We recently connected with Chloe Halpin and have shared our conversation below.
Chloe, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I got into guitar and writing songs around age 11. I had been drumming my whole life, but this was the first time I felt challenged by an art form. I’ve always been mesmerized by the way people can play guitar, so naturally I wanted to learn different techniques. My grandfather bought me my very own small guitar, and kept one full sized at a summer house we would visit often. I always had one by to practice my barre chords. He taught me whenever he was around, and I also had a great guitar teacher for a few years, Frank Porcelli. Frank is a great man from Long Island who taught me strumming and chord progressions. I’m so thankful for the teachers and adults who encouraged me from a young age. I used to think I would have to know every single thing about guitars to be good. If I could go back to 12/13 year old me, just starting out and finding her sound, I would tell her to breathe. The world isn’t going to move on without you. Learn and absorb, slow down and retain. The biggest obstacle was always my own anxiety thinking I am going to run out of time. I know I am exactly where I need to be right now.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Chloe, and I’ve been writing songs since I was about 11 years old! I was born in Cincinnati, but moved to Long Island when I was 2. I have always been a sojourner. I was raised on the East End of LI, and then moved to Nashville at the age of 17. I am a girl who loves stories. I’m the one on the edge of her seat at the most obvious thriller, the one holding tissues during a first dance, and the (self proclaimed) biggest empath you will meet. I think there is beauty and music in everything we do, and my goal as a songwriter is to find that song that comes out of even the darkest situations. Music has connected me with so many great people, some who I never would have met if it wouldn’t have been for a concert, gig, open mic, and more. My parents are church planters who went to CBC (Cincinnati Bible College), before moving up to Long Island, New York to plant their church. Growing up in church, I was surrounded by music. My mom is our Worship Minister and was my first band leader. She taught me how to lead by example and to run a rehearsal. I played full drum kit all through middle and high school, and percussion in the school band.
I got into Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Music Business and Entertainment’s Songwriting program the spring of my senior year of High School and graduated from the University in just 3 years with a BA in Songwriting. Studying at The Mike Curb College and living in Nashville was everything I had hoped for and more. I graduated in three years with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Songwriting, but even with a busy schedule, I still found time to explore, network, and learn from the rich tradition of songwriters who paved the way. It kick started a career that I’ve always dreamed of. In 2021, I was honored as the recipient of the Sag Harbor American Music Festival’s Young Musicians Initiative Vocalist of the Year award, and have played at the festival each year since. That year, I also released “Pictionary” and “Show Stopper.”
In April 2022, after living in Nashville for six years, I made the decision to begin touring full-time. Within days, I assembled a team and secured national shows to grow her fanbase. I played 71 shows at 33 venues that year, including iconic spots like The Bitter End and Joanne Trattoria in New York City. This was the beginning of a continued residency at The Mill House Inn in Yaphank, NY, and Salt and Loft in West Hampton, NY, as well as private shows at venues like The Swordfish in West Hampton Beach, a celebrity cosmetic surgeon’s private house party, and the Home Depot 2023 Color of the Year release party in Southampton, NY. My first Las Vegas tour was scheduled for one week, but after just two days, the venue asked me to stay for a second week. I played 15 shows at seven different venues, highlighted by joining Ian Crawford (Panic! At The Disco, The Cab, Never Shout Never) on the MGM Level Up stage.
This past year I played 120 shows, including five festivals, a second Vegas tour, 63 venues across seven states and countless jams and open mics, as I continues to expand my fanbase. My kick-A band and I played a wicked performance at the Great South Bay Music Festival where I was interviewed by Kevin Vesey of News12 Long Island! I never stop challenging myself as both a writer and a performer. Now, with this amazing gift and support system I have, I get to travel and connect with humans of all different backgrounds. I get to hear their stories, feel their joy and their pain with them. I get to tell their stories and bring a bit of entertainment to what can be such a lonely world sometimes. I hope to continue to spread that joy everywhere I go.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Getting to record my own music and sharing it with the world has been the most rewarding by far. It’s all I have ever wanted to do, is share my songs with the world. Getting into The Mike Curb College of Music Business and Entertainment’s Songwriting program and having that head start of being surrounded by like-minded students helped thrive that dream. I was able to release my first single “Back Woods King” in the fall of 2018, and I have released 14 original songs since, with many more on the way!! I’ve recently had the great pleasure of working with an extraordinary engineer and producer these past few months, Cynthia Daniels at Monk Music Studios in East Hampton, NY. We’ve recorded a few acoustic tracks that will be released throughout the upcoming year, but this past January I got my band out to the studio to record 2 full mixes that I am freaking ecstatic for. These recordings have been a long time coming for me, but I am so grateful for the patience my team encouraged me to have so I could really discover all the sounds I wanted. I cannot believe how much I love these recordings and I cannot wait to release them this summer!
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
The best, direct way to support an artist is financially and the best way to do that is to buy their merchandise. Online, in person, anywhere. Shirts, CDs, hats, anything! Buying it directly from the artist will guarantee that they make that money they are working so hard to earn. However, and more importantly, the best way to support an artist emotionally is by being a fan-friend. Go to their shows, share their new music online, learn all the words to a song and make a TikTok of you lip syncing. Be silly and fun with it! ‘Cause we’re having fun making you music!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chloehalpin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Chloehalpinmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chloehalpinmusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-halpin-474516145
- Twitter: https://x.com/chloehalpin1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr6VPkgjLVG_EOIeVKweuYnu0NA3YYFEQ
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rgIrisusENaopUphTVYTB?si=lS1oKKxNSNu1e_7–WHrBw
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/chloe-halpin/1437201847
https://chloe-halpin-music.printify.me/
Image Credits
Patrick Hughes Photography (2)
Laurie Bennett
Alexis Rae
Kristen Sarno Halpin