To call Chloe Star a rising star feels like missing the point entirely. She isn't climbing a ladder; she’s taking a sledgehammer to the foundations and forging a path entirely her own. Blending her dual Native American and Iranian heritage into an intoxicating, genre-defying musical cocktail, Star has emerged as one of the most compelling, unfiltered voices in modern music. She is a true trailblazer, fearlessly unique, proudly queer, and fiercely authentic.
Photo: Lucienne a
Speaking with Star, her energy is immediate and infectious. There is no pretence, no scripted publicist speak, just an artist wholly comfortable in her own skin, ready to dive straight into the deep end.
Comfort in the Dark
Listening to Star's music, what immediately stands out is her willingness to walk into heavy emotional territory. Her music doesn't flinch from pain; it dives headfirst into it. When asked about her affinity for exploring dark places in her songwriting, Star smiles with a calm, grounded warmth.
"I find it very comforting," she explains softly. "I just feel like there's been so many dark moments in my life that it just kind of comes naturally, I guess. But I would say that I find balance. In each song, there's balance with the dark, and I always try and bring it back in to some lighter aspects, musically."
That balance creates a captivating friction. Even at her darkest, her tracks carry an undeniable, cathartic pulse, a thrilling contradiction where heartbreak meets high energy. When prompted on whether her songs feel like a bit of a contradiction, uplifting yet inherently dark, Star nods in total agreement.
"Yeah, completely," she says. "I even have this one song called 'Emergency Contact', and to me, I think it's a kind of dark, sad song, but when you listen to it, it's a feel-good song. If you really pay attention to the lyrics, it can definitely come off pretty sad and pretty dark. But when you just listen, and if you're with friends and vibing, it's one of those: 'No, we're going to listen to this song when we get ready for the night."
No Rules, Just 'Games'
That fearless attitude hits its fever pitch with her explosive single, 'Games.' Written in New York alongside producer Alan Markley and recorded with a live band, the track is a raw, hook-laden declaration of independence that showcases Star at her most razor-sharp. When asked to share the story behind the release, her face lights up instantly.
"I'm really excited about this song, it's one of my favourites," she beams. "I wrote it when I was in New York, and I worked on it with this amazing producer named Alan Markley, and recorded it with a live band. It's such a fun song. It's basically about really not giving a fuck and just telling this person or these people, 'I'm down to mess around because I'm just good at games. I'm good at being the bad guy, good at being the good guy.' Musically, I'm obsessed with it because it's just come such a long way, and we worked really hard on it, especially the chorus and instrumentally. It gets me really excited."
Storytelling as Sacred Medicine
Beneath the swagger and hooks lies a deep cultural identity that shapes everything Star creates. Born to an Iranian father and a Native American mother, she embodies a rare and powerful collision of heritages that fuels her identity on and off the stage. Asked about her incredible heritage and how it impacts her art, she reflects on the rich lineage behind her music.
"My dad is from Iran, and my mom is Native American," Star explains. "Two very different cultures have come together and collided, and I think it's such a beautiful thing because of how different they are. I personally haven't quite found anyone that's Native American and Persian, which I'm hoping that day comes because I think that'll be so cool.
"Growing up with my mom's side of the family, there are so many traditions, and storytelling is huge," she continues. "Traditional songs are a huge aspect in our culture, and I feel like I was taught as a young kid that music is sacred, and it's so important to tell stories through music. Today, that's pretty much what I'm doing, storytelling. Knowing how important it is and how healing it can be, music is like medicine, and it's medicine for me as well."
The Serotonin of Connection
It’s that visceral vulnerability that has sparked a massive wave across social media, where millions on TikTok and beyond have rallied around her message. When challenged on how mind-blowing it must feel to have so many people connect with her ethos on such a massive scale, Star admits that the reality takes time to process.
"It always is a little confusing because I feel like I'm putting music out also to heal pieces of me," she admits. "Then receiving a response is a whole different experience, my brain can't really make sense of it sometimes. But it's very comforting to know that people are relating. It makes me feel less alone when I go through a specific experience that was so intense, and then I turn it into a song, and people are like, 'Oh my god, I was in that same situation.' It's like, okay, at the end of the day, that's just life. I'm not alone."
When discussing whether music is fundamentally driven by emotion and connection, the core driver that draws listeners to an artist, Star insists it comes down to pure emotional physics. To her, a song is far more than just a melody or a beat; it's a transformative vehicle.
"Totally. I think music is all about connection. I think it's more than just sound," she says. "Each song is like its own universe, and you get to take people on these crazy rides and roller coasters. When you listen to a song, you physically feel different, you know? It does something to your serotonin. I truly believe that it's a form of medicine."
Visibility, Vision, and What Lies Ahead
As a queer woman carving out her space in the industry, the conversation naturally turns to representation, specifically whether queer women and the broader LGBTQIA+ community are finally being heard, or if they remain neglected by the mainstream.
"I do feel like it is getting better now, and there's more visibility," she says thoughtfully. "A lot of the artists that we know at the top of the charts are in the LGBTQ+ community now. Within the past couple of years, it's definitely grown, and there's been more conversations about it. I even think some of these big labels are shifting their perspective. It's taken a lot of time to get to a place like this, but there's definitely a lot more work that needs to be done. There still can be more."
Never one to sit still, Star is channelling that relentless drive into a stacked release schedule. When asked what the future holds for her and where she goes from here, her eyes light up with ambition.
"Well, I'm dropping 'Games' at the end of this month, and then basically every month until the end of the year, I'm dropping a song," she reveals. "So up until December, it'll be at the end of every month. My goal is to be working on more music at the end of this year to have ready for next year. But the goal is a tour. I am working on some show dates in October for an East Coast tour. So, more shows, definitely more music!"
As our conversation winds down, Star offers one final message for the fans who have walked alongside her on this burgeoning journey, a manifesto of total, unapologetic self-acceptance. "I'm so grateful that people are walking on this journey with me, understanding me and also feeling understood," she concludes. "Anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Always be your most authentic self. You don't have to change yourself for anybody. Just be yourself and not give a fuck. Walk how you want to walk, talk how you want to talk, love who you want to love."
As the interview comes to a close, it is abundantly clear that Chloe Star isn’t just playing games, she’s rewriting the rulebook entirely. Armed with her sacred medicine of storytelling, an arsenal of new music, and a refusal to compromise her truth, she is poised to leave an indelible mark on the musical landscape. In an industry so often defined by conformity, Star stands as a defiant beacon for anyone who has ever felt too dark, too different, or simply too much. She isn't just an artist to watch; she is a revolution unfolding in real time.
Written by Louise Philips.
Comfort in the Dark
Listening to Star's music, what immediately stands out is her willingness to walk into heavy emotional territory. Her music doesn't flinch from pain; it dives headfirst into it. When asked about her affinity for exploring dark places in her songwriting, Star smiles with a calm, grounded warmth.
"I find it very comforting," she explains softly. "I just feel like there's been so many dark moments in my life that it just kind of comes naturally, I guess. But I would say that I find balance. In each song, there's balance with the dark, and I always try and bring it back in to some lighter aspects, musically."
That balance creates a captivating friction. Even at her darkest, her tracks carry an undeniable, cathartic pulse, a thrilling contradiction where heartbreak meets high energy. When prompted on whether her songs feel like a bit of a contradiction, uplifting yet inherently dark, Star nods in total agreement.
"Yeah, completely," she says. "I even have this one song called 'Emergency Contact', and to me, I think it's a kind of dark, sad song, but when you listen to it, it's a feel-good song. If you really pay attention to the lyrics, it can definitely come off pretty sad and pretty dark. But when you just listen, and if you're with friends and vibing, it's one of those: 'No, we're going to listen to this song when we get ready for the night."
No Rules, Just 'Games'
That fearless attitude hits its fever pitch with her explosive single, 'Games.' Written in New York alongside producer Alan Markley and recorded with a live band, the track is a raw, hook-laden declaration of independence that showcases Star at her most razor-sharp. When asked to share the story behind the release, her face lights up instantly.
"I'm really excited about this song, it's one of my favourites," she beams. "I wrote it when I was in New York, and I worked on it with this amazing producer named Alan Markley, and recorded it with a live band. It's such a fun song. It's basically about really not giving a fuck and just telling this person or these people, 'I'm down to mess around because I'm just good at games. I'm good at being the bad guy, good at being the good guy.' Musically, I'm obsessed with it because it's just come such a long way, and we worked really hard on it, especially the chorus and instrumentally. It gets me really excited."
Storytelling as Sacred Medicine
Beneath the swagger and hooks lies a deep cultural identity that shapes everything Star creates. Born to an Iranian father and a Native American mother, she embodies a rare and powerful collision of heritages that fuels her identity on and off the stage. Asked about her incredible heritage and how it impacts her art, she reflects on the rich lineage behind her music.
"My dad is from Iran, and my mom is Native American," Star explains. "Two very different cultures have come together and collided, and I think it's such a beautiful thing because of how different they are. I personally haven't quite found anyone that's Native American and Persian, which I'm hoping that day comes because I think that'll be so cool.
"Growing up with my mom's side of the family, there are so many traditions, and storytelling is huge," she continues. "Traditional songs are a huge aspect in our culture, and I feel like I was taught as a young kid that music is sacred, and it's so important to tell stories through music. Today, that's pretty much what I'm doing, storytelling. Knowing how important it is and how healing it can be, music is like medicine, and it's medicine for me as well."
The Serotonin of Connection
It’s that visceral vulnerability that has sparked a massive wave across social media, where millions on TikTok and beyond have rallied around her message. When challenged on how mind-blowing it must feel to have so many people connect with her ethos on such a massive scale, Star admits that the reality takes time to process.
"It always is a little confusing because I feel like I'm putting music out also to heal pieces of me," she admits. "Then receiving a response is a whole different experience, my brain can't really make sense of it sometimes. But it's very comforting to know that people are relating. It makes me feel less alone when I go through a specific experience that was so intense, and then I turn it into a song, and people are like, 'Oh my god, I was in that same situation.' It's like, okay, at the end of the day, that's just life. I'm not alone."
When discussing whether music is fundamentally driven by emotion and connection, the core driver that draws listeners to an artist, Star insists it comes down to pure emotional physics. To her, a song is far more than just a melody or a beat; it's a transformative vehicle.
"Totally. I think music is all about connection. I think it's more than just sound," she says. "Each song is like its own universe, and you get to take people on these crazy rides and roller coasters. When you listen to a song, you physically feel different, you know? It does something to your serotonin. I truly believe that it's a form of medicine."
Visibility, Vision, and What Lies Ahead
As a queer woman carving out her space in the industry, the conversation naturally turns to representation, specifically whether queer women and the broader LGBTQIA+ community are finally being heard, or if they remain neglected by the mainstream.
"I do feel like it is getting better now, and there's more visibility," she says thoughtfully. "A lot of the artists that we know at the top of the charts are in the LGBTQ+ community now. Within the past couple of years, it's definitely grown, and there's been more conversations about it. I even think some of these big labels are shifting their perspective. It's taken a lot of time to get to a place like this, but there's definitely a lot more work that needs to be done. There still can be more."
Never one to sit still, Star is channelling that relentless drive into a stacked release schedule. When asked what the future holds for her and where she goes from here, her eyes light up with ambition.
"Well, I'm dropping 'Games' at the end of this month, and then basically every month until the end of the year, I'm dropping a song," she reveals. "So up until December, it'll be at the end of every month. My goal is to be working on more music at the end of this year to have ready for next year. But the goal is a tour. I am working on some show dates in October for an East Coast tour. So, more shows, definitely more music!"
As our conversation winds down, Star offers one final message for the fans who have walked alongside her on this burgeoning journey, a manifesto of total, unapologetic self-acceptance. "I'm so grateful that people are walking on this journey with me, understanding me and also feeling understood," she concludes. "Anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Always be your most authentic self. You don't have to change yourself for anybody. Just be yourself and not give a fuck. Walk how you want to walk, talk how you want to talk, love who you want to love."
As the interview comes to a close, it is abundantly clear that Chloe Star isn’t just playing games, she’s rewriting the rulebook entirely. Armed with her sacred medicine of storytelling, an arsenal of new music, and a refusal to compromise her truth, she is poised to leave an indelible mark on the musical landscape. In an industry so often defined by conformity, Star stands as a defiant beacon for anyone who has ever felt too dark, too different, or simply too much. She isn't just an artist to watch; she is a revolution unfolding in real time.
Written by Louise Philips.
