Clovo is the new project out of the Gold Coast, Australia, who is making a seductive form of dark/alt-pop music which can be likened to a mix between Mia Rodriguez, Billie Eilish and Grimes. Chloe Magee is launching her clovo project this week with her debut single ‘Girls’, which she says was written on International Women’s Day(March 8th) and is an anthem for all women who stand against sexual assault and discrimination(something that not just women should be doing of course).
Chloe gives us some insight into her inspiration behind the song below, as well as some of the people who helped her get the song right where she wanted to be.
“I wrote this song on International Women’s Dayand being inspired by that, it outlines issues of women being sexualised and objectified in society and it is an anthem for all women to have a voice against sexual assault and discrimination. I was listening to a lot of Grimes, Mia Rodriguez and Billie Eilish at the time and felt empowered to be part of this revolution of women speaking their mind. I always feel inspired when I hear songs from women taking a stand with their music, and I wanted to do the same and hopefully inspire other women.” -Clovo
What’s your story as an artist?
Most people would describe me as shy, introverted and quiet. I find it difficult to express my thoughts and feelings even when I have a lot to say. Songwriting has become a gateway for me to voice my opinions and share my emotions. I feel most powerful when I’m songwriting and I came to the realisation that it’s almost as if I transition into someone else. This is when I came up with the idea for clovo – an alter-ego. Someone who is strong-minded, outspoken and fierce. Someone who can speak their opinions and not worry about what other people think. Someone who I eventually want to become.
What inspired this single?
I wrote this song on the 8th of March – International Women’s Day. I was feeling a lot of mixed emotions that day. My social media was flooded with women protesting and females empowering other females. But in those past couple of weeks I was also seeing a lot of cases of women who had been sexually abused come into the media. I stayed awake that night feeling empowered by these females protesting and sharing their stories, but also frustrated and angry with how I’ve always felt vulnerable because of my gender. I was angry all the times I’ve feared walking home alone, been objectified and had things mansplained. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the stories my female friends have shared about when they had been sexually assaulted. I barely slept that night and started writing lyrics into my phone.
What are some sources of inspiration for your storytelling?
I was inspired by the thought that someone like me might hear my song and feel empowered, like I feel when I listen to my favourite songs. It’s the best feeling to be empowered and inspired to take a stand and I wanted to try and have that impact on other people. I’ve been inspired by fellow Aus artist Jaguar Jonze and the way she creates social change with her music and art – I really connected with her outspokenness on issues of sexism in the music industry and wanted clovo to be a catalyst for change as well.
Any funny anecdotes from the time you were recording or writing the album?
The development for Girls was a really long process.I think one of the enjoyable parts of the process was filming the music video. I had all my friends play the extras and found some parts hard to film without laughing. The scene where the hands come out and grab me felt really uncomfortable and we had to re-film it multiple times because I kept laughing.
Tell us about the music video and the idea behind it ?
Whenever I write music I can immediately picture the visuals and imagery I want to produce. This particular song felt dark but powerful and the message was vital. I wanted the music video to portray the toxicity of a male dominated culture, set in a dystopian parallel universe where women are subjects to men. The video narrates myself (clovo) as a prisoner trying to escape, only to be caught and put back in her ‘place’ in society.
What’s a record that shaped your creativity?
I began discovering my concept for clovo at the end of 2020. It was a time of my life when I felt really unwell mentally. During that time I discovered the album Miss Anthropocene by Grimes. It was a huge turning point in pushing me to create clovo. I’ve always loved Grimes as an artist, but this particular album became a huge inspiration, especially the song ‘We Appreciate Power “. The style of music and imagery made me feel empowered.
Who is an artist or band you look up to today?
I’ve recently discovered American singer-songwriter UPSAHL and I’ve become obsessed. I really like the attitude in her songwriting and her general persona. I just really love unconventional artists that mix strong messages into catchy music.
Any future projects?
At the moment I’m in the midst of writing more music, shaping my sound and developing the persona of clovo. I want to release more singles, develop a body of work and transition my music live. I have previously been in a band and I really miss the feeling of playing my song to a live audience. So live shows are definitely next on my agenda for 2022.
Top 3 dream collaborations?
My top 3 dream collaborators would have to be artists who are extremely out there and very creative. I’d have to choose Grimes, Ashnikko, and Melanie Martinez. I love all these artists in different ways but I think something they all share is their unique personas and how they are always thinking outside the box. I’d love to see how their brains work when it comes to songwriting.
What does music mean to you?
Music is something I can’t live without, not a moment goes by when I’m not listening to it. It fuels my creativity, helps me understand my emotions, empowers, and inspires me like nothing else can.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
I like to describe my sound as dark pop. If I was describing Girls, I would say it’s haunting but powerful. Although I’m in the process of writing some more upbeat, groovier music too!
