Based in L.A., singer-songwriter Chloe Tang blends R&B and pop, along with a dollop of audacity, into infectious musical concoctions listeners connect with. Her latest music video, “Hype,” displays her affinity for “singing from the truth.”
What’s so refreshing about Chloe Tang is her authentic perspective on herself, her music, and life. She admits she doesn’t have it all figured out, i.e. she’s human. She’s still discovering who she is, even though she’s well on her way to superstardom.
While growing up in Arizona, Tang was always busy writing and performing. She also attended Grammy Camp and worked on her degree in songwriting at the University of Colorado, Denver, where, in her own words, she “became a self-starter.” After graduating last year, she moved to L.A. to work on her music, resulting in ever-growing streams on Spotify and beaucoup recognition.
CelebMix spoke with Chloe Tang to find out more about her music, how she handles expectations and, generally, what makes her who she is.
How would you describe yourself?
I’m going to answer this question with a series of random facts and I’ll let you take it as you will haha! I’m lactose intolerant but love ice cream, I cry every time I watch the movie Up, I believe standing up for myself is important but I’m still trying to figure out how to do it, and my dream house would be a gothic church-looking building with lots of windows and I’d have 20 dogs. All pit bulls.
What three things can’t you live without?
My best friend/dog, Indiana, Joe Biden, Machuby Guby, Tang, dried mangoes, and the voice memos app.
Who do you most want to share the stage with?
Jack Black. That’s probably not the answer you were looking for but my favorite movie used to be School of Rock and I still want to be those kids on stage with him. Also, John Mayer. He was my OG music inspiration and I’d probably give up my first born child to look into his eyes and sing “Edge of Desire” with him.
What kind of an impact did relocating from Arizona to L.A. have on your music?
Growing up in Arizona, I did a lot of small gigs to make tips but the real change was when I moved to Denver for school. I was pursuing a songwriting degree. Not only was it a time in my life where I was figuring out life, but it was where I was able to build a community and start pursuing a career in music. I became a “self-starter” and learned how to meet people, book my own shows, release music independently, and do everything myself so that when I moved to LA, it was a natural stepping stone. The biggest impact has just been that my music has gotten a lot better because I’m able to work harder on it. There are so many inspiring people here who want to grind just as hard as I do, and it just creates a more nurturing environment to keep writing and working.
I keep reading about you on all the music outlets. How does it feel knowing everyone is predicting you’re the next “big thing?” Do the expectations get to you?
(Laughs.) Even if people do think that I don’t see my career that way. I really try to keep my goals short term and attainable and then strive for consistency. I don’t have time to be daydreaming about what I could be one day cause I’m too busy thinking about what’s right in front of me and how I can slay it, (laughs). I think expectations can be useless most of the time because things never turn out how you expect anyway. I’m just trying to get to the point where I can make music and afford the fancy cheese at the grocery store.
If you weren’t setting the world on fire with your music, what would you be doing?
I’ve thought about this a lot lately because the more I invest in my music career, the more doubt that comes with that. That being said, I’m definitely not going to give up any time soon but the options I’ve come up with are: I’d start my own dog shelter in Canada, start an after-school program for kids who want to learn about pop music or try to get into property investment while trying to find the best BBQ restaurant in the world.
What was the inspiration for “Hype?”
There was a person I knew who had this very narcissistic persona thing going on, and I don’t know if that’s who she really was, but either way, it rubbed me the wrong way cause that’s not really my style. Anyway, I wrote “Hype” about people who treat others poorly to make themselves feel superior cause they’re not worth the hype.
What motivated you to “sing from the truth?”
I went through my childhood thinking life was a certain way because of the words I heard sung in pop music and the movies I watched. I’ve been really fortunate to have a good life. I’ve had supportive parents, great friends, and I got to go to college for what I love to do. But along with that good stuff, there are a lot of struggles too. I realized a lot of pop music has cool production and it’s catchy, but sometimes I feel a disconnect because I don’t feel like I relate to it on a deeper level. I want to write stories that send a message to people that it’s normal and ok to not ALWAYS be happy. There are so many versions of feelings and experiences and I refuse to leave any out, even if it’s not perfect.
You played the Fillmore Auditorium with Dua Lipa. What was that like? Is she cool?
I did! It was the most amazing night! Dua was really sweet and gave me a big hug. She’s such an inspiration.
What is your songwriting process? Music first, or lyrics first?
Usually music first. When I’m writing by myself, I usually have a concept, then I hash it out with chords, the melody, and lyrics as I go.
What’s next for you musically?
I wish I had an answer for this. I’m going to keep releasing music independently and playing shows in LA. I hope one day I can afford some really cool visuals and I’m able to headline a tour. But for now, I’m just grinding and making my releases more purposeful.