Special Feature: Interview with Chloe Halpin
- Mel Umbra
- May 10, 2021
- 5 min read
Hey, everyone! As I was saying in the last blog, I have met a lot of people on the way during my writing career and travels over the past eight years. I traveled to Nashville six years ago with a writing dream and a never give up attitude on my back and love it when I find someone who shares that same energy. The person I met with that same enthusiasm was Long Island, New York native, Chloe Halpin. Chloe has been living in Nashville since August 2016 and as a musician, music is her entire world, from writing, singing, and listening.
Chloe states that she has been focused on music since she was a child. “I have been writing music since I was twelve, I started playing drums when I was two, and guitar at eleven. Somewhere along the line, I realized I couldn't stop talking and the best way to get people to listen to me was putting what I was saying into song. People always listen when you're singing so I started writing songs. It became second nature and my favorite thing to do very quickly.”
Chloe says her favorite thing to discuss with other people about her passion for music is the creative process. “My answer for the creative process has developed over the years. It usually starts with a bunch of random lyrics somewhere on my phone or in my notebook, sometimes they are on the back of ticket orders from work too, but the point is it starts with a few lines, some phrases or feelings that have been stuck in my head. Then after a lot of procrastination, I finally sit down with a guitar and figure out a melody. Once I have the verse melody, I try to solidify the story of my song and what I want it to say. I make sure that the verses are strategically aligned through rhythm and syllables, and that if I write a bridge, it's not just a third verse hidden by a minor fourth or something. I always try to surprise myself so it's really just a gamble on how far I really get in the process. If I somehow make it past liking both verses and a potential bridge, I start on a hook melody. This is what kills a project for me. I have the hardest time with hook melodies and if its not perfect, I don't want it. It has to be catchy, annoying, and arrogant when it makes an entrance. It has to flow well and have an 'ah-ha' ending that makes my whole song tie together. I know this must make me sound crazy but it's truly how I get the best ones out of the worst. If my creation makes it through this long and gruesome process, that I have perfected over the past ten years, then I play it for my roommates as soon as possible and get a verdict. If they agree that its not trash, then I play it on my weekly livestream for further feedback.”
Chloe states that humor inspires her lyrics the most. “I want to make people laugh. I also write some pretty sad songs, but I've also written many petty, hysterical songs. I think it's the best of both worlds really, and I write sad songs easily so I just always go into my process with the goal of just being funny and just try to keep it positive. It doesn't always work but it's the thought that counts, right?” When asked about her music's genre, Chloe feels that it doesn't exist due to loving many different music styles. “I listen to indie, rock, country, pop, etc. So it's really just whatever mood I am in that day and that's the genre my song will end up being.”
When asked about starting up her music career, Chloe says she still considers herself beginning this journey. “I don't know when I will feel complete and at level, but I hope I keep trying to climb for the better for as long as I can.” The biggest hardship of her career had to be leaving her home in New York. “I've always wanted to live in Nashville, Tennessee since I was a little kid. I've wanted to move here and never look back since middle school. I'm not going to lie, I never expected to miss New York this much almost five years later. My family has done everything to support me and I can't thank them enough for it, but leaving home and missing them is my biggest difficulty for sure.”
As artists, we all have those inspiring people in our lives who have accomplished so much and encourage us to keep chasing our dreams, for Chloe Halpin, that person is Taylor Swift. “I want to say anybody but Taylor Swift just so people think I'm cool but fuck it, I'm going to say Taylor Swift because she is incredible and is absolutely my biggest influence in songwriting.” Family is one of the best things a person can have, and for Chloe her family has been her biggest support system. “My parents and sister have pushed and encouraged me to do my best and be me every day, it's what we do for each other. Also, I know the biggest influence beyond just music is my mother. I aspire to be as calm and as intuitive as her. I'm still young and new to this industry so any time I walk into a new setting, I think about how she would handle herself with class and confidence.” When asked about her target audience, Chloe says the target audience are really angry women who drive their cars too fast. Chloe also has some very important individuals she would like to thank. “I would like to thank my professors and teachers who went out of their way to encourage and support me beyond just the classroom, but in life too.” As for advice for upcoming artists, Chloe believes in one thing. “I'm still taking every piece I can. Never stop learning, that would be my advice.”
With one final question, I had to play around and ask Chloe where she would go if she could go back in time. “I would go back to 2015 and see the 1989 Tour live before Taylor Swift disappeared for a year. I think that would be really cool.” To give Chloe a listen and show support, the links to her work are as follows.
I really appreciated my time getting to know Chloe Halpin and I am very excited to listen to more of her music. Next special features will include my friends in Sweet Cambodia and a cosmetologist who is like a sister to me. I hope you all enjoyed this new feature and are looking forward to seeing more posts. Happy Reading!
-Melanie Lane Fontaine
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