Chloe Tang isn’t waiting for anyone to hand her permission. She’s writing, recording, producing, styling, story boarding, editing, and doing it all on her own terms.
“I just want people to feel empowered,” she says, reflecting on what drives her to keep creating. “The way Doja or Avril Lavigne made me feel when I was younger. If I can do that for even a couple people, that’s enough.”
With stunning visuals, self-produced videos, and a distinct sound that pulls from punk, hip-hop, and indie R&B, Tang has quietly built a world that’s unmistakably hers. She’s a full-package creative with no label and no time for anyone who says she needs them.
Tang started with piano lessons, thanks to parents who spotted her natural musical instincts early. “I just always loved it,” she says. “They sent me to different schools that had music programs. They were always supportive.” By high school, she was writing her own songs and slowly realizing that this was something bigger than a hobby.
Though her current work leans edgy and experimental, her early influences are delightfully on-brand. “Avril Lavigne was my very first musical influence,” she says. “Now, Doja Cat is probably my number one. As far as, like, iconic, high-level artists go.”
And when she says “influence,” she means it in the most immersive way. “I get super obsessive,” she laughs. “If I like something, I’ll listen to it over and over again. Then I find myself subconsciously writing melodies that sound similar. It’s just in my brain.
For Tang, songs usually start as loose notes in her phone. “I wouldn’t say I’m the strongest lyricist,” she admits. “But I’m really good with melody, concepts, and the big picture.” That’s because she’s always thinking beyond the track—toward the visuals, the rollout, the entire package.
“When I’m writing, I always want to make sure the lyrics, the melodies, and the visuals make sense for the concept. I need a thesis. That way it feels cohesive.”
That need for cohesion has made her one of the most distinct DIY voices in pop right now. Her visuals for recent singles like Communicate are bold, cinematic, and sharp. It’s something you’d expect from a team of stylists, directors, and art directors. But the truth is, Chloe is doing most of it herself.
“I produce all my music videos,” she says. “I come up with the concept, the deck, the wardrobe, everything. Then I bring it to Brad – he’s an amazing director and editor – and we just do it. My friends help out, too. I ask for favors. I ask for things for free. I’m not afraid to just go for it.”
And it shows.
“You see something and you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s Chloe Tang,’” I say. She smiles. “Thank you. That’s literally the best compliment.”
"I’m trying to find the balance - doing different things while still making it all feel like me.”
A few years ago, Tang made the decision to leave Los Angeles and move back home to Phoenix. The change has been transformative, personally and creatively.
“When I was in LA, I was being pulled in a million directions. Every session, someone would be like, ‘Ooh, you should sound like this,’ or ‘Try doing what this other artist is doing.’ It got really overwhelming,” she says.
“I used to be such a people pleaser. I’d be like, ‘Okay, maybe you’re right.’ And then I’d lose track of what I actually wanted.”
Back in Phoenix, the distractions are gone, and so is the pressure to fit into anyone else’s version of what she should be. “I’m listening to the music I loved in high school again. I’m writing about real things. It feels like me now.”
Tangs’s newest single, “Me & My Baby,” is a rare kind of track for her – a straight-up love song.
“It’s like, ‘This is my person. Don’t fuck with us,’” she says, laughing. “It’s way more in the hip-hop space than my usual stuff. And the visuals we’re filming reflect that. I’m really excited to lean into that edgier side.”
She’s aware the industry prefers artists who pick a lane and stay in it, but that’s never been her style. “I get bored. I need variety for my own sanity,” she says. “But I’m trying to find the balance – doing different things while still making it all feel like me.”
As for the album? “Once someone gives me some money, we’re there,” she deadpans. “I’ve got the songs. I just need someone to be like, ‘Here’s $50,000. Go.’”
With over 55,000 monthly Spotify listeners, Tangs’s already created a following that doesn’t need convincing. But what she wants most is for her music to connect, personally and emotionally.
“When I was younger, I couldn’t believe there were people out there writing their feelings down and putting them into songs. And then those songs became a huge part of my life,” she says. “How fucking cool would it be if I could do that for someone else?”
She pauses. “Like, maybe it helps them through a breakup. Or makes them feel hot when they’re getting ready to go out. That’s literally it. That’s what I want.”
Stream Chloe Tang here, and follow her on Instagram, and TikTok for upcoming releases, visuals, and maybe even that debut album.
