We recently connected with Chloe Ward and have shared our conversation below.

Chloe, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Looking back, I don’t think there was one specific moment of realization, but rather a series of moments, conversations, and a whole lot of trying to force other things to fit. That’s a funny statement to write because I feel like I’m still in the midst of exactly that in other areas of my life. I have to give credit to my mom for enrolling me in piano lessons at the age of six. I loved the idea of it and wanted to be like my Gram, who’s playing has been the score of most of my life. However, the reality of practicing classical music daily was a completely different story. I begged to quit almost weekly. Thankfully, the exit door was never an option. I quickly discovered the thrill of mastering a difficult song and the butterflies of performing at our annual recital–center stage, spotlit, with an audience of hundreds. It wasn’t long before the thrill became a love. Growing up in church has also defined me musically. As a little girl, I watched my mom sing and Gram lead worship from the piano. I so desperately wanted to be up there with them. However, the interference was double-slit. I was an extremely shy child, and also not a very good singer. Truly, it still does not come naturally to me and never has. But it was something I wanted and worked to get better at. When I was ten, I began taking piano lessons by ear and that was pivotal for me. I started to hear the piano in a new way and began singing while playing. I wrote my first song at 11. Shuffling through some old journals recently, I stumbled upon lyrics I wrote around that time. Let’s just say, in the truest form of pre-teen angst, things were dark. I continued writing throughout my teens. It became a way of expression, but not a consistent one. It was like a friend you call every three months or so to catch up. Then college came calling and writing became my therapy, coping mechanism, and escape. Those years were hard emotionally. I was lonely, burned out, and truly lacked direction. I struggled to find a path worth pursuing in my classes. It was also a time of major transition in my family. Over and over I would turn to the piano and piece that puzzle of emotion in my head onto a page. I can remember sitting in P-155 (Intro to Psychology and Brain Sciences) fully present physically yet completely absent, engulfed in a rhyme scheme. I began sharing my songs with my parents and close friends. One of those friends invited me to a music conference that allowed attendees to submit original work for critique and feedback. I let one of my professors know about the trip, and to my surprise and utter panic, she asked to hear the song I would be submitting. A few days after sending an mp3 file via email, she responded and asked why I wasn’t pursuing music.

Chloe, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a singer/songwriter and artist, I feel that I am gaining the confidence and skill to make an entrance into the industry. Honestly, I don’t consider myself having made one quite yet. During college, I desperately wanted to move to Nashville. In 2019, my mom and I came as close to it as I was to finishing my degree. The timing just wasn’t right and deep down I knew I needed to see those last three semesters through. Finally in 2022, I made the move by myself. By that time, I had a small support system of friends and a couple cowriters too. I am currently writing and releasing music for my own artistry. On occasion, I get to write for another artist which I also deeply enjoy. I have released a handful of singles and an EP called Required Credits that I’m very proud of. Each one has been a stepping stone and learning curve. I am most proud of the growth in my lyricism and creative collaboration with others. My hope for listeners is that they feel understood in my lyrics as well as a real sense of peace and joy.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I’m sure looking at my situation from a non-creative point of view would be quite interesting. I have a Bachelors degree in Psychology yet I’m working full time at a small shop in Nashville because flexibility for music trumps financial security. It doesn’t make a lot of sense and it is quite unromantic. I have very limited time to do the things I feel passionately about as it’s swallowed up in things I have to do. But I am thankful for this chapter of the journey. Christopher Nolan is one of my biggest creative inspirations–I’m ever so slightly obsessed. One evening on my 45 minute commute home from work, I was listening to an interview with him. He explained how in his early days of filmmaking he worked a full-time job and the only day he had to shoot was Saturday. I found such encouragement in that and think of it when I burn myself steaming a shipment of clothes. Truly, I don’t think one can judge a creative journey from a “non-creative” lens. It’s going to be blurry. At the end of the day, the art we all enjoy was a risk someone had to take.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

A few books that heave impacted my management style are Good To Great by Jim Collins, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, and Ordering Your Private World by Gordan MacDonald. Another book that has impacted my creativity is The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. Reading is something I’m trying to do more of because I believe it informs a person’s writing and adds language to it. I’m also an avid podcast listener. Remember that 45 minute commute I mentioned? I love Tape Notes by In The Woods, The New Music Business with Ari Herstand, And The Writer Is… with Ross Golan, and Team Deakins with James and Roger Deakins. Technically, that last one is a film industry podcast, but I think there is so much value in listening to creative minds from other lanes talk about their work. When I consider visuals for a song, I like to imagine it as little movie. What would it look like? How will it leave the audience feeling?

I’ll sign off with one of my favorite quotes from The Creative Act, “The magic is not in the analyzing or the understanding. The magic lives in the wonder of what we do not know.”
― Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloecward/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chloecwardmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wTqEPGHd2aY28JiUEcuGw
• Soundcloud: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wTqEPGHd2aY28JiUEcuGw

Image Credits

Edna Noel
Steven Sloan
Kalan Hendrickson
Tyler Skye