We Say…
It was back in 2013 that Chloe Foy first began to turn heads with the release of her debut single, In The Middle of The Night. Now, some eight years later, the Gloucestershire-via-Manchester songwriter is gearing up for the release of her debut album, Where Shall We Begin. If any album meets the definition of long-awaited, it would be this one. Recorded at Pinhole Studios in Manchester, the album saw Chloe bring a host of musical collaborators into the studio. The resultant recordings bring her musical sketches to life with rich string arrangements, courtesy of co-producer Harry Fausing Smith, and ambitious production techniques. For Chloe, the record is the result of a decade of hard graft, gradually shaping her ideas and influences into the tracks that make up this most remarkable of debut albums.
As well as musical hard-graft, the album is also a reflection of a tumultuous period in Chloe’s life, with much of the fittingly titled Where Shall We Begin written in response to the loss of her father to depression. That loss came at a formative period in Chloe’s life, as she explains, “I was finding it hard to work out who I was within this new, alien context of losing a parent”. Taking influence from the likes of Gillian Welch and Edith Piaf, the album is beautifully subtle and deeply empathetic, whether it is And It Goes, a tribute to her mother’s enduring love, or the title track, a recollection of, “the moment that the complexity of life dawns on you“. Musically, the album feels at once soothing and crushing, there is a gentle playfulness to the melodies that belies the depth of the words they carry. Chloe has spoken of these songs as her, “most inner and deepest secrets“, thoughts she’d normally not feel comfortable expressing seem to come flowing out of her as moments of beautiful release. Chloe might have taken her time bringing this album to the world, yet it was worth every second, a special record that demands to be heard.
They Say…
FTR: For those who don’t know, who is Chloe Foy?
I’m a singer-songwriter from Gloucestershire/Manchester.
FTR: What can you remember about your first show?
I think it was probably an open mic somewhere in Gloucester. I was terrified but enjoyed the challenge of getting people to sit up and listen.
FTR: Why do you make music? Why not another art form?
I’ve always loved music and was encouraged down a musical path from a young age – having grown up playing cello and singing in choirs, it became the natural and most obvious way to express myself. I’m also terrible at most other art forms.
FTR: What can people expect from the Chloe Foy live show?
Emotional existential questioning, poignancy and the feeling of a warm bath.
FTR: What’s next for Chloe Foy?
I’m just going to keep on living the dream. Which means October Tour, which you should definitely buy tickets to.
They Listen To…
Madison Cunningham – Pin It Down
Tyler Ramsey – A Dream of Home
Edith Piaf – Padam Padam
Gillian Welch – Look at Miss Ohio
Kate Bush – Them Heavy People
Where Shall We Begin is out June 11th. For more information on Chloe Foy visit https://www.chloefoy.com.
For The Rabbits 