Interview with Chloe Berry
photography by @spoonuel / sam poon
Who is Chloe Berry?
Raised and based in New York city, Chloe Berry is a 21 year old half-asian indie bedroom pop musician. She has been writing songs since she was seven years old - always drawing on her feelings and imagery in her lyrics. She grew up roaming the city and exposing herself to live indie music. After performing only in her bedroom for many years, she began finally sharing her music.
With the help of her boyfriend and producer Spoonuel, Chloe began to create fully imagined songs.
Her music can be found to be lighthearted and airy despite starkly real and borderline frustrated lyrics.
With the goal of invoking a new feeling with each track, Chloe's careful songwriting and dulcet and calm singing creates a dreamy journey.
American Pancake said of her song bugs “we have all felt what berry is conveying that is what makes the track so captivating.” with many more songs to come, she continues to define her unique sound.
The interview
What was the first song you wrote?
How old were you and what meaning does it have for you now?
The first song I ever wrote (that I remember) was called “ Seventeen Dresses.” I wrote it with my friend when I was around six or seven about picking out a dress for your seventeenth birthday. It was really just us fantasizing about being teenagers. The first song I wrote that was fully fleshed out was my song “Sweeter Honey.” It has a lot of meaning to me because I was only 16 and going through a lot of emotions when I wrote it. I would fall in love so easily and just as easily get my heart broken.
It makes me remember how it felt to want to be in love for the first time.
Who are your favorite artists?
I listen to a lot of music, but my favorite artists right now are Snail Mail, Mitski (of course), and Fiona Apple.
I grew up listening to Fiona Apple and she holds a very special place in my memories and heart.
Which albums have you listened to in the past few months?
Luckily Mitski released Laurel Hell on my birthday this year and i’ve been obsessed ever since the first single dropped.
I also love Snail Mail’s new album and have been listening to that and Alex G’s old album trick.
Who is your biggest artistic influence?
I love Fiona Apple’s lyricism and that influences a lot of my writing. I learned how to be raw and channel my emotions into songs by listening to her music. She doesn’t hold back or stop when her voice cracks— it is something about her i admire deeply and try to incorporate into my own music and performance.
What message do you want to convey to your listeners with your songs?
Overall, I just want express my feelings as honestly as I can. In that, want to convey the idea that it is okay feel your emotions and not suppress them. we often forget to take time for introspection and I want want people to find a sort of solidarity in my songs— knowing that someone feels as they do too.
Who would you love to collaborate with?
I would love to collaborate with so many amazing artists, but I really do want to work on a song with my friend Wabie!
Give us some spoilers on your upcoming music.
My new songs are all about nostalgia and they lean more rock compared to my other songs. my songwriting has definitely changed a little and I think my own voice really comes through.
Describe yourself in one word.
Bittersweet.
What's your most favorite memory of being an artist?
I have a lot, but my most recent show was really amazing. I felt like i really opened up on stage and was able to overcome a lot of my stage fright.
I’ve always been an anxious person so being able to perform on stage like I do in my bedroom was refreshing. I always get to meet a lot of amazing, supportive people at live shows as well and my band and I always have a blast.
If you could go back to the day you first made music, what would you tell yourself?
I would tell myself to not overthink it!
What would you like to tell your fans?
I would like to tell my fans thank you for being my lifeline, the people who uplift me.
I always will be grateful to connect with amazing people through my music.
What's your favorite lyrics from your songs?
Probably from “not thinking right”: “consistently disappointing, think i might be malfunctioning. No fair, screw fate, this i the part that I hate.”
What does music mean to you?
Music is everything to me. It gives me purpose and drive. it has been an outlet for expression that has benefited me for as long as i’ve done it. I truly don’t know how I would’ve gotten through all the tough times in life without music.
What is your process when you have an idea for a new song?
Usually I start writing lyrics and basic chords in my notes app on my phone. I’ll make voice memos of ideas too. after I finish writing the whole song’s lyrics and chords, i work with my partner and producer spoonuel to produce a fully imagined track. I’ll send Spoonuel lots of playlists of ideas, voice memos and notes. I always get my best ideas on the train so i try to write everything down.
What's the story behind your song "not thinking right”?
“Not thinking right” is about how it’s okay to not be okay. I often times find myself depressed, anxious or angry and this song is a reminder that the moment is not forever and sometimes you are just “not thinking right.” i wanted to express that there is nothing wrong with that by showing that I, and many people, feel this way. there is not real “right” way to do a lot of things, but i think you should think in a way that uplifts you. That is why the song is kind of like two voices with the verse screaming your inner defeating thoughts and the chorus reminding you it is okay.
Thank you for the interview, Chloe Berry!
25th of January 2022
Review on Not Thinking Right
by Chloe Berry
Chloe Berry's track "Not Thinking Right" is catching song with the message to step down a bit from overthinking and lose the grip of perfectionism.
We really have to keep in mind that humans are not perfect and that there's not always only one right way.
