Remember her name, as I predict great things for this outspoken Glasgow girl for 2016! KLOE (real name Chloe Latimer) might only be 19 but with clear influences from The Weeknd, honestly written tracks and plays by the legend and guru that is Zane Lowe it’s clear she’s tipped for the big time! See my interview with her below to find out some more facts on this singing sensation…
How would you describe your sound? And how did you go about finding this sound?
Maybe pop/electronic/Rnb. I guess I became obsessed with The Weeknd when I started writing as KLOE – so that really influenced the sound and my writing style. I was listening to a lot of The 1975’s early stuff which influenced the conversational writing. I think along the release line you’ll see more of that. The album is so honest – maybe too honest… I want it to be complete social commentary of my life.
What or who influences your writing? And do you have a main source of inspiration?
I love Lana del Rey because I feel like she nails the whole aesthetic of her writing style which coincides perfectly with who she is as an artist. I’ve always loved pop music so I feel like any good pop song is inspiring to me. I love people like The Weeknd who just do not give a fuck about what they say – in the best way. I think just anyone who is authentic and doesn’t conform to anyone’s ideas or expectations.
Your SoundCloud says you “sing your secrets.” Do you feel music allows you to say things you wouldn’t ordinarily say?
Yeah it totally did at the start, with Grip especially. Then I just turned into whatever persona I’d thought up for KLOE – in my personal life. I found it really hard to turn it off – I’m an absolute idiot sometimes. I say things that get me in a lot of trouble. I think it might be a nervous thing… but it’s fine. Some people find it funny – some don’t. I’m just being myself. I definitely take it too far sometimes with my lyrics – I’ve been getting a lot of people, recently, saying “are you sure you want to say that?”. I’m probably gonna have to flee the country when my album comes out.
My favourite track is GRIP – there are some quite explicit lyrics in this song for an eighteen year old… Would you say you are older than your years musically and otherwise? And what or who is this song about?
Awww thanks! At the time I thought I was so badass releasing it. I felt like such a bitch!!! I don’t know if I feel older than my years musically but I definitely feel like I’m 19 going on 30 personally. I think I have it all figured out most of the time – when in reality I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m doing – musically or in life in general. Grip was the turning point in terms of me figuring out that I’m an open book as a person as well as a writer. So I guess I don’t have any secrets – and I’m okay with that. It’s the one song that when I’m performing it, no matter who I’m thinking about, it’s always relevant. I’ve had to hold back tears a few times singing it live. It’s about this guy who I thought I was totally in love with last year – he wanted to have sex with me and I thought it would ruin whatever we had (which was nothing). So I didn’t (lol). That’s the basis of the song but it was so much more than that. But there’s been this other guy recently and the lyrics TOTALLY apply to him as well. Which is awkward.
How do you feel about some of the pressures put on young girls in the music industry and how do you approach it?
Before I really got in to all of this it never really bothered me. Now I’ve started writing my album and there’s just this crippling anxiety that doesn’t go away. I’ve no idea what it is. I definitely feel pressure to look good… which I didn’t really feel before. I did a music video – which was SO weird to watch back. But I know I’m not “perfect” or your stereotypical pop star. And I think I’m okay with that. I think I just feel pressure to be great; to not be another sad story. You just have to believe that you’re supposed to be here, doing this – and that you’re not just lucky. It’s also important for girls to stick together in this industry. We all go through the same things and we’re all equals. I met Grace Mitchell, this incredibly talented American girl, the other night and we were having a conversation about this. She was fucking amazing so it’s cool when you meet like minded girls who go through the same things you do. I’m just going to try keep a level head and not get caught up in the bullshit. Because there is a lot of fucking bullshit.
You seem like a confident girl, do you ever get nervous? And if so, how do you deal with your nerves?
I mean, I can turn it on. I have a pretty “no-fucks-given” attitude and I am fairly confident, but not all of the time. Not at the best of times. I get SO nervous! Before shows especially!! I feel like I could throw up most of the time. Before I play a show I’ll have a shot of whiskey (maybe 2) and that usually sorts me out – haha (soz manager). But as soon as I’m on stage I’m fine. I don’t know if you can deal with nerves… I think you just wing it and hope for the best! Or you get drunk – like me.
Describe in one word the effect you want your music to have on people?
If I could, in any way, make a young girl feel better about being an absolute idiot, “slut”, hopeless romantic, loner – whatever!! Then I’ll die happy. I grew up not really having anyone like that to listen to. I think my album is just gonna document what it’s been like for me growing up. Nothing will be sugar coated. I’m leaving in all the gory details. I think my album will be one long hormonal rant. I mean now we’ve got girls like Halsey – which is awesome. I am nothing like Halsey, though. Although I do wish I had someone like her to listen to when I was 15. I just love the recent surge of girls making fucking amazing, smart pop music. I think my album will be very British and very true to my roots – growing up in a working class family in Glasgow.
What has been the most exciting moment of your career and life so far?
Honestly I think Zane Lowe playing Grip on Radio 1 is still the stand out. Just hearing him say my name was INSANE. Meeting Paolo Nutini at the Scottish Music Awards as well ‘cause I literally idolised him growing up – and he was AMAZING. He was really drunk and so was I, so you can imagine. Loads of little things – like just working with and knowing Lewis Gardiner from Prides, who has totally shaped the sound of KLOE and has become one of my really good friends. The night we finished my EP is a stand out because we drank half a bottle of whiskey then went to see McBusted. The last special moment I can think of is when I wrote the most important song I’ve written to date. It felt really special. It’s next single and I love it so much.
What song of yours is your favourite and why?
The next single. It just says everything I want it to say and I feel like it is so important in terms of showing what’s to come for me, sonically and lyrically. I think it’ll surprise people. It’s really different from the other stuff – but still KLOE. It’s definitely an introduction to the more blatantly honest stuff and a step up.
What would be the song to soundtrack your life so far ?(other artists or yours)
Oh god… A song of mine called Liability. Because BASICALLY – me summed up in one word = liability. It might be on the album… It’s just about me being an absolute idiot. It’s really funny.
What mantra do you live by?
YOU’RE A LONG TIME DEAD