Chloe Stankowski Encourages Us All To Embrace Our Awkward Selves on Reflective Album ‘Chloe’
Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Chloe Stankowski @ Modern Love
Chloe Stankowski has never shied away from tackling complex emotions with vulnerability and an emo rap flair. On her latest debut album Chloe, she pushes the envelope even further from start to finish; inviting listener’s into what she’s been up to over the last four years during the making of it and her journey as an artist thus far. Based in Calgary, AB, the budding alternative artist has also amplified DIY culture in the city, engaging with various collectives and venues to showcase the talent that exists within our cutting edge music scene.
Leading with authenticity, Chloe has tackled feelings of self-worth, acceptance, relationships, and growth. It also touches on their experiences as a trans-woman, expressed in a liberating, punk-rock attitude way, particularly on songs like crowd favourite “Trans Rights Are Human Rights”. She recently performed the track at Modern Love to a packed room of listeners who knew every word, even with the album only being out for a short couple of weeks. Chloe Stankowski is a voice for those who are looking for somewhere to belong, starting with the validation that one feels while listening to her music, to the way she unifies her audience at live shows by encouraging us to embrace our identity as we sing along at the top of our lungs. Learn more about Chloe Stankowski in our Q&A interview below and listen to her latest album Chloe out everywhere now.
REVERIE: Welcome Chloe! We love your new album - how are you feeling about it now that it’s out in the world?
Chloe Stankowski: Very excited and thrilled! It feels good. I’ve put out some mixtapes and EP’s before. But I never considered them to be albums. So much went into this one compared to previous work I’ve done.
REVERIE: How would you describe your sound to someone that may be new to your music and what are some of the themes you explore on Chloe?
Chloe Stankowski: This project specifically would fit under alternative pop or hip-hop. Alternative is a good catch-all because there’s some variety throughout the album. This album was a really long process creating it. I started working on this record when I came out as trans at the end of 2020/early 2021. I was going through a lot, healing, grieving, dealing with heartbreak. That was the basis of it at the start. Then I felt like it needed to grow and evolve, this can’t be the whole story. So as you progress throughout the album, it changes to a more positive outlook. I become more joyous. I turn my loss into liberation. My heartbreak into healing. My perspective and mindset changes. Even my voice becomes more effeminate closer to the end and its evident that I’ve chronicled the way I’ve changed as a person from beginning to end.
REVERIE: What were you listening to throughout the making of this record?
Chloe Stankowski: I would probably say Frank Ocean is a big one for me. He never rushed his projects. He takes four years to make an album. I used to put out a project every year, but then I took a four year break to figure myself out for this album. It gave me patience for the process. I don’t need to oversaturate when it comes to my music, it felt affirming to take my time.
Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Chloe Stankowski @ Modern Love
REVERIE: I really admire the way you’ve promoted this album so far too and I think people are finding the album and themes very relatable. Your social media stands out and it seems like you’re having fun with it. And you also played a show out in Sacramento!
Chloe Stankowski: It was so much fun! Any time I get to travel and play my music somewhere, it’s an honour and a blessing. Everyone I met in Sacramento was supportive. They have a great scene there and are very welcoming to me.
REVERIE: And what has your experience been like in the scene here?
Chloe Stankowski: I’m born and raised in Calgary. It’s been great. I started out more in the traditional hip-hop and rap scene when I was 16, so it’s been a decade for me now. But I’ve really been playing shows and performing here for a really long time. The way its evolved has been insane. I feel like it’s at this new point that a lot of people here have been waiting for. There’s a lot more unity and people who are situated within different genres and styles and sounds and scenes. But now we are all embracing each other. There was a time where I didn’t feel that I had a place or space for my art or voice. I felt very much like an outcast. And I’m really happy to feel more ‘together’ with the scene as of late.
REVERIE: Can you tell us a bit about the lead single, “I’m So Awkward”?
Chloe Stankowski: This is one of my favourite songs off the record. As soon as I made it, I knew. And anyone I showed it to was just like “this is the one, there’s something special about it”. I’m really proud of it! Huge shout out to Run the Birbs on CBC for using this song on their show too. That was an incredible moment for me and I’ve always wanted to hear my song on television.
For the music video, me and one of my good friends Jordan Lee (@JVisualLee) - he worked with me on my artistic and creative direction. He helped bring this song to life visually. We found a studio space downtown and I knew that I wanted certain colours in the video, the idea of being a plastic doll in a box. Social situations where I get anxious and nervous and I get awkward. So it was just a culmination of these things that I wanted to bring to life. It’s also a fun track to play live because it’s really easy for people to pick up the hook by the end of the track!