Q&A: Chloe Star Embraces Vulnerability in Emotional Ballad “STAND THE SILENCE”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY KIMBERLY KAPELA ☆
Photography Credit: Danielle Reuthe
RISING ALT-POP SENSATION – Chloe Star is stepping into new emotional territory with her latest single, “STAND THE SILENCE.” A stark departure from the raw, rock-infused sound of her debut EP the bed i lie in, Star’s new release showcases a more delicate and introspective side of her artistry. Written and recorded at Cloud X Studio in London, “STAND THE SILENCE” takes listeners on an evocative journey through the emotional peaks and valleys of a musician’s life.
The track explores the contrasting extremes Star has experienced, balancing the electrifying thrill of being on stage with the stark stillness that follows when the crowds have gone. Her heartfelt lyrics capture this tension, painting a vivid portrait of the vulnerability and loneliness that often accompany artistic success. Set to a haunting melody that pulls at the listener's heartstrings, Star bares her soul, offering an intimate glimpse into her struggles with the silence that lingers when the noise fades.
“'STAND THE SILENCE' is about the loneliness that sets in when the rush and energy of everything subsides, and you’re left alone with your thoughts and demons,” Star says.
With this single, Star invites listeners into a more vulnerable space, displaying a striking contrast to the grit and edge of the bed i lie in. While her earlier work thrived on explosive rock energy, “STAND THE SILENCE” leans into a softer, more reflective sound, offering a beautiful new layer to Star’s evolving musical narrative. It’s a testament to her ability to blend genres and emotions seamlessly, pushing the boundaries of alt-pop while staying true to the core of her artistic identity.
Photography Credit: Danielle Reuthe
LUNA: Thank you for talking to Luna. It’s super exciting to get to talk to you again since we last talked about your single “Happy Place.” I would love to catch up and see how life has been treating you and what have you been up to since the last time we talked, especially with your debut EP the bed i lie in.
CHLOE: Life has been lifeing. I've just done tons of shows. I did a mini pride tour. I have been working on some new music out in London, also going back out there in December to work on an album which hopefully will be coming out in the beginning of next year, and just been releasing music as well.
LUNA: What inspires you to push boundaries within your sound? Are there any specific experiences, artists, or moments that have encouraged you to explore new musical territories?
CHLOE: I would definitely say that the EP was a very experimental process, especially musically, because I do feel like I really wanted to tap into a different sound with that EP and get real weird with it. Deftones was what really inspired that project. But experience-wise, I would say it was a lot of heartbreak and going through the motions of getting out of some sort of toxic relationship and having the heavy drums and the heavy guitars being the foundation of the whole EP. Deftones was very inspiring for that project.
LUNA: Were there any specific breakthroughs or lessons you learned while creating the bed i lie in that have carried over to your future releases and projects?
CHLOE: Allowing myself to get uncomfortable. I feel like with that EP, I wasn't so concerned about what would a listener like to hear? I just put my authentic self into it, rather than thinking if someone is going to like it. Someone is going to like it and someone is going to want to listen to this. It was just more allowing myself to be vulnerable in a very punk rock way, and it just came out the way that it did.
LUNA: In what ways has your sound evolved since the bed i lie in? Are there new directions or elements you’re exploring in your current work?
CHLOE: Absolutely, my sound has definitely evolved since the EP. I think it is still evolving right now. I'm very inspired by Lola Young and that’s a very different sound from the EP, and I feel like it's going to continue to evolve. This album that I'll be working on, I do love and appreciate live guitar and live drums, especially when it comes to the recording process, so I do want to keep implementing that into the project.
LUNA: You just released your latest single “STAND THE SILENCE” and a huge congratulations is in order! What is the inspiration behind the single?
CHLOE: First off, I'm really excited for that one to come out. I do feel like it's very vulnerable. It's my first vulnerable ballad that I've ever done or put out. I am also feeling a little nervous about it. The inspiration around it was that recently this past year, I feel like I've been doing a lot of traveling. I've been playing a lot of shows and meeting a lot of people and spending a lot of time around a lot of people. Something that I've noticed within myself is when I get home, I've been struggling just to be in silence. I've been struggling having such an extreme shift of being around so much noise and then coming back to nothing and then literally not knowing what to do with myself. I feel like the way that I lyrically put it into the song, it just hits home.
LUNA: Can you walk us through the creative process for “STAND THE SILENCE?” How did the song evolve from the initial idea to the final version?
CHLOE: That day was the last day of the writing camp that I did in London, and I felt like I really wanted to do a ballad-based song where it wasn't such an aggressive or upbeat song. I was also very in my feels that day, because I knew that I was getting ready to go home and then I was going to have to come home and be in this different mindset. When I got home, I was talking to the other writers and the producers that were in the room, saying I wanted to challenge myself and also tackle a song like this. I feel like that day, it just really flowed. Everything played out the way that it was meant to. We started with one of the writers playing the guitar, and then we all started laying out some melodies out loud, and everything just fell right into place. The writing on it is something that I personally feel very proud of, because I feel like it’s exactly what I wanted to say.
LUNA: You’ve described the song as capturing the contrast between the exhilarating highs of performing and the quiet loneliness that follows. How do you personally cope with that emotional rollercoaster?
CHLOE: I allow myself a day or two to readjust and get back into a normal routine. I also create. I make sure that I continue making some music, whether it's actually music or it's art. I catch up with friends, family, really keeping myself busy and allowing myself to acknowledge the feelings, but also not get stuck in them.
Photography Credit: Danielle Reuthe
LUNA: Touring and performing bring so much energy and adrenaline. What are some of your favorite ways to prepare for a big performance and tour? Do you have any rituals or routines that you do to help ease nerves?
CHLOE: Meditation, lots of meditation. I do a lot of breathing exercises and if I'm about to leave town, I'll sit outside in the sun. This is something that I've been doing before flights. If I know that I'm going to be gone for a little bit of time, I'll sit outside in the sun and just allow myself to feel the sun. I feel like it's my home sun. I'm just taking up all the energy from home and I'm taking it with me. I do that and definitely create some solid playlists that I know that are going to ground me.
LUNA: What do you hope listeners would take away from your vulnerability?
CHLOE: My hope is that people relate and also see that even though some of the songs that I've done in the past are very raw and punk, that I am still able to tap into my emotional side and allow myself to have that moment with an audience. My hope is that they take away seeing that I'm vulnerable and that it's okay to be vulnerable. It's okay to allow yourself to feel feelings and then move on from them.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like that you would like to share with Luna?
CHLOE: I'm feeling fucking pumped about everything that I'm up to, but the rest of the year, I have a show coming up out here in LA on the 23rd of this month, and then after that, I'm pretty much bunking down in London for two weeks right now for this album. That's pretty much it for the rest of the year. There's just one more show and then and then it's in the studio for two weeks.
