Chloe Star Uncovers Freedom in Healing in “Happy Place”
Marking her first single of the new year, alt-pop sensation Chloe Star drops her latest single, “Happy Place,” marking the culmination of a gripping trilogy that delves into the journey of recovering from a toxic relationship. Unapologetically bold, openly queer and an unwavering champion for female empowerment, Star epitomizes the essence of a modern-day rockstar.
The release of “Happy Place” follows the success of her previous tracks, “Fool” and “Found My Peace,” forming a powerful narrative arc that traces the emotional landscape of heartbreak, self-discovery and ultimate liberation. Star takes her listeners on an introspective journey, unmasking the layers of vulnerability and strength within the confines of her confessional trilogy.
“Happy Place” emerges as the climactic resolution to this poignant musical tale. With an electrifying blend of pop, rock and punk, Star's sound defies genre boundaries, creating a distinct and infectious sonic experience. The track stands as a testament to her artistic prowess, seamlessly weaving together bold instrumentation and candid lyricism.
Star herself explains the thematic progression of the trilogy, saying, “I tell a story with these three songs – the heartbreak, the awakening and the release.”
“Fool” details the breakdown of the relationship, “Found My Peace” sees Star emerging from the ashes of heartbreak, and, finally, “Happy Place” is about finding freedom in healing.
“‘Happy Place’ is about that feeling of relief that you experience when you finally feel comfortable being on your own,” Star says. “That's ‘Happy Place.’”
The single captures the essence of reclaiming one's autonomy, celebrating the joy of self-discovery, and finding strength in the freedom to embrace individuality.
As an artist who fearlessly navigates the intersections of identity, love and empowerment, Star's “Happy Place” is not merely a song but a beacon of resilience and authenticity in a world hungry for genuine voices. With its infectious melodies and empowering lyrics, the single invites listeners to join Star on a transformative journey towards self-acceptance and unbridled happiness. “Happy Place” is out now on all streaming platforms, inviting listeners to experience the sonic evolution of a rising alt-pop icon.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Welcome back and thank you for talking to Unpublished Magazine again. It's super exciting to have you back since the last time we talked about your single “Straight Girls.” I would love to catch up and see how life has been treating you and what have you been up to since the last time we talked.
[CHLOE]: It has been a minute. I can't believe that it’s already been a year. That's so crazy to me. Since then, I have just been writing and working with new producers. I started working with a new producer named Thrasher who I'm obsessed with and how he works. This new year, there’s so much coming and I’m so excited. I have my first show of the year coming up next month on February 8, which I'm stoked about. I'm going to be dropping an EP, which I cannot wait. Since we last spoke, I actually dropped three singles and two music videos and really had fun throughout this whole process.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Say if someone hasn’t heard of your music yet, which song would you introduce to them that best encapsulates your sound and artistic maturity?
[CHLOE]: I would say “Happy Place,” because it sets the tone for what the EP is going to sound like and the vibes with what listeners can expect with more upcoming music. It’s definitely got that punk lyricism and imagery. With every song I want the listener to be able to have an experience when listening, so I do feel like “Happy Place” has that vibe.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Today you released “Happy Place” and it's your first release of the year so huge congratulations. What was the inspiration behind the single?
[CHLOE]: The inspiration behind “Happy Place” is it's the feeling of finally feeling freedom and being on my own and feeling like I'm going to do what I want to do, and as in like I'm going to do whatever it is that brings me joy and I'm going to constantly live in my happy place. I'm going to share that with the world in hopes that other people can join my happy place and live in the reality of this is what I'm up to. I want to welcome everybody to that world that I'm in right now.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What messages, emotions or story do you hope to convey to your listeners through this work?
[CHLOE]: The message goes back to just living in freedom and being in your own authentic, happy place – and the feeling is pure. It's straight up happiness, peace and not worrying about X, Y and Z. My hope is that that's what the listener does take from it and has the same experience that I have singing or writing the song.
[UNPUBLISHED]: “Happy Place” follows your earlier releases of “Fool” and “Found My Peace.” Have you taken any creative risks or have experimented more, and if so, how would you describe that growth?
[CHLOE]: Absolutely. With those two songs I feel like I was extremely vulnerable. I opened up about my past relationships that weren't the healthiest and that were toxic. I think as any artist or writer, you do feel a little bit of fear of being vulnerable because you don't know what the listener is going to take from it or you don't know if it's going to be comprehended the way that you want it. That was definitely a little scary to put my full personal past relationships out there like that. I was grateful that I did because the response that I received was people related. I think that's a good thing too for artists to be vulnerable because I feel like any creative is a spokesperson of being able to be honest with the world and people can relate.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What has been one of your most rewarding moments in your career so far?
[CHLOE]: My most rewarding moments are the messages that I receive from listeners. I make music so people can relate and connect, and when I know that I have someone messaging me having gone through a similar experience and listening to my story has helped them get through it – it’s so rewarding. It makes me feel not alone. Today, my mom called me crying and she said she was listening to “Happy Place” all morning and she’s so proud of how far I’ve come. It’s moments like that that are so special and heartwarming to me, because my mom impacts me deeply.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Earlier you mentioned releasing an EP later this year that strives for relatability. What can listeners take away from this new era of yours? I would love to hear anything you’re willing to share.
[CHLOE]: Listeners can definitely expect a punk vibe, some pop-punk vibes, heavy guitar, heavy drums and some deep storytelling. There's a song that I just did not too long ago that I'm so excited about, because I am sharing a story about a real life experience that I went through when I was 16 and it feels like such an anthem. I just can't wait to be able to share that side of me which is extremely, extremely personal. I feel like there's a lot of people that have had the same experience and will be able to relate to it, and I'll be able to bring awareness to that experience. The rest of the EP is really personal and I strive for vulnerability. I want all that to be received on the other end.
[UNPUBLISHED]: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the upcoming year look like for you that you would love to share with Unpublished?
[CHLOE]: I'm feeling just flat out excited. I'm so excited for this year, so much is coming this year. I know it. I feel it in my bones. I'm just stoked to collaborate with different artists and producers. I'm excited about putting as much music out as possible and I want to play as many shows as possible. I want to get involved as much as I can and just keep writing and see where the wind blows me with my music, so definitely stay tuned.
