Rising star alert: Chloe Gill
Independent Newcastle singer-songwriter Chloe Gill has unveiled her brand new single titled ‘Something In The Winter’, a highly relatable, folk-rock track from the talented artist that will surely cement her place as one of our brightest rising stars and is bound to catapult her onto a lot of people’s playlists. We caught up with the charismatic Chloe to discuss ‘Something In The Winter’, her inspirations & influences and what it is like being an independent artist from a musically rich town.
For those who haven’t heard your music before, how would you describe your sound?
I always find this question tricky to answer because my music style/genre is pretty broad, and my background of music as a child was crazy eclectic thanks to my parents, from Sting to Chuck Mangione to John Farnham to Quincy Jones to Michael Jackson and then Miles Davis. When I was young, I had lessons on trumpet because my dad played trumpet. I found a love for singing, playing jazz and exploring my musicianship. I also had the pleasure of working in lots of different types of ensembles, attending music camps, songwriting camps and workshops and travelling overseas to play a lot of music!
I really love creating stories, using songwriting to also be a storyteller. Genre-wise wise I always say folk-rock.
Growing up, my inspirations were artists like Missy Higgins and Joni Mitchell. As my artistry has evolved from that stripped-back piano and vocal and they are both, of course, still major influences and inspirations to my sound. However, over my more recent releases, my music has rang true of artists like Gang Of Youths, Sharon Van Etten, Angie McMahon and Maggie Rogers, and I would say my sound is most similar to them. I also really love Celtic music and their melodies/licks. I take a lot of inspiration from that when writing my melody work, harmony parts and my runs. It’s really so freeing singing like that and telling my heartfelt stories at the same time.
Chloe, you have just shared your brand-new track ‘Something In The Winter’, How did you celebrate the release?
Well, in the past, I haven’t really gone super wild with a release party or anything because I usually always have a single launch. But this time… I’ve switched it up with both! I had some friends around at my place for a single release party with pizza, nibbles, drinks and cake. yay! A little celebration of the track was deserved. It was nice, too, because this song is such a pivotal moment in my life with my ADHD and my artistry. I am excited for the projects to follow this, so to celebrate the start of it with this track is really special. So yeah, I loved being able to have a party of sorts with my closest people.
We are also continuing the party on April 27th at The Lass O'Gowrie Hotel in Newcastle for a single launch show with Sydney duo ALIBII and local band Chai Chester.
“My songs share stories and messages of self-worth, strength and mental health.”
Tell us about the new song. What inspired you to write this one?
Something In The Winter - Cover Art
Music is my biggest release/outlet for everything in my life, especially for my feelings and emotions, good or bad. It’s so important for everyone to have a positive and healthy way to deal with things. I think listening to, playing, writing or seeing live music specifically is so powerful for growth and healing. So for me, it’s to turn those thoughts, experiences and feelings into songs. Finding out I had ADHD makes a lot of sense looking back, but it was a pretty big thing to take. Especially after 20 years of life. Feelings of embarrassment, fear, anxiety, happiness, confusion, and everything of the sort came out of it, and I felt like I had to relearn “me”. It was bittersweet and overwhelming. So this song came out of that experience because I had to and really wanted to put those feelings somewhere. I also think it’s important to share this with my audience, this is who I am. When I believed I could make music for a living, I really wished to create a place of support through my music. My songs share stories and messages of self-worth, strength and mental health. I care about embodying authenticity throughout my career and allowing my listeners, neurodivergent or not, to also feel supported, comfortable and understood.
As not only the artist but the songwriter and producer as well, did you face any challenges during the creative process?
Not really… I find recording the most fulfilling element of my songwriting process. When I am in the studio, I am my best self. It’s the chance for me to get all the excitement and the ideas out and make them something real. Something happens to me when I get to record; I escape the world and go into a zone of “it's time get this done, make it good, have fun and see what happens”. I try to just enjoy myself without judgment or pressure, and my brain has a party. It is quite honestly the best thing. This song was an easy one to record, and it was fun. At times a bit emotional, especially with recording the vocals, but I had a great group of people behind me supporting this process, which I am very lucky to have. The track was engineered, mixed and mastered by my friend Gareth Hudson in his studio space, Hazy Cosmic Jive, and I had my band mates Eli Love (Drums) and Brandon Yarnold (Bass) play on the track too.
“I also really like listening to the vocals because they aren’t perfect but honest, and that makes me really emotional. ”
Do you have a favourite line or part of the song that you listen out for or that makes you smile?
Mainly to the credentials of Gareth’s insane production skills and mixing on the track, the middle 8 is my favourite part the automated EQ over the vocals is so cool and something he just tried and sent to me, he wasn’t sure what I was going to think but I loved it and sent him so many excited messaged hahah! I also really like listening to the vocals because they aren’t perfect, but honest, and that makes me really emotional.
Will ‘Something In The Winter’ be featured on a future album, or is it a stand-alone single?
I would love to have it on an album next year. That is all I am going to say on that just yet but yeah, something may be brewing…
“everyone needs to find healthy ways to process and deal with things”
‘Something In The Winter’ is about your ADHD diagnosis, and your previous track ‘Firework Night’ addresses your struggles with your Endometriosis. Do you find writing about these obstacles helps you to navigate your feelings about these highly sensitive topics? Is it a cathartic process for you?
Like I said before, everyone needs to find healthy ways to process and deal with things. I think, yeah, I do it because I don’t always know how to talk about it, and if I try, I usually find myself getting super angry or upset. It’s not always fair to put that on someone else. I think you never know what someone else is going through or has been through. I find writing songs is the easiest way for me to make sense of it and hope to move forward without playing it over and over again.
Are there positives and negatives in being neurodivergent regarding making music?
I don’t know if it's because of my ADHD or not; I guess because it’s still so new, this would be something I am still learning about. However, I have some pretty big dreams and goals and gosh, my mind can create so many amazing things! At times, it can be so special because it motivates and excites me, and then other times, it can be really damaging because I start putting pressure on myself or procrastinating out of doubt, and it doesn’t happen. There have been things I have missed out on that could’ve been great opportunities or intentions for something that I didn’t see through because of my ADHD, and that's in the song. Something positive that does come to mind is my confidence to try things, I don’t really think about the bad or the “what if’s” sometimes because I just go for it, and I appreciate that I can be ambitious like that.
“I have learnt so much on my own, and I have completed some awesome stuff independently. ”
Chloe, you’re an independent artist. Is this by choice so you have complete freedom to create, or you just haven’t received the right offer yet?
I am independent. Yes, I have thought about having a team. I would honestly love one if given the chance with the right people. In an ideal world, having someone to support me in my planning, help me with the workload and to book awesome shows would be such a dream. However, I have learnt so much on my own, and I have completed some awesome stuff independently. I am still learning so much about the industry and what it takes. Yes, it is a lot of work to do EVERYTHING, and I hate doing it 9 times out of 10, but I know that I will look back and appreciate how hard I have worked and what I already know when the time for a manager or team comes.
Also, the world of the industry and the people in it when you get into those higher tiers, they don’t always have the artists best intentions at heart, it's even harder to make money and you start to lose control so I would also say I am pretty lucky that I get to be the driver and all the parts of the car navigating my project and journey of my career. It’s awesome!
You live in the regional centre of Newcastle, which has its own rich history with Australian music. Is it difficult trying to make a career out of your music not living in a capital city, or does the culture ingrained in the area make up for any downfalls?
Newcastle is a musically enriched town with incredibly strong artists across a variety of genres and identities. I grew up in the Newcastle music scene, playing, performing, writing and going to shows. There is always something buzzing in the Newcastle Music scene. I feel lucky to have started out here. There is definitely a “hub” for live music here, and it’s awesome that there are regular platforms and spaces for locals to create and play. It can still be hard sometimes to get people to come out to shows. I know a lot of local artists really struggle with ticket and merch sales, too. I have been lucky to have been blessed with three awesome guys who play in my band with me Eli Love my amazing drummer who also plays in a super fun energy packed local rock/reggae band The Appointments, Brandon Yarnold on bass who is the nicest and most talented guy I know, who plays across the lands on keys, bass and vocals for many other artists gigs and the unmatched Jesse O’Neill on lead guitar and vocals who also plays for Brad Cox’s band and a local bluegrass band Midnight Chicken. It’s funny because I think a lot of artists are quite comfortable here; they know it’s so good here. I personally can’t wait to get out of Newcastle and pursue my music full time elsewhere, ideally the UK. To try my hand in moving out of home to expand my career, audience, memories and my connections.
“I don’t think our government cares enough about our art surviving and about finding ways to support and fund art from the roots down. ”
As an independent artist, do you think the 25% minimum quota of Australian music on our radio stations is a fair number, given the ever-expanding talent pool we have in this country? Would you like to see that number increased or even a dedicated Aussie station? What are your thoughts on streaming services? Are they helping or hurting the industry?
The Australian industry is full of so many incredible acts made up of insanely brave and strong creative fighters for the world. Artists like Grinspoon, Jack River, Amyl and The Sniffers, Gang Of Youths, and Midnight Oil, all perfect examples of storytellers who push for a voice in politics and use their music to raise awareness on important issues in our world, country and industry. They inspire me so much to use my music to have a voice.
In regards to this industry, I think it’s pretty corrupt. I don’t think our government cares enough about our art surviving and about finding ways to support and fund art from the roots down. Like I said before, music is a healer. It is proven there are so many studies on the importance of live music in supporting people's mental well-being and happiness. Especially out of the pandemic, the nature of our whole society has changed. Great stories and great music release insane chemicals in our brains, like serotonin and dopamine. They make us feel good, the goosebumps on our arms from a good song, the tears from an artist's lyrics or the screams produced by an insane solo, music moves us and heals us. The artist does so much, especially if they’re independent. Essentially, we as the artists make so much happen and are the boat rockers that create noise. I am proud to be able to do that.
Artists aren't paid enough, no, and we are losing our opportunities to play. It’s not just in radio, it's across streaming services too. Platforms like Apple Music and Spotify allow people to reach and listen to our music; however, it's basically for free. This is partially why purchasing music and purchasing physical ways to stream are so important, plus the quality of streaming music on Spotify SUCKS!!! People are missing out on some incredible shows, stories, projects, and festivals, and I think it’s wildly unfair. Radio is one thing that did survive throughout COVID-19; however, not a lot of stations play original music, not on commercial radio, and it's really very hard to get your music played on those platforms. I really do think there needs to be a shift in how the Australian public and our government view, support, and see the industry and the longevity of emerging artists, and live music.
Who inspires you both personally and professionally? And why?
Amy Vee is a local artist and friend of mine, and she is the most divine person I have ever met. Not only does she write absolutely incredible music that is consistently good, but she is also incredibly easygoing and professional. She is a beautiful mother, a multi-instrumentalist, an advocate for mental health in the industry, a music wellbeing researcher and is completing her PHD. She is a weapon, and her songs have inspired a lot of my writing. When I was 12, she gave me a copy of one of her earlier albums, and I used to listen to it on repeat in my room, fan girling.
Amy works on the board of the Australian Mental Health organisation Listen Up Music, I was lucky enough in 2023 to win first place in their songwriting Prize, which gave me the chance to record my single Firework Night at Studios 301 in Sydney.
Amy and I also share a connection with the same producer across our projects, Gareth Hudson, who has worked with Amy for several years. Amy and I have collaborated on some great projects and have played a couple of times on the same line ups locally, most recently at The Stag and Hunter Newcastle with Listen Up Music. We have spoken about collaborating and writing together, which is yet to happen, but I am sure it will soon. I look up to her as a person and as an artist. She radiates ways in how I wish to approach my career and growth as an artist, and I am thankful to have her in my life as a friend.
“I would love to play festivals! The truth is there aren’t many left to play at the moment. ”
Are there plans to go out on tour or take your music onto the festival circuit soon?
Yes, and I am doing exactly that over June and July; dates and venues are coming soon. I would love to play festivals! The truth is there aren’t many left to play at the moment.
Where was your first gig? Was it a success or flop?
In 2018, Beaumont St Markets was my first gig, my singing teacher at the time lined it up for me. I had only just started playing guitar so wasn’t super confident yet but I jumped up and had lots of people pass by and collected some coins in my case. It was scary but fun and clearly made me want to do more
My first original show was at The Dungeon which is a little venue under a church in Newcastle. A great space. I had about 50 friends and family come watch and it was really fun. My mum helped me book the venue and my school friends and guitar teacher at the time helped put my band together. I remember it was a sunny, boiling hot day and everyone was sweating so much hahaha. I have some really special pictures from that night, I remember it well. It was also just really special having so many close significant people from my life there watching and supporting.
“I would love to meet, have dinner and collab with Dave from Gang Of Youths”
Let’s play Tour, Collab, Meet. Who would you like to Tour with? Collab with? And meet?
Artists I would love to both meet, have dinner with and collab with would be Dave from Gang Of Youths, Lior, Joni Mitchell and Daniel Johns. I would love to perform and tour with all of them, Gang of Youths especially. I also would love to perform my songs with a symphony orchestra backing me.
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout-out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
My family, they support me so much, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. In the earlier days, my parents helped me a couple of times to fund projects, and I am so grateful that before I had my license, they would drive me around and arounddddd. So many trips to Sydney and back with my mum, especially, and so many events, auditions, workshops and shows. I know not everyone has a family that supports their dreams or can, I am really grateful and lucky to be able to say I have been blessed with that.
“Keep supporting and streaming, and come to shows if you can. That in-person connection is so much more important than online”
Do you have a message for all the Chloe Gill fans and supporters?
Just thank you for being here on this ride with me, thank you for those people who have seen me grow from the beginning. Thank you so much to my special friends and the people in my life who inspire me and keep me afloat. I am really so lucky to have so many amazing people in my circle. Keep supporting and streaming, and come to shows if you can. That in-person connection is so much more important than online. It means a lot, and I really hope my music has connected with you in some way.
Follow Chloe on https://linktr.ee/chloegill and @chloegillmusicc
Interview by Michelle Symes
April 2025