You gotta love a story about a teenaged indie musician that not only includes live performances at The Bluebird in Nashville and having a song in a TV show but also includes some Really Good Music. Chloe Collins is living that story!
I gotta say this young lady has some talent and she’s writing songs on par with songwriters much older. She should be, she’s written over eighty tunes already! We had a chance to catch up with Chloe a bit this morning. Read on to see what she has to say about her experiences as a fifteen-year-old singer-songwriter.
Chloe Collins – “Forget Your Name”
MTM: 15 is a pretty young age to have over 80 songs under your belt – how do you find the inspiration for so much writing at that age?
Chloe: I find inspiration from pretty much everywhere. Some of it is personal experience some of it is imagination. Whether it’s a storyline from a television show, my friend’s relationship, or my personal life, I always find ideas for my songs.
MTM: You’re obviously on the road and in the studio pretty often, is it difficult to balance that with a “normal life” as a teenager? How about school – any complications?
Chloe: There will be times that I have a textbook on my left and a songbook on my right; I always try to find time to write songs, even when I have school. Sometimes I write ideas on the grocery list or my school agenda–wherever inspiration strikes!
MTM: Coming down from New York, what do you think of the Nashville experience?
Chloe: Nashville is one of my favorite cities – if I am allowed dual residence then count me in. Everyone I have met is so friendly and down-to-earth in Nashville, and the food is amazing! Music seems to ooze out of every window and doorway in Nashville and there’s such a positive vibe in that city, I loved getting to record my songs there so that I could capture that energy.
MTM: How does it feel to be getting attention and hearing your music in TV shows like “The Vineyard?”
Chloe: I was eleven when I heard my song on “The Vineyard” and it was the most surreal experience of my life. It was so cool to have one of my songs played on the same show that “Still Into You” by Paramore was being played, it was one of my favorite songs at the time!
MTM: We can hear the influence of folks you mentioned like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Katy Perry, since you’ve been out and about a bit, have you found new influences or styles creeping into your writing?
Chloe: I am always listening to all kinds of music. I have definitely gotten some new influences for my music: Hunter Hayes, Kelsea Ballerini, Sam Hunt. When I listen to music I am also studying it, how the song is constructed, how the lyric works, why the melody inspires me. I try to incorporate what inspires me from the songs I love and somehow infuse it into my songwriting or my recording process in the studio. I study all the greats, old and new, so that I can be the best that I can be as an artist.
MTM: Can you tell us about one of your most memorable performance experiences?
Chloe: Honestly, performing at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville was probably one of my most memorable moments. That was where Taylor Swift got discovered, and just being up on that stage felt like I was on top of the world. The audience was listening so intently to the lyrics of my song and many people came up to me afterwards saying that they loved my music. It was such a positive place to perform that I felt welcome even though I’m not a native of Nashville, and I was probably the youngest person there.
MTM: What’s next for Chloe Collins?
Chloe: My lifetime goal is to play Madison Square Garden and to host Saturday Night Live, but for now I am writing new songs, recording new music and performing everywhere I can. You can follow my whereabouts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to keep track of my future shows!
