Words by Art Jefferson
Images Courtesy of Chlöe Howl
Chlöe Howl knows what she wants and isn’t scared to speak her truth. Raised in Berkshire, she was one of those musical prodigies who, blessed with an outstanding voice along with charisma, literally signed a major label record deal at the age of 16. By 2013, she exploded on the scene not only dropping big pop songs like ‘Rumour’ and ‘No Strings’ but also found herself nominated for a 2014 BRIT Award. The then pixie-cut beauty graced various magazines from Marie Claire to Vogue Russia. Whilst this would be a dream come true for most artists, Howl decided to part ways with Sony Music opting to take full creative control of her music and destiny.
Deciding to go independent, in 2015 Chlöe Howl released her fierce single ‘Bad Dream’. Around this time she also connected with luxury brand Fendi as a part of the launching of their Orchidea Spring/Summer ‘15 sunglasses collection.
After taking a stint of a break from the business, she returned in 2017 with the gorgeous single ‘Magnetic’ followed by the spirited ‘Do It Alone’. Her 2018 EP Work incorporated elements of R&B and future club, widening her sound palette and proving that, as a vocalist, the music world in general was her oyster.
Back in 2019, Chlöe Howl is better than ever, having recorded a mountainous version of The Weeknd’s ‘Call Out My Name’ and the Trap-peppered ‘Millionaire’. Whist musically she hasn’t missed a step, the difference this time around is that she is operating on her own terms, and that is the true meaning of freedom.
Music has always been a part of your life. You’ve stated that you were inspired by records that your father and sibling were playing. Do you remember specific artists and songs that jump-started everything for you?
Chlöe Howl – I always loved New Order and The Smiths (if only Morrissey would STFU) and that lead to me being a proper little Reading Festival kid. I loved The Strokes, and Pixies and The Cure. I read the NME religiously and my consumption of music was borderline obsessive. I wanted as much knowledge as possible and loved being at the barrier for gigs. That was the original manifestation of my love for music!
You signed a record deal literally while you were still a teenager. What was that experience like inking a deal so young?
Chlöe Howl – It was pretty crazy. I went to pick up my GCSEs and the same week signed a record deal. I had that childlike confidence though, of just believing you could achieve anything, so I took it in my stride. I maybe didn’t take it in as much as I would now and it almost feels like some dream that happened.
I remember when ‘Rumour’ first dropped. I’ve always loved the storytelling element of that song. What was the motivation behind that track?
Chlöe Howl – I wrote it whilst I was essentially still at school, and they were all real rumours that were spreading around my classrooms. Each element of the verse. I was working in London (writing songs) and had this outsiders perspective suddenly like “why are we giving each other such a hard time, when we are all really just trying to figure out who we are?” and voila: ‘Rumour’ was born.
After pumping out some great releases, you took a break. Did you feel like it was time to regroup? Also, what were some of the things that you rediscovered about yourself as an artist?
Chlöe Howl – Well I’d worked with Sony since I was 16 and then…I wasn’t anymore. I changed management…PR. Everything changed and it was a big change to navigate as a 19 year old. I’d never got to just be a teenager, I’d constantly been working and touring and being a business. I took a few months to just be my age and live a little. Fall in love. Get my heart broken. Party. Party some more. And just try not to think about music because I associated it with too much stress and drama. And then eventually, at the end of this mini self discovery journey I found myself wanting to write again, but with this new sense of self worth and refusal to compromise.
One release that I can’t get enough of is ‘Work’. I love the fact that you’ve played with a variety of sounds but there is a cohesiveness between each song. Were you conscious of that early on when you recorded ‘Work’?
Chlöe Howl – Oh definitely. I think a big lesson I learnt after my experience with Sony is that the music needs to sound cohesive. I was sent around to work with every single hot writer and producer, and so the final album sounded so disjointed and confused. I now work with one producer (Chris Zane) who knows me so well and ties a bow on every project. This was super important to me to make sure the final projects had a similar feel running through them, so sound exclusively “me”.
When you recorded a version of The Weeknd’s ‘Call Out My Name’, you proved that you are a singer’s singer! A Weeknd / Chlöe Howl collaboration would be interesting! Is there any artist specifically that you would love to work with on a record?
Chlöe Howl – Ha, I mean the Weeknd would be pretty great!? And I’d LURRRRRV to have Lizzo on a track, I adore that fucking ICON.
Your latest track ‘Millionaire’ is a fierce smash. In terms of production, who did you work with on that track and musically will your upcoming work learn in that direction?
Chlöe Howl – I wrote it with the same guy I wrote ‘Work’ with. And then Chris Zane, as usual, finished everything up for me, production wise. I think my music is constantly evolving and it’s important to keep pulling influences from different areas, so I reckon I will constantly be exploring new sounds and genres in my music. But I think I’ve found my stride, writing wise, too, so I reckon you’ll definitely continue to hear this vibe in my music.
Finally, as someone who has been in the business since a teen, what advice would you give to up-and-coming artists trying to make it in the industry?
Chlöe Howl – Know yourself. Don’t let anyone convince you that you don’t understand what you want, or that you aren’t creatively strong. Believe in your intuition and don’t be afraid to say no. People will act like they know what they’re talking about and have creative authority, and it’ll be intimidating because they have big shiny offices, and huge budgets but I swear on my LIFE it’s the blind leading the blind. If they were interested in what you created without them enough to want to start working with or for you, then your intuition is the motherfucking truth. Stick to it.
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