CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS 124: CXLOE ON RELEASING HER DEBUT ALBUM
Interview by Brooke Gibbs.
Aussie pop singer, CXLOE, has released her much anticipated debut album.
Shiny New Thing promises to be a journey through the preservation of identity and embraces the fact that artists can be multifaceted without compromising their authenticity in pursuit of becoming the next 'shiny new thing'. With each track meticulously crafted to showcase CXLOE's dynamic range and artistic vision, the album is poised to solidify her status as one of Australia's most exciting musical talents.
FMM: We’re approaching the release of your debut album. How are you feeling leading up to it?
CXLOE: I’m very excited! It’s been a long time coming, so I’m itching to finally have it out in the world, but also trying to not put too much pressure on it and remind myself it’s not that serious.
FMM: Do you have any celebrations planned for its release?
CXLOE: Yes, I'm hoping to do a little release/listening party with a few fans before it comes out! Something small and intimate where we can just listen through the album together, and maybe play a few acoustic songs.
FMM: Your upcoming debut album Shiny New Thing, promises to be a journey through the preservation of identity. Could you share some insights into the overall concept and message you aim to convey through the album?
CXLOE: My album Shiny New Thing is both ironic and extremely literal. I’ve always loved using my aesthetic, visuals and styling as a form of self-expression and a way to explore my identity, but over the past few years, I questioned whether I was reinventing myself for the joy of it or out of necessity. After moving to LA and meeting with different labels and managers, it was blatantly obvious that this industry is still incredibly ageist and puts a premium on women’s marketability.
The decision to create an album, gave me the opportunity and time to experiment with diverse sounds and aesthetics, allowing me to reconcile all the different sides that make up CXLOE, and realise that there is beauty in pop music's obsession with reinvention. This album embraces the fact that artists can be multifaceted without compromising their authenticity in pursuit of becoming the next 'Shiny New Thing’.
FMM: This theme also plays into Shapeshifter, a single you released earlier this year. In Shapeshifter, you mention embracing fluidity in identity and refusing to be pinned down. How does this theme resonate with your personal experiences and journey as an artist?
CXLOE: I remember being maybe 10 and watching Hannah Montana on TV for the first time and being so in awe of the idea that you could be more than one thing. This was so cool to see and definitely gave me the courage and representation to feel safe embracing different slides to myself. My journey as an artist has been very positive and I’m so grateful to be uplifted by so many incredible people in my life, but I have felt the pressure to be boxed in to one sound, one look, one lane. I don’t ever want to be pinned down and I also think there's something so sexy and alluring about mystery which makes what I do so FUN.
FMM: You've described Shapeshifter as empowering and aimed at making listeners feel untouchable. What do you hope your audience takes away from the album both lyrically and sonically?
CXLOE: As a whole, the album explores the theme of identity and reinvention. I hope my audience can listen to the album and feel like they can be the best and any version of themselves that they want to be. Sonically and lyrically, there are moments that put you on the dancefloor, and moments that put you on your ass. I wanted to imitate and mirror what I personally feel day to day as a human and as an artist which is also why the writing follows a very stream of consciousness flow.
FMM: With singles like Till The Wheels Fall Off and Cheating on Myself already gaining traction, how does Shapeshifter fit into the narrative of your upcoming album, and what can fans expect from the overall sound and vibe?
CXLOE: Lyrically, Shapeshifter opens the conversation surrounding fluidity in identity and my curiosity around these themes. Shapeshifter has my favourite type of crunchy bass that a lot of my earlier music is centred around, so you can expect more of that dark-pop world, but also some different sonics I haven’t tapped into as much such as Bad Taste, sitting in a more minimalistic world.
FMM: Your songwriting credits include collaborations with notable names in the industry. How have these experiences influenced your creative process, and what have you learned from working with such diverse talents?
CXLOE: They’ve influenced my creative process so much so that I can confidently say none of these songs would exist without them. I owe everything to my collaborators, and feel extremely lucky to have worked with such a high calibre of producers and writers on my debut album. I’ve learnt to let go from a lot of them. I always go into a session with rigid ideas and titles that I feel could be a good starting point, but after that you really can’t plan anything else, you need to let go of the wheel. Eric Leva, a close friend and extremely talented writer who is credited on half the album taught me a lot about this. He enters a sort of flow state that melts together action and consciousness.
FMM: As someone who has performed both as a headliner and a supporting act, what do you enjoy most about performing live, and how do you approach crafting your live shows to engage and captivate audiences?
FMM: I recently went on tour supporting Griff through Europe and the UK and we were both laughing about how different touring as a headliner and a support act can be. She asked me if I had any slow songs in my set and I said ‘hell no!’ which she quickly related to as an opener for Coldplay and Dua Lipa as you feel a sense of pressure and urgency to keep the attention of the audience that isn't there to see you. You have to craft your shows for each audience, you can't just cut, copy and hope it will translate. I love playing headline shows because I can relax and take my time with transitions and interludes as I know the audience is there because they enjoy my music. It’s a little different when the crowd just wants the headliner to come out.
FMM: You've had the opportunity to play at various festivals and tour with different artists. Are there any standout moments or experiences from your live performances that have been particularly memorable for you?
CXLOE: Yes, I actually just recently played my first show in Europe. It was in Hamburg, Germany and without asking the crowd, they all turned their phone lights on for me during my final song. One by one I saw each light turn on and it made me so emotional because as a support act, you don't usually get to make a connection with the crowd as you would as a headliner. But, I really felt the love and support from this crowd and will always remember my first show in Europe.
FMM: How do you navigate balancing your time between your hometown in Sydney and Los Angeles, and how do these different environments influence your music and creativity?
CXLOE: I'm honestly still trying to figure this out. I'm a work in progress! Something I’ve learnt just recently about myself is that I overcommit to make sure I get around to seeing everyone while I'm home or with new friends I've made in LA. This just sends me into a bit of a spiral and then I retreat back to where I feel safest, and that’s at home with my dog! Sydney and LA both serve different purposes for me creatively. Sydney is a place where I can regroup and gather myself. I fill my cup back up in Sydney by going to the beach, seeing my nieces and nephew and going for bush walks. LA is where I then use this energy to dive into my music and creative headspace.
FMM: Looking ahead, what are your hopes and aspirations for the future of your music career, and is there anything exciting on the horizon that you can share with your fans?
FMM: Hmm. I hope that I can find sustainability and balance throughout my music career in which social media doesn't take me as far away from my creative headspace as I would like to be. Unfortunately, I spend wayyyy too much time on iMovie right now and would rather be out in the world or in the studio working on my craft. I have many songs that didn’t make the album so my fans can definitely expect another project sooner than they think.