Cloe Wilder
Interview conducted on December 03, 2020
By Dan Locke
Cover photo: Cloe Wilder (credit: Nathan Groff).
CLOE WILDER is an indie-pop singer-songwriter from Clearwater, Florida. At just 14-years-old, Cloe has a voice way beyond her years, managing to create melancholic, yet incredibly relatable songs. From an early age, her artistic talents started thriving as she started taking piano lessons which consequently helped her to discover her passions for singing surprising her family and anyone around her
You are 14. What is your upbringing?
I don’t come from a musical family. My mom is a single mom. I grew up living with my mom, sister, and grandma, so it has been a very feminine household. My mom and I are very close. When I was 11, music came into play and she’s always been super supportive.
How did you discover music?
When I was 11, I was contacted by a producer. I’ve always been into singing and did recitals in the past, so I was really excited. The producer invited me to the Cayman Islands for a writing camp.
How did you start to write music?
I went to a writing camp and figured out how to even write a song and what a song is. I then took it from there and figured out who I am as a writer, and started writing every day.
Describe your music.
My music is indie-pop.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
I was given a 1969 Martin as a gift, but I didn’t know how to play when I got it. I still have the guitar. I’ve played the piano since I was 4, but I have gifted the guitar and messed around with it. I like writing music on guitar, but I’m still teaching myself how to play. I have a guitar bible and read it all the time. I’m really trying to learn chords right now.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make, and model? And does it have a name?
I have a beautiful 1969 Martin that I love. I don’t have a name for my guitar but I would probably name it Iris. I also have a Fender Telecaster.
What was your first performance like?
My first ever performance was a recital at my vocal teacher’s church. We went to a big beautiful church and there were lights set up for our performance. I was about 8 years old and performed “Firework” by Katy Perry, and I messed up. I had a crush on a boy at the time and he was watching me, and I was crying afterward, and he came up to me and hugged me.
What makes a good songwriter?
I say what I feel and what I know. As a songwriter, it’s all about being able to put your experiences and feelings into something artistic, which can be hard. Life is messy. If you can romanticize and make something beautiful, that is what it’s all about. Songwriting is about maintaining authenticity and trying to stay relevant.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
“Looking Forward to the Heartbreak” was the first song I ever co-wrote, at my first writing camp, with Tommy Hubbard. Jayme Silverstein produced it. I didn’t have a lot to contribute to the song. It was my first session ever, and I was 12 years old. I was at a writing camp and told them, “I’m looking forward to something bad happening”.
How was it to work with Bryce Xaviar on ‘Save Me’ and ‘I Don’t Wanna’?
Bryce is super sweet and really fun to work with. He is great off of the set too and made it a lot of fun working with him. We had conversations when we weren’t filming, and would film Tik Toks in between shooting. I really liked having him on set.
Tell me about the making of the video “Call Me If You Need Me”.
The video is very purple. When I wrote it, it was originally called “Purple Converse”. I wrote it with Sam Nicolosi and Meron. Meron was wearing purple converse at the time, so I decided to call the song that until we changed it very close to the release. I wanted the video to be purple. I talked with Bobby Hanaford, the director, about the direction for the video. “Call Me If You Need Me” is about me finding myself through leaving Florida and coming to Los Angeles, and the growth I owe to Los Angeles. I wanted to capture the feeling of getting out. At the end of the video, I hang up the phone, to capture that feeling. I gave the director a few keywords to use for the video: Los Angeles, cars, purple, glitter, and escape. It doesn’t have that much of a storyline, but it is purely visual.
How many calls have you gotten at 877-796-CLOE?
We have gotten a lot of calls. People should keep calling! It’ll be there forever.
What is your favorite track on the EP?
“I Wanna Be Alone With You” is my favorite track. That song was the most out of my comfort zone I’ve been in, but I loved it when it was done. I think people are going to really love that track.
How was it to perform on ABC Morning Blend?
I was a small child, about 12 or 13. I remember not being nervous at all. I was comfortable because no one was there. My mom and my team were there, so it was very comfortable. I sang my song and was excited for people to hear it. The interview was one of my first live interviews and I remember being super robotic. I just stood there staring at the camera and smiling. Now I’m more comfortable with interviews. I’m glad I started as early as I did because I have gotten a lot of practice.
How do you stay healthy while touring?
I did one live show in Baltimore for Girl’s Life and iHeartRadio, and one live show in Calabasas for raising awareness for the fires. The live shows were spread out, so I wasn’t really touring before COVID. I was planning on a fall tour before COVID happened, but that didn’t happen, so I haven’t toured yet. I love doing small live shows, so as soon as COVID clears up, I’m ready to perform!
What is your dream prom?
My ideal prom would be skipping prom. I would want to get dressed up all nice and go somewhere totally inappropriate, apart from prom. It would be nice to be with a group of people I enjoy and mess around and have fun.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Digital. I like the look of vinyl, but I don’t listen to it.
How was the Mental Health Happy Hour?
It was great. I sat down with No Stigmas and we all talked about our experiences with mental health and how we’re bringing awareness to it. It was on Facebook Live, sometime in April. I talked about my music and how I’ve also had people close to me struggle with mental health.
How was it to have a birthday at the beginning of the virus?
My birthday was on March 1st, so it was right before the pandemic happened. I had a dinner party that night and a big release party later. I went to Catch Restaurant in Los Angeles and it was really normal at the time. I hadn’t heard about COVID yet, until March 13th or so.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
“Savior Complex” by Phoebe Bridgers. I could listen to her for the rest of my life. Her music means everything and is so inspiring. Phoebe is an insane songwriter and her music is so visual. I can sit down and close my eyes, and just listen to her music.
Do you feel that the Covid-19 virus is going to affect the music business in the future?
I can see it affecting the location of the music business, but I don’t think the business itself will be affected too horribly. Artists are figuring out that we can do things virtually. We are realizing the power we have through social media and virtual shows.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I’ve been writing a lot of music. It makes me feel really productive. I’ve also been doing a lot of schooling, because I’m still in school, and I’m trying to graduate early. And I got a cat, named Iris, who is about 10 weeks old.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I baked a lot at the start of quarantine. I also got into reading for enjoyment, and not just because I have to read for school. And, I’m learning how to play the guitar.
How was it to perform at an empty Troubadour stage?
Being at the Troubadour was magical and dreamy. It was strange because it was an empty venue when I went, and just my family and team were watching me perform. I love iconic venues, so I liked being there and having the time to myself. Eric Scullin was there with me. He is who I do live sets with, and he is always so fun to work with.
How are you keeping in touch with your fans during this time, when live concerts are not happening right now?
Instagram! I use it so much, as my main platform. I’m DMing people all the time now. I also have done live streams on there.
If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
I would just be a high school student right now. In the future, I would probably want to be a ghostwriter, even though that is still within the music industry.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
My debut EP, “Teenage Lullabies” is out now! Stream it on Spotify and Apple Music. Feel free to follow me on all social media platforms @CloeWilder.
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