I am writing this in support of Chloe Bailey. I have been watching her since she stepped out into the spotlight by herself in 2020. I think she is a phenomenal talent: she dances, she sings she acts. But there is something… off about her career thus far. It’s like she’s doing all the work but it doesn’t seem to be noticed in the way she should. She is a generational talent but there’s a disconnect with the audience. We don’t … understand her for a lack of better terms. I think girl is a musical genius in her own right but her work gets lost in translation.
So here is me spitballing something ideas of how I would love to see Chloe Bailey switch it up in the next few years so that she can blossom into the full-fledge star I know she could be. There might be shade, but it’s written with love. And at the end of the day, what do I know, I am sitting on my couch.
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Ms. Chloe Bailey, this is no shade, girl, but I know you can sing. We know you can sing. You know you can sing. You sing, but we do not fully HEAR you. Why? It’s because you’re doing too much. I, as a consumer, don’t know how much is really you and how much is branding. The “good-girl gone bad” trope was too rushed. There was no backstory. You needed to build a backstory before you launched. (Think: Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour lore.)
Chloe has had the (I hate to say the word but) privilege of entering the music scene a bit sheltered from its harsh realities under the tutelage of a popstar. These girls were able to keep a young and soulful audience for a lot longer than a lot of artists of their calibre. Let’s think of the likes of Chris Brown, Usher, Aaliyah. This is not bad thing by any means, actually I am happy the got to perserve their innocence because after all the frightening stories we hear about you people in the entertainment industry, they seem well adjusted.
I have been watching interviews and I think Chloe has only just begun to see the industry for what it is: transactional. It’s been five years since she has just her own skin in the game, and I think she’s done super well in that time. However, there is a certain celling she has reached, I feel like this celling was artificial or forced on her. But here’s the thing I know she want more. She’s a creative force. I want towant her to see her star rise.
Let’s talk about 5 clear and authentic steps she could incorporate into her career moving forward:
🎧 Become a Producer
Listen, my love, do me a favor: put the mic away, sit down, and maybe just produce for a while? No, wait…. collaborate.
Chole has often said that she does a lot of her own producing of her work and I guess perhaps a lot of the writing herself? I am too lazy to go check the song credits so don’t shoot me. She knows what he is doing. However, I think it’s a marketing issue not a skills issue. Her sound doesn’t translate to larger audiences well. , Actually, I’ll speak for myself your sound, image and artistry to me do not tranlate cohesively.
I think Chloe did like two years of straight producing and writing for everyone she could get her hands on in the industry, she would be in such a great spot. Didn’t she mention that she did all the producing for previous albums and never got paid/credited for it? Girl, become a producer/songwriter and go get your money up for a while. Think: Victoria Monét.
Unfortunately, the industry loves our sound (read: black culture) and you know what people like to hear. Here’s what you do: make the hits that feed the machine. Maybe get your name on other people’s songs, get you a producer tag and stick it onto the beats. Be known as the genius behind the songs that blow up. (Think: Leon Thomas). Get people primed to your sound. Eventually, when you come back to make your own stuff, they’ll be warmed up and ready for you.
📚 Become a Student Again
You will also need to spend time getting to know other vibes and sounds. You don’t want to be pigeonholed at this point in your career. It’s way too early. You’ve seen success with the Afro-Beat/Caribbean market in the recent year, right? “Greatest Bend Over” was a good start. If I were you, I would be thinking about how else you can make your mark in that market, since it is growing. Again, it doesn’t necessarily always have to be singing, but let’s figure out what you can take from that space to build your image. Carnival/SOCA music be saying some freaky sh*t, and it seems like that’s where you like to be. There’s something there, alrighty.
Next, you need to create your own sound. How? Well, I don’t know too much of her influences. Chloe, who do you authentically listen to in your downtime? I feel you are too focused on being considered an R&B artist, but maybe that isn’t fully the path. Chloe, can you point out the musical influences whose life reflects your own? How did they create? What sounds/stories shaped their life? How does it parallel to yours? What are the true lines in the stories they tell? Get to know yourself again, then come back and tell your story.
👯♀️ Get the Band Back Together (Occasionally)
Chloe, you see how B uses Destiny’s Child like fine china? She only brings it out for special occasions, but when she does, we all remember the occasion and talk about it. Think: Coachella or the “Say Yes” music video (it is technically Michelle’s song but follow my train of thought). I need you to follow that handbook: bring the band back together….. occasionally. Yes, y’all are solo artists but doesn’t mean you can’t be collaborators.
When you combine your powers, you and Halle are magical. Ungodly Hour was such a f*cking banger; girl did you know it got me through my heartbreak in the pandemic? Y’all were talking to me. It’s like light and dark, sassy and sweet, angel and siren. Your voices play well with each other. You balance each other out.
So here’s what you do: When you have a project that you want people to really HEAR what you are talking about, get your sister involved. Musically. her softer voice rounds out your edges. I say edges because i don’t have a better word for it. Your voice has a sharpness to, this is not a bad thing at all btw. Halle just adds layers of softness to the mix so that people hear what you are talking about rather than only listening because they want to see a spectacle.
Ungodly Hour wasn’t a fluke. Y’all were in your creative bag in 2020. How can you incorporate the lessons from that album together into your solo projects and also your visuals.
🙏 Conclusion and a Plea
All in all, keep going. The audience will catch up to your visions eventually. And truthfully, by the time they do, you are going to be onto the next thing. Do not keep waiting for the success; understand that success will come once you stop chasing it.
Lastly, this is not about the music but is just me begging you: You are a very beautiful woman. Leave the embarrassing men alone. Find you a kind, wholesome man. You obviously don’t need a man at all, but it’s just something about these men you’ve been linked to that gives very… predatory??? That’s just me, though. I think they just bring too much unnecessary eyeballs and attention to your personal life, but not nearly enough on your work.
Again, you need someone to soften your image out, not blow it up, girl. Do whatever needs to be done to clear house because the less we think we know about your personal life, the better. And if you can’t do that, well, at least give these men the T. Swift treatment.
Bye friend,
Tobi One
