Chloe Tsangaris Connects With Us to Reveal the Powerful Story Behind “Elephant in the Room” and Its Stunning Release
- STAFF
- Sep 18
- 8 min read
By: Staff
“Elephant in the Room” is a bold, emotional masterpiece that leaves an unforgettable, lasting impact.
Get ready to experience a raw, emotional journey through sound with the release of "Elephant in the Room" by Chloe Tsangaris, one of the most captivating artists of our time. This track, pulsing with energy, cuts through the noise with hauntingly powerful vocals, explosive guitars, and an intensity that resonates. But behind the music lies a story of transformation, growth, and a deeply personal journey that shaped this unforgettable moment.
We spoke with Chloe Tsangaris to dive deep into the creative process, the struggles, and the triumphs that brought this track to life. From the driving pop-rock sound to the unforgettable Leslie organ that adds a rich, atmospheric layer, "Elephant in the Room" stands as a testament to Chloe’s ability to channel personal pain into something universally relatable. As the song was crafted, life’s defining moments echoed through every beat, creating a track that is as emotionally charged as it is sonically bold.
In our conversation, we explore everything from Chloe’s evolving sound to how certain life-changing experiences fueled the direction of the song. With a backdrop that’s as inspiring as the music itself, recorded beneath the looming presence of Mount Ngungun, the atmosphere of this song seems almost alive, drawing listeners into its world.
So, as "Elephant in the Room" hits the airwaves, take a step into the mind of Chloe Tsangaris, and join us as we unravel the story behind the track that is already making waves.
Read on for the full conversation.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Chloe Tsangaris, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. We loved “Elephant in the Room”. The bellowing guitars were so amazing and the punchy drums perfectly framed your incredible voice. The soaring vocals and incredible emotion that was palpable poured directly out of your heart. When did you first realize the power of your voice, and what moment in your life transformed it from a personal, intimate expression to a tool for sharing your story with the world, ultimately laying the foundation for the impactful career we see today?
A. Thank you so much! I would credit my initial growth to my music teachers in high school. In year 8, our classes would do a week of different arts classes to prepare us for class selection for year 9. In the music week, one of the teachers found out I could sing and next thing I know, he’s put me on stage at the school’s annual battle of the bands concert that other students had auditioned months ago to get into and had the other music teachers play as my band. From that moment on, I realised how incredible of a tool music is to connect to people and the guidance of my teachers really did lay the foundation for where I am today.
Q. As both the songwriter and producer, you were deeply involved in shaping ‘Elephant in the Room.’ Was the creation of this track more of a challenging, meticulous process, or did it come together in a more spontaneous way? What were the key moments in the process that shaped its final form?
A. I would call it a bit of a long process with this track. The chorus for Elephant in the Room came to me at 2am in 2021 and soon after came the music. The rest of the song went through a couple of rewrites about two years after I wrote it and it finally came together this year, however the chorus and main themes stuck with me the whole way through. The inclusion of Brendan Radford on this track helped to push this track into the sound it was always destined to be.
Q. In your creative process, how do you decide whether to shift the genre or sound of a song during production, like you did with ‘Elephant in the Room’? What is it that guides those decisions?
A. When writing a song, the instrumentation and genre depend on the emotion conveyed in the track. Elephant in the Room screamed for a genre that could encapsulate the frustration and strength surrounding the betrayal of the track. A lot of my songs start out quite piano based as I write all my songs on the piano, but I can hear other instruments in my head as I write. I also am not afraid to mess around with different instruments in the studio. Sometimes something I wouldn’t have considered a few years ago just hits you in the face once you record it.
Q. The Leslie organ was a significant addition to the track, what led you to incorporate that unique instrument into this song, and what role does it play in enhancing the overall emotional tone?
A. I was adamant to record without synths on this album to enhance the rawness of the songs, but I needed something that could add to the texture of Elephant in the Room. Luckily, Glasshouse Studios has a Leslie organ, and it was an absolute joy to play. I really think it adds some grit to the song and reminds me of some of the 90s rock songs I grew up listening to.
Q. The change in sound from your previous releases to this more pop-rock vibe marks an exciting shift. How did this new direction feel to you personally? Was it intimidating or empowering to step into this new sonic space?
A. It was a very exciting shift to enter a space I personally didn’t think I was capable of doing a couple of years ago. This genre allowed me to feel more free to show strength in my emotions and to show the world that you can have confidence in that. The piano pop ballads are an integral part of showing the deeper emotions on the album but the pop rock allows for a bit of fun in and out of the studio too.
Q. You’ve said the song reflects a painful moment of personal betrayal. In crafting this song, how did you balance confronting that painful experience with the catharsis of putting it into music? What can you comfortably share with us about this experience?
A. Honestly, being able to have a space to contextualise and work through this experience balanced the harder emotional growth that inspired this track and the album at large. Being able to turn something so painful into something so beautiful is something I will forever be proud of and has guided me into the person I am today.
Q. This song has been with you for four years. How did it evolve emotionally and sonically during that time? Were there any significant life events that impacted its development?
A. This track was written at the beginning of the end of this relationship, so the emotions evolved slightly over time, recontextualising after the fall. It went from being asking about the unknown to realising just what was being hidden. However, I believe this track still holds the emotion of the time it was initially written, still daring to ask the question about the elephant in the room.
Q. Recording ‘Elephant in the Room’ under Mount Ngungun, did the location itself influence the emotional atmosphere or creative process in any way? Does the natural world around you inspire your songwriting?
A. I basically grew up on Mount Ngungun, every weekend I would be climbing up there and it became a deeply personal place for me. Being able to record under it has been a beautiful way to continually incorporate it’s importance through my music. I have been deeply involved in nature and conservation since I was about knee-high and in turn, I find I tend to often draw connections and metaphors to nature in my writing.
Q. With the development of your album as a whole, what kind of journey do you hope to take your listeners on, and how does ‘Elephant in the Room’ fit within that larger narrative?
A. I would want to take my audience on a journey of love and loss and the growth that comes from it. I hope people can find some relatability in the themes and maybe get to look back and realise their own growth. Elephant in the Room was the first song I wrote for this album and sits at the start; it’s the start of a long journey for me and sets the stage for the rest of the album to unfold and tell it’s story.
Q. You’ve mentioned this song represents a turning point in your personal life, how did that transformation also influence your artistic direction? What changes in your music do you feel are the result of this shift?
A. I found myself writing all the time, which in turn helped to establish the pop ballad sound of some of the songs on the album. However, it was after I started to find myself again that I shifted into more of a pop rock sound which reflected the growth in confidence I had gained from getting my hands into this album.
Q. The lyrical themes in ‘Elephant in the Room’ are raw and relatable. When writing about such vulnerable moments, how do you protect your own emotional well-being? Does writing help you process these emotions?
A. Writing definitely is my main avenue of emotional processing and if anything, it helped protect my wellbeing. With music, you can get all the emotions out on the page when writing lyrics and let the instruments carry the emotion that would have otherwise been bottled up or hard to explain.
Q. Given the emotional weight of the song, how did you work with Brendan Radford to ensure the guitar arrangements perfectly captured the intensity of the track? How did his input change the way you envisioned the final sound?
A. Brendan heard the original demo that only had bass and very minimal piano tracked and I told him to just feel the song and see what comes to him. From the moment he did his first take, I knew the song just came to life in front of me. I was still envisioning more of a piano sound with guitars secondary but his work on this track shifted the whole vibe of the album to a pop rock sound. Especially with the intro giving Smooth by Santana and Rob Thomas, I decided to slip more into that 90s pop rock feel.
Q. Do you feel a sense of closure with the release of this song, or is there an ongoing sense of growth and healing that continues to inform your songwriting?
A. There is definitely a sense of closure with Elephant in the Room releasing. I wrote this song four years ago and carried a lot of the weight from the changes in my personal life. This song being released now that I have evolved within myself is like allowing that moment to be acknowledged without the emotional weight of when I wrote it.
Q. Returning to the live stage in 2026 must be exciting—how do you envision performing ‘Elephant in the Room’ live, especially given the emotional and intense atmosphere of the track?
A. Oh I can’t wait to get back out there! I would love to create a performance where each member of the audience can sing with me about their own elephant in the room.
Q. You’ve mentioned that this release reflects a period of both personal and artistic growth—what have you learned about yourself as an artist during the making of this album, and how do you see your music evolving in the future?
A. I have come out of my shell as an artist during the process of this album, and I have gotten my hands into more of the production side compared to my earlier releases which has been very fun. I fully believe I have grown into the person I want to be, and I wouldn’t be at this stage without writing and producing this album.
Q. What’s the message you hope your listeners take away from ‘Elephant in the Room’? Is there something you want them to feel or realize when they hear it for the first time?
A. I would want people to know to never accept feeling as though you are somebody’s second choice or to have someone only love you in secret. Sometimes the breakdown of something that has been a part of your life forever might have had to happen to realise your strength.
Chloe Tsangaris, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Chloe Tsangaris’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
