“If there’s an outside love that wants to join this journey, it needs to come along for the ride, not the other way around!” Malaysian-born, London-based rising star Chloe Qisha shares with CLASH as we delve into her empowering anthem ‘21st Century Cool Girl’ during Jo Whiley’s BBC Radio 2 fascination at the time of its creation. “You must embrace the cheese for it to resonate. Don't shy away from it sounding a bit outlandish!” Influenced by ‘80s production and citing LCD Soundsystem and Talking Heads, the song also incorporates ABBA-like melodies, with its pre-chorus building up warm emotions tied to teenage romance.
When Qisha relocated to the UK at 16, she produced YouTube covers for her friends and family during her leisure time before pursuing psychology at university. Through songwriting, she discovered her deep empathetic side—realizing she had far too many emotions to be anyone's therapist. “It’s about how love is expressed and experienced in various forms today. That encompasses the chaos of dating as well as young love, adolescent crushes, and the heartbreak from unpleasant teenage boys,” she shares.
This theme is understandably prevalent throughout Qisha’s forthcoming EP ‘Modern Romance’, vividly reflecting the multitude of emotions tied to love; pain, curiosity, rebellion, and even boredom have long inspired pop hits.
With two sold-out headline shows at Manchester’s Deaf Institute and London’s Omeara, together with performances at The Great Escape’s First Fifty showcase, the ‘I Lied, I’m Sorry’ artist is rapidly emerging as a notable force in music. Qisha aims to push the boundaries of pop music, citing recent pioneers like Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter as lyrical inspirations.
On the subject of wordplay, she remarks: “It’s more essential than ever to express the often overexplored themes of love and heartbreak in a distinctive manner. Humor plays a significant role in the narrative we’ve created,” she adds, acknowledging Carpenter's subtle humor when collaborating with key partner Rob Milton.
“When a collaborator knows you inside and out, they can contribute from a place of understanding, which is fascinating. Injecting humor to lighten the heavier subjects we tackle in our songs creates a perfect balance.”
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WHAT: Energetic indie-pop
WHERE: London
3 SONGS: ‘21st Century Cool Girl’, ‘I Lied, I’m Sorry’, ‘Scary Movie’
FACT: Chloe's social media is filled with posts about pregnant horses. She follows a Tennessee farm on TikTok and is invested in their journey.
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Chloe Qisha wears the Puma Easy Rider in Black & White, available at schuh. As featured in CLASH 130.
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Words: Emma Way
Photography: Bella Howard
Fashion: Jessica Ann Richardson
Styling Assistant: Ana Lamond
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