by Mashaal Hussain
Chloe Charlotte released her debut EP ‘All Things Static’ at the end of summer, composed of four breakout tracks that took us on an emotional journey that gives Olivia Rodrigo a run for her money.
Her music stands out for its emotional honesty, vulnerability, and the way it explores love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. The emotional potency, combined with gorgeous, orchestrated production to create an experience like none other.
It is a powerful and intimate project. Her sincerity shines through her poetic lyricism, especially in the final track ‘Girls in glasshouse’ - a fan favourite for the haunting melody and raw emotional intensity.
Charlotte created an EP that feels deeply personal but also universally relatable, and with an upcoming show in Manchester on January 18th 2025, we couldn’t wait to speak to the rising-star more.
Darling: With 4 deeply personal songs your new EP, which is your new personal favourite?
Chloe: 'the way I love you' was the most fun to create, even down to shooting the visuals for it and the promotion pictures, it just felt very me. The bridge to that song is one of my favourite parts too, it embodies the kind of music I want to make more of in the future.
Darling: Similarly, which song were you the most excited for other people to experience?
Chloe: Probably my song 'Girls in glasshouses' - I posted the demo version about a year ago and so many people really connected with it. I wrote that song about my anxiety so it was a very personal one for me, which made it incredibly special to see that people resonated with it too. One of my fans even got a tattoo for the song before I announced it was coming out on the EP and it was a very fulfilling moment. I always wanted to create music people could hear themselves in.
Darling: Who are your favourite artists to be inspired by?
Chloe: I really love Phoebe Bridgers and her songwriting. Gracie Abrams and Lizzy Mcalpine are huge musical inspirations for me too. In terms of my favourite artists I would say I listen to the most consistently would be Noah Kahan, Florence and the Machine, Lana Del Rey, and Ethel Cain.
Darling: Do you draw fashion inspiration from any musicians or other celebrities whose style you admire?
Chloe: Emma Chamberlain has been a very big inspiration for me for a few years now, I love her style and how she puts things together. Clairo is another person whose style I absolutely adore!
Darling: How do you use fashion as a form of self-expression in your music?
Chloe: I definitely think fashion is a huge way to express yourself…an outfit says a lot about a person. Sometimes it’s cool to dress [or] look completely opposite to how people think you should look. It gives a sense of control over who you are instead of giving in to what others think you should be.
Darling: Do you collect any specific fashion items or have a favourite accessory?
Chloe: love vintage jewellery! I definitely fell in love recently with collecting vintage pieces rather than buying brand new ones, there’s just something about an item that’s old and has been around for years and years, ithink it makes it so much more interesting!
Darling: What is your writing process like?
Chloe: I feel like I don't really have a process, I write when I have something to say. I draw inspiration from multiple places, sometimes its from my own experiences or my feelings, sometimes its a person, their personality or the way they behave. When something inspires me enough to provoke me to write about it, that's usually when I'll write a song.
Darling: As an independent artist, how have you found breaking into the industry?
Chloe: For me, sometimes I feel almost under qualified not having a manager or a team behind me. It's harder to get certain opportunities when you're by yourself, not having any connections, and having to try and build them all yourself can be overwhelming and feel very lonely.
…But there's also a beauty in not having anyone tell you what to do. I'm very fortunate to [have] met a lot of different creatives within the industry in the last few months by reaching out and working on different projects and I think independent artists and small artists are having their moment at the minute!
Darling: What is your favourite thing about being an independent artist?
Chloe: Definitely being able to do what I want to do. I can work at my own pace, I'm on my own timeline, and I control everything.
The freedom you get being an independent artist is what I love most.
Darling: Do you plan on collaborating with other creatives in the future?
Chloe: Maybe. At the moment I'm writing a lot and I'm focused on getting as much music out as I can and growing my audience. I think if it happens, it happens; but I wouldn't say I'm actively looking for it right now.
Darling: Would you ever explore different genres?
Chloe: There's a possibility I will. At the moment I love the more indie/soft rock and acoustic folk sound that I feel I've only just touched on that I really want to explore a lot more.
I want to create more songs like my song 'empty bodies' and 'the way I love you' because they've resonated with me the most as an artist.
So, I guess in some way I am exploring a slightly different genre already, maybe more so just honing in on a specific genre. I would really love to create some more ethereal songs in the future like Lana Del Rey!
Darling: You recently headlined in Manchester, how was that experience?
Chloe: It was the most surreal experience I've had so far.
The week leading up to the show is probably the worst my anxiety has been. I couldn't sleep and I was obsessing over the show so much because I was so nervous.
On the day, I got extremely nervous right before I was about to go on stage but seeing everyone’s faces just gave me such a relief from it all. Hearing them all sing my songs back to me was crazy, I don't know what I expected but it wasn't that. It was so beautiful. There were girls crying and it made me want to cry with them. When you've dreamt something for so long and spent so many years worrying it will never be real, when it happens right in front of your eyes its such an immense feeling I don't have the words for.
I'm still processing that night and I just feel like the luckiest girl in the world to share my music with the fans I have.
Darling: What was your favourite part of playing live?
Chloe: My favourite part would have to be hearing them sing my songs with me and the moments where we screamed the words together. Its an indescribable feeling being a small artist and hearing people sing your words with you.
Its all I've ever dreamed of and being able to spend a night together, singing and having fun in each others company is beautiful.
Edited by Emily Duff
All Things Static now available on Spotify here. Book Manchester January show tickets here.