Chloe Lilac on Creating Raw and Honest Music, Musical Influences, and Her EP 'you were good to me'
[UNPUBLISHED:] The deluxe version of your EP, you were good to me came out a little over a month ago, now that it’s been out for a bit, has your perception of the project changed since the original release?
[CHLOE LILAC:] you were good to me takes on a new life every time I listen to it. I think overall, it’s the project I’m the most proud of. I struggle with feeling proud of myself, so that’s an accomplishment in itself. I feel like I really found my voice and how I want to sound. I made the cover myself in my journal. It’s a really vulnerable, honest accurate expression of how I really feel. I tend to focus on loss, and in you were good to me, I explored that in a way I haven’t before.
[UNPUBLISHED:] I love the body of work and truly think it’s a no-skip EP, I’m obsessed with every song on it. Do you have a favorite song from the EP?
[CHLOE LILAC:] Thank you so much! I'm so proud of this EP. It’s so hard to pick a favorite. I think it’s down to “lily’s backyard” and “taxidermy.” The song “lily’s backyard” is exactly the kind of music I want to make. Loud, in your face, rock, and roll but still sad underneath. It’s about a friendship betrayal, I was so deeply hurt and I needed a way to let it out. Once I wrote “lily’s backyard,” I felt like I could finally let go of it. “taxidermy” is such a personal song, it’s one of the most vulnerable songs I’ve ever released. It explores my feelings around codependence and abandonment. The lyrics make me uncomfortable and that’s how I know I did a good job writing them. The production is also exactly the kind of stuff I want to make, especially since we have live drums on it.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Where do you find inspiration for your music?
[CHLOE LILAC:] I find inspiration for my music in the intense parts of my life. I'm an intense person and I have a lot of feelings. Expressing those feelings in my music is the only way I don’t go crazy. I feel really lucky to be able to do that. I find a lot of inspiration through the music I listen to. I’m so inspired by songwriters like Mitski and Fiona Apple. They write lyrics that make me uncomfortable. Lyrics that are too close to home. I find in a lot of their songs, they explore the more hidden parts of themselves, the parts you don’t want the world to see and I relate to those songs the most. Why would you want to be the victim or the good guy all the time in your music? People are a lot more complicated than that. That’s the kind of music I aspire to write.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How do you think your sound has evolved from when you first started making music?
[CHLOE LILAC:] My sound has evolved so much since I first started making music. I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found my identity as a human being and it’s allowed my voice to become a lot more clear. I’ve found the music that’s inspired me throughout my life, and I try to honor that music in my music.
[UNPUBLISHED:] The EP features songs from different genres like indie-pop, bedroom pop, and pop punk. Do you have a favorite genre when it comes to creating your music?
[CHLOE LILAC:] My favorite genre of all time has to be whatever genre The Pixies are or grunge. The closer I get to both of those sounds, the happier I am with the song.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Are there any musicians you look up to that have influenced your sound?
[CHLOE LILAC:] There are so many musicians who have influenced my sound! Alex G, The Pixies, Hole, Nirvana, The White Stripes, Mitski, Foo Fighters.. those are just a few who come to mind. I'm always looking for new music though and I’m so inspired by almost everything I listen to. There’s so much great music in the world.
[UNPUBLISHED:] If you could collaborate with anyone dead or alive on a song from the EP, who would it be and which song would you add them to?
[CHLOE LILAC:] I would collaborate with Alex G in a heartbeat. I think he’s a genius. He inspires me so much. I think I would add him to “last week.” I took so much inspiration from him on that specific song.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Your lyrics are so vulnerable, relatable, and universal, how do you think your rawness has helped connect you with your fans?
[CHLOE LILAC:] I think my vulnerability in my music is probably why people connect to it. I can never lie about how I feel. I have to be honest about it, I feel like I’m gonna explode if I don’t. I wish everyone was like that, I think people are too afraid to take up space and just say how they really feel. So maybe in the way that I’m honest in my lyrics, it can empower people to feel their feelings and take up space. At least, that’s my hope.
[UNPUBLISHED:] You’re going on tour soon with Mothé, do you have a city you’re most excited to play?
[CHLOE LILAC:] I’m the most excited to play Los Angeles on tour. All my friends are gonna be there, it’s prom themed AND I’m gonna get to sleep in my own bed!
[UNPUBLISHED:] What makes you feel at home while you’re away on tour? Do you have any items you take with you that remind you of home?
[CHLOE LILAC:] While I’m on tour the cheapest healthy food you can get are the pre made meals from Trader Joes. I can’t handle fast food so that’s usually what I go with. All Trader Joes’ are universal in appearance. They remind me of home in this funny way. It reminds me of grocery shopping with my mom.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Who is an artist you’ve been listening to a lot recently?
[CHLOE LILAC:] I’ve been obsessed with Foo Fighters and Green Day recently. The music I listen to has gone full circle back to my high school music taste. Also, lots of The White Stripes and Weezer too.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What is one fun fact that not many people know about you?
[CHLOE LILAC:] A fun fact about me is I love the show, Adventure Time. I know so much about it. I really really geek out on the lore of it, I am absolutely obsessed with that show and have been since I was a little kid when it first came out.
