Chloe Qisha on discovering her sound, navigating nostalgia, and crafting Pop with heart.

Chloe Qisha is a rising pop artist whose music blends nostalgic alternative pop with modern sensibilities, creating tracks that resonate with listeners on multiple levels. In this Q&A, Chloe opens up about her creative process, the evolution of her sound, and how her multicultural background influences her music. From her collaborative experiences to the emotions that drive her songwriting, Chloe offers an insightful look into the world she's crafting, one song at a time.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

I’m Chloe Qisha - and I’m an artist originally from Malaysia, who’s now based in the UK. I make pop music and I’d describe my songs as a kind of ‘nostalgic’ alternative pop.

Congratulations on the release of your most recent single, "I Lied, I’m Sorry"! How does it feel to have this track out in the world, especially after the success of your debut single "VCR Home Video"?

Thank you! It’s a huge relief having this particular song out -  ‘I Lied, I’m Sorry’ was written at the beginning of this year, and I absolutely adore it - so much so, that it’s sort of laid down the foundation for the sonics of this project. I was definitely a bit anxious for everyone to hear it, as I wanted people to love it as much as I did (and they did! So, yay). 

You mentioned that "I Lied, I’m Sorry" is the song that set you on course and helped you discover your true sound. Can you tell us more about that journey of finding your musical identity?

It was definitely a long journey… I’d say I didn’t find my ‘true sound’ until I met my collaborator [Rob] back in December 2022. I’ve been songwriting for a couple of years now, and I have written with some incredibly talented individuals, but nothing quite gelled as well as when I started working with Rob. Even so, it took a couple months of us experimenting with different vibes until we finally landed on a more ‘Talking Heads’ / ‘LCD Soundsystem’ world (with ‘I Lied, I’m Sorry’), which encapsulated this super fun 80s nostalgic feel (the kind of songs I used to grow up listening too), but also challenged us and brought out a new magic in our writing. 

The shift from the ballad tone of "VCR Home Video" to the upbeat pop melodies of "I Lied, I’m Sorry" is striking. What inspired this change in direction, and how did you approach the production differently?

I think the great thing about the way I like to write is that nothing is off the table. It’s always nice to go into a writing session and just experiment as much as possible (and not worry too much about how similar it needs to sound with the rest of your work). Because you can always reel it back in if need be. And that was the case with writing ‘I Lied, I’m Sorry’. We wrote it a week after we finished VCR Home Video - and it brought us into a completely different vein of pop. But yet, once it was finished it still felt so authentic to me - as much as VCR did. And now both songs (at least in my brain), live nicely in the same dimension. 

The lyrics of "I Lied, I’m Sorry" touch on the dramatic intensity of adolescent love. How do you draw from your own experiences when writing songs, and what made this theme resonate with you?

I tend to write a lot about my teenage years - not that it was a particularly riveting time in my life haha… but I find the heightened emotions at that age so interesting, especially looking back in retrospect. It’s just a tsunami of raging hormones, acne and broken hearts - feeling ALL the feelings at once - over really nothing at all. I think back to teenage Chloe and laugh, because she was truly the main character in her own sitcom. And I like drawing from that time because there’s so much to write about - it’s also very universally felt. But also, my life is pretty settled now that I’m in my mid-twenties - and I like to protect my peace - almost to a point where nothing really happens! 

Your background is quite diverse, being Malaysian-born and UK-based. How has your multicultural upbringing influenced your music and the stories you choose to tell?

I think it’s just given me a lot of different experiences to write about. I feel really lucky having grown up in an international school in Malaysia (where it was a real melting pot of different people), and then moving to the UK at 16. It made me grow up a lot faster, and in that I became very sure of myself. And knowing who you are, and what you stand for really helps with songwriting. 

You’ve studied psychology and communications at an advanced level. How do these academic experiences shape your approach to songwriting and understanding the emotions you want to convey in your music?

To be honest with you I don’t remember a whole lot from my degrees… but at the very least, it definitely instilled a strict work ethic in me that I think translates into working in music very well. As for songwriting, I’m sure being able to meet as many people as I did throughout my degrees has informed the way I write - although I don’t think Freud or his theories has anything to do with it haha.  

Working with co-producer Rob Milton on "I Lied, I’m Sorry" was pivotal for you. How did that collaboration come about, and what was it like working together to bring this song to life?

We started working together in late 2022 - Rob actually found me on TikTok. I did a cover of a song he had written with Rachel Chinouriri, and he ended up reaching out on Instagram to see if I was free for a session right before Christmas. It was a crazy moment for me as I am such a big fan of Holly [Humberstone]  and their work together, so I think I was in complete disbelief when he got in contact.

We ended up writing a really special song in our first ever session, and from then on I think we both knew we wanted to build this world together. By the time we wrote ‘I Lied I’m Sorry’ we had known each other for a whole year, so I think we just went in like any normal day and decided to experiment, had some fun - and ended up with a brilliant song! 

Your music captures a wide range of emotions and themes. What messages or feelings do you hope listeners take away from "I Lied, I’m Sorry" and your music in general?

I hope people connect with at least one of my songs - whether that’s just getting them to dance, or getting them all in their feels. I like the idea of songs that convey a lot of meaning but are still packaged in a way that people can smile and bob their heads too on their way to work. 

What do you love right now? 

I’ve been loving taking day trips away from the city with my partner on the weekend. Sometimes you just need a break from London? (So you don’t curl up in a ball and cry, daily). Recently we went to the seaside and it was honestly the best time. Now, it’s a nice thing we look forward to every month where we try and go somewhere new. 

What do you hate right now?

The fact that summer’s nearly over… 

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you? 

I don’t think I actually listened to albums all the way through when I was younger - so this isn’t from particularly long ago (maybe when I was starting University?), but I always circle back to Anderson Paak’s sophomore album ‘Malibu.’ It just reminds me of a really good time in my life, and it always makes me feel warm wherever I am or whatever I’m doing. 

With two singles now released, how are you approaching the next phase of your career? Can fans expect more music in the near future, perhaps leading to an EP or album?

Yes! There’s going to be a few more babies (songs) released before the year ends, for this particular EP. I cannot wait for people to hear them!