meant to be remembered and they’re meant to be passed down by sharing, not “listen to this recording and learn it”, you know? 

So yes, definitely at some point. It would be kind of cool to do a Native rock song. That would be crazy.

That would be so cool! Last two quick questions to wrap up.

If you know what you’re releasing next month, can we get a little preview of what that track is about?
I’m in between 2 songs right now. There’s this one song, it’s very campfire-y. It’s prepping for Fall vibes. I’m holding on to that, thinking if I should release that in September or if I start getting that ready for August. I’m up in the air on which one is next just yet, because I’m obsessed with this song and it’s the perfect end of Summer song. It’s so fun, it’s so funny, it’s super raw. It gives demo recorded on a phone vibe.

Last question, can we end with some certified Chloe Star dating advice for those who also like to play ‘Games’?
Oh my goodness! Yes, I can give you some dating advice. Here it is. It would be: To be your most authentic self, don’t let anybody make you change who you are. Make you change your personality or have to be someone who you’re not in a relationship. Because I definitely feel like I’ve done that and I’ve lost a huge part of myself in relationships. Love authentically and love who you want to love.

Don’t U-Haul! That’s a very lesbian term, do not U-Haul. Because I have U-Hauled too many times. If you don’t know what U-Hauling is, that’s when you start dating someone and within the first...*Chloe pauses "I’m so sorry, my dog heard U-Haul and is triggered"*...The first couple of months, they move in or you move in and it’s kind of a disaster. Don’t do it!

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We sign off with the usual thank yous. I mention that I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next London show but I might be too old to be bouncing around so much. To which Star replies, "You're never too old!".

 If there is one artist I'd say to definitely listen to all the hype on, it's Chloe Star, she will be a major force to reckon with as her audience continues to rapidly grow.

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You can listen to Chloe Star's latest single, 'Games', out now.

Chloe Star is an indigenous singer, songwriter, visual artist and tribal advocate. Growing up she split her time between Los Angeles and her family’s reservation in San Bernardino. With a childhood that was chaotic and often unstable, she found solace in journaling and writing poetry. She taught herself to play piano and guitar and soon started transforming her prose into lyrics. After spending the past few years finding and cultivating her sound, Chloe is now ready to make her introduction to the world.