Chloé French Releases "Angels" and Connects with Us to Dive Into the Story Behind the Track
- STAFF
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
By: Staff
Chloé French Releases "Angels" and Connects with Us to Dive Into the Story Behind the Track
Chloé French’s new track “Angels” has arrived, and it’s a sonic invitation to the unknown.
With a pulse rooted in classic disco and a voice that effortlessly blends smooth power with a French allure, this song isn’t just music, it’s an experience.
We spoke with Chloé to dive deeper into the making of this magnetic track and the world behind it. From the allure of desire to the tension of mystery, “Angels” captures a yearning that resonates through every note. But the story doesn’t end with the music. In our conversation, Chloé revealed the creative process that brought this track to life, from writing in both French and English to her collaboration with producer Alex Poeppel. As she takes us on a journey through the NY Tapes era, we uncover a space where emotions are unapologetically laid bare, free from the constraints of today’s “cool” facade.
This track marks the beginning of something much bigger, and as we spoke with Chloé, it became clear that her music is about to leave a mark. Whether it’s through her unique blend of languages or her unapologetic take on feeling, there’s much more to come. Get ready for the full experience, read on for the full interview, and discover the story behind “Angels.”
“Angels” is an electrifying masterpiece that blends irresistible disco energy with raw, undeniable emotion.
Begin Interview:
Hello Chloé French, 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’re absolutely head over heels for this song. The disco roots and high energy are incredible, and your vocals are stunning, so smooth, so powerful. Plus, your French is magnetic. Did we mention we love it? When did you first discover your voice, and what moment shifted you from singing in the mirror to recording professionally?
A. Thank you so much, it’s the first one of many in this new world for me, so that means a lot. Looking back, I was always singing since I was a kid. I always loved writing, and when I was 13, I picked up a guitar again, realizing I could write to it. I recorded my first song when I was 15, and fell in love with the studio process. It all started back home in Geneva, Switzerland. As for this project specifically – French is my first language… I spent time in Berlin, which made me more excited than I ever thought I would be about house music… And I mean, disco is disco. I love it to bits and grew up listening to music from France Gall to Donna Summer. Recently, when I decided to dive into writing in French, which I had never really tried before, those pieces just came together, and though it’s new, it feels very me.
Q. We read that “Angels” captures the feeling of wanting something so intensely it becomes its own mystery. How did that kind of emotional tension shape the writing or production of the track?
A. Those things happen a bit subconsciously, I think, but there’s definitely something ethereal about the hook melody, which to me represents this sort of force and desire sent from above, that is beyond your control. Yet, with the baseline, it stays rooted in reality, grounded, real, sensual. Altogether, it’s really the product of mine and Alex Poeppel’s (producer/writer) collaboration.
Q. “Angels” opens the NY Tapes era. What is the message you want people to hear, and what inspired its sound and story?
A. I want them to feel the sense of escape that disco’s always provided with a simultaneous touch of realness and presence that makes it contagious. Aesthetically, it’s a modern take on those disco years and French new wave. A lot of it lyrically is about voicing our feelings, in a time when we’re all supposed to be “laid back and chill,” and pretend to not care… This is about escaping that and feeling good and validated in your emotions – and free to take them to the dance floor unapologetically.
Q. You’ve written with hitmakers like Jared Benjamin and collaborated with rising stars. That must have been amazing. Can you share something exciting about the experience? Additionally, how has co-writing with such talents influenced your solo artistry and your personal approach to storytelling?
A. Writing with Jared is the easiest thing on the planet. He’s so good, so open and eager, and it’s very natural when there’s no filter. I love helping shape other people’s stories – it’s finishing each other’s sentences, filling in the blanks, helping other artists and writers face what they’re feeling. It’s a really precious process. As for my artistry, writing with anyone, especially with some of the great musicians I’ve gotten to work with – it’s just the best kind of teacher for when you are back at it on your own.
Q. “Angels” explores the strangeness of desire. Can you tell us more about that theme, and how you see it evolving across the rest of the NY Tapes EP?
A. I think a lot of the project confronts the fact that we can’t do much about how and what we feel – as much as we’d like to. It’s about how you face and deal with your feelings and the importance of valuing them. The dance and disco angle helped address all of that in a way that feels cheekier than I have been able to do in the past, and because of that, in a way that feels actually even realer – it’s been very fun, and quite cathartic.
Q. What’s your process in the early stages of creating music? Do you typically begin in a home studio and later bring in engineers, or follow a different method altogether? And would you say you chase inspiration, or does the music tend to find its way to you unexpectedly?
A. The NY Tapes as a whole was made in the studio (Kensaltown East, NYC) with Alex Poeppel. I used to mostly write on my guitar myself. But for this, we just made everything together in the room. We’d listen to music we were into there and then, Alex would start building a track, and we’d navigate it together as I started writing to it. A couple of hours in, we could lay vocals down. Then we’d revisit structure, sections, and production. We just wanted it to feel good. A majority of vocals are actually from the original session for each of the songs. It’s one of my favorite places to be.
Q. Having recently graduated from NYU, how did your time there shape your artistry, both in the classroom and in the everyday rhythm of New York life? Have any of those experiences directly inspired songs you plan to share with fans?
A. There’s no shortage of things to pull from in this city as a whole. Going to school here just put me in the scene and I started building my world since the start. It was so inspiring to be in a program surrounded by other creatives. Everyone has their way of doing things, and no one is the same – so you just learn something every day. I think deep down it made me understand the importance of banking on your differences. Daring to do what’s fully you, and that’s what this project is to me. It feels full circle.
Q. With such a global background, do you find yourself naturally blending languages and cultures in your songwriting, or do you ever feel caught between having to choose one direction over another?
A. This is the first time where I feel like I don’t have to choose between languages… and it’s been freeing because I realized it’s actually what’s most natural to me. I switch between French and English in most sentences and grew up with Portuguese at home as well. So while blending languages in songs never spoke to me in the past, this project has revealed it could be something totally instinctual for me.
Q. You often reference poetic rebellion. Do you see your songwriting as a form of activism or resistance within your generation?
A. Both – I think they go hand in hand… there’s a hope for accepting that we can feel things strongly and that that’s okay – I always feel like my generation shies away from its feelings when it comes to relationships. This is about creating a space where it feels cool to feel what you feel.
Q. From Swiss airwaves to international playlists, what’s one moment in your journey that made you stop and say, “Okay, this is really happening”?
A. I can think of 3… Hearing my song on the radio back at home when I was 18. Getting into music school in NYC for music and moving from Geneva when I was 19. And very recently just releasing “Angels,” the first track on this project, and for the first time feeling so grateful for the team I have around me. It just makes me want to work for it as hard as possible.
Q. Do you have a favorite song by a band or artist you grew up listening to – one that still speaks to you so deeply, you’d love to record a cover in the studio?
A. Probably a Brazilian song… like Como Nossos Pais (Elis Regina) or Águas de Março (Elis Regina & Antonio Jobim).
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or artistic point of view?
A. I grew up as a competitive figure skater, and that brought me a kind of discipline in life in general that I’m forever grateful for. It’s probably also what made me realize I was more about the creative stuff than the technical when it came to the sport anyways. Today, it translates into everything I do: storytelling, emotion, visuals, expression, fashion, art.
Q. After someone listens to this song and reads this interview, what do you most hope they’ll remember about you?
A. I hope you want to come experience this music live with me – and until then, that you return to Angels and the songs to follow for some feel-good, some escape, that can all be rooted in your reality.
Q. We can’t thank you enough for sharing these intimate details. So, what’s next? Can you give us the inside scoop on upcoming projects or anything fans should be especially excited about? We’d love to be the first to share the news.
A. New York friends should look out for a residency coming up at a venue in the city this fall – the rest of the world follow closely for more music and bringing that show to you, hopefully very soon.
Chloé French, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Chloé French’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
