Brooklyn-based artist Chloe Lilac has been around music ever since she can remember. From using GarageBand, watching and creating videos on YouTube, joining band classes at school and busking in Manhattan, Chloe threw herself into her passion from the very beginning. Her love for music has allowed her to take precise and private emotions and transform her experiences into a powerful presence documenting the turbulent process of growing up and being herself. Chloe began officially releasing songs in 2017 with her first-ever release, “Reckless,” breaking the Top 5 on the U.S. Spotify Viral Chart. Since then she has released her debut EP Manic Pixie Dream in 2019, amassed over 20 million Spotify streams and toured with Charlotte Lawrence, Sasha Sloan, and Rejjie Snow amongst others. Released this September, Chloe’s brand new single, “10 Things” is the first track out from her upcoming new mixtape dropping later this year and documents the breakdown of a friendship. “There aren’t enough friend breakup songs out there, pretty much just relationship breakup songs,” she says. “I didn’t want to write another sad breakup song because I wasn’t sad, I was pissed.” Once again, Chloe’s real, relatable and honest songwriting gives her new track both an intimate and individual feel, culminating in the creation of another perfect alt-pop sound.
Q: How did you get into music and how has it led you to where you are now?
CHLOE LILAC: Music has always been my dream. My earliest memory is literally me in my crib imagining I was performing to a stadium of people. I remember when I was six I heard my first ever true pop song, Aint No Other Man by Christina Aguilara. I was like, “wow. I gotta learn how to do that!”. Then when I was in 3rd grade there were a bunch of kids at my school in this band program where they’d teach the kids how to write their own songs and learn covers. I went to one of the shows and I immediately knew I had to do it. I fell in love with writing songs, performing and singing. I didn’t know it was a career that I could actually do until I was about ten, and then it was over. I knew that was what I wanted to do forever. I made this pact with myself that I would be signed by the age of fifteen. After that, I did everything I could think of to get my music noticed. Then I found SoundCloud. SoundCloud really changed my life. Suddenly I could get my music out there, meet and collaborate with people who had the same dreams as I did. So, I just worked and worked and worked until somebody noticed. I got so lucky. Then I got to see my first ever real studio, play my first ever real show, work with real producers and songwriters, and at the age of seventeen went on my first tour. I want to say hard work and dedication got me here, and that part is very true, but in reality a lot of it is luck and people believing in me. I’m so grateful, I truly don’t know what I’d do without music.
Q: Who or what inspires your sound?
CHLOE LILAC: Some of the artists and bands that have inspired me the most are Pixies, Weezer, Childish Gambino, The Velvet Underground, Car Seat Headrest, The Moldy Peaches, Rihanna, Joan Jett, Lauryn Hill, Mac DeMarco, Green Day and Tyler, The Creator. So many more also, that’s just to name a few. In terms of movements and eras, I’ve been really inspired by the NYC music scene in the 1960’s and 2000’s-2010’s. I read this book called Meet Me In The Bathroom by Lizzie Goodman around 3 years ago. It’s all about the music scene coming out of New York (The Strokes, MGMT, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc). It honestly changed my life and my perspective on music. It also made me fall in love with New York even more after learning about all the great musicians and scenes that have emerged from this city.
Q: Could you talk a little about the significance of “10 Things” and how it came about?
CHLOE LILAC: I wrote “10 Things” around two years ago after I had a pretty gnarly falling out with a close, long term friend of mine. It really, really sucks losing a friend, let alone someone you thought you’d know forever. Feeling let down by someone you trust is the worst. Also, realizing that someone isn’t who you thought they were sucks even more. I made a pros and cons list about it and realized there were a lot more things I hated about my friendship with that person than things I liked.
Q: What can we expect from the rest of the mixtape!
CHLOE LILAC: What you can expect from the rest of the mixtape is a lot of intensity. I had a whole lotta feelings this year writing this mixtape.
Q: What would you like to see more of in the creative and music industry? Is there anything, especially as a young woman, which you would like to see changed or done differently?
CHLOE LILAC: As a young woman, especially coming up in the music industry from age fourteen and on, there’s so much that needs to change. We need a lot of reform. Most of all, we desperately need some sort of mental health resource for everyone in music. I’m talking about not only artists but tour managers, songwriters, producers, engineers, A&R’s, managers, etc. We have a massive mental health and addiction problem in this industry, and the fact that there are virtually no resources really blows my mind. Also, the amount of shit I get from men just because I’m a woman is unreal. I have so many stories, and so does every other woman who’s been doing this for a while. Because music and the music industry is so male dominated, the insane power trips that men go on are truly wild. The hierarchy and the politics are bullshit. Dismantle the current system run by old, out of touch white dudes and rebuild it with young, passionate, kind people.
Q: How, if at all, do you think New York influenced yourself growing up and the music which you create?
CHLOE LILAC: Growing up in New York but specifically Brooklyn has influenced everything about me, including my music. In my earlier projects like Manic Pixie Dream, I wrote a lot about having independence from such a young age and being exposed to so much so young. Not only that, but this city is just so full of history and art. From a young age I was going to museums and libraries. Everything about New York inspires me and I’m so proud to say I’m from here.
Q: What have you been up to recently?
CHLOE LILAC: I’ve been making a lot of new friends recently since being vaccinated! Being in a strict lockdown was really tough on my mental health. I’m a deeply social person so it’s been amazing, I’m starting to feel like myself again! I’ve also been working on a lot of visual stuff for the next era of my music which is so, so exciting!!
Q: What does it mean to you to put music out into the world and what do you hope people can take away from your songs?
CHLOE LILAC: Honestly, thinking about other people listening to my music is something I can’t think about too hard. I love it so much and I’m so grateful, don’t get me wrong, but it’s strange because I write my songs about real stuff that’s happened to me in my life. It’s really beautiful and scary and fascinating to me that, for example, someone who might not even live in the same country as me who I’ve never met, can deeply relate to something I wrote in my bedroom. It’s a really special, unique feeling that I can’t quite explain. I really just hope people feel less alone when they listen to my music. I’ve always felt so lonely, and when I listen to my favorite artists, it makes me feel understood on a different level. Like maybe I’m not as weird as I think I am. That’s all I could ask for my fans to take away from my music. That’s the dream.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self and other girls out there, what would it be?
CHLOE LILAC: If I could give one piece of advice to myself and younger girls out there, it would definitely be that you don’t owe men anything. Men and their opinions about who you are and what brings you joy are useless. Some men will always try and tear you down, no matter what you do, no matter who you are, no matter where you are. It’s not even really personal. Trying to please men who are just mad that you’re doing your thing is a waste of time and energy. So fuck what they think, do what makes you happy and dress how you want and curse and spit and be yourself. Be goofy! You are funny and smart and powerful and intelligent and interesting and you can do WHATEVER you want. Also, learn what the male gaze is and try to get as far away from it as possible. As I said, it’s useless. Just be you!
Q: What does the future of Chloe Lilac look like?
CHLOE LILAC: You’ll see 🙂
