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FASHION
CHLOE X HALLE'S STYLE FILE
19 December 2017
Mentored and signed by Beyoncé, Chloe Bailey, 19, and her 17-year-old sister Halle are writing, producing and performing their way to pop superstardom. Their friend — and co-star in upcoming TV show Grown-ish — Yara Shahidi met them for ASOS Magazine to talk power, positivity and how to process and look forward...
What have you been doing?
Halle: ‘Making our first album! The theme is youth empowerment and we wanted to remind ourselves how we’re important, that the kids are alright, that we’re the future. It’s basically explaining what we’re going through right now as the youth of America — what challenges we face, what happiness we go through…’
How did you discover your love for singing?
Chloe: ‘When I was seven and my sister was five, we went to summer camp and they were having a talent show. It was the very first time we performed together. We sang Summertime and our mom put us in matching striped skirts and green tank tops. She gave us choreographed moves and I remember practising in the basement. We got on that stage and the little kids were going, “Go Chloe! Go Halle!” We were so happy up there. Ever since then, it kinda spiralled.’
Halle: ‘Making our first album! The theme is youth empowerment and we wanted to remind ourselves how we’re important, that the kids are alright, that we’re the future. It’s basically explaining what we’re going through right now as the youth of America — what challenges we face, what happiness we go through…’
How did you discover your love for singing?
Chloe: ‘When I was seven and my sister was five, we went to summer camp and they were having a talent show. It was the very first time we performed together. We sang Summertime and our mom put us in matching striped skirts and green tank tops. She gave us choreographed moves and I remember practising in the basement. We got on that stage and the little kids were going, “Go Chloe! Go Halle!” We were so happy up there. Ever since then, it kinda spiralled.’
Who are your inspirations?
H: ‘I discovered the music of Billie Holiday when I was five. I listened and immediately fell in love with the feeling it gave me. It was like the sound of love. I feel like an old lady in this body, because all I want to do is sit in the sun and eat ice and listen to jazz.’
C: ‘Growing up, I loved R&B. Our parents would play Jill Scott around the house. I remember hearing Toni Braxton and, of course, the Queen B. I am such a big fan of Imogen Heap, Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs, and Björk — female powerhouses who create their music from scratch. They inspire me. When someone listens to the music we create, I want them to feel empowered, because that’s what those women have done for me.
You’ve had so many huge opportunities this year…
H: ‘It’s all still so new and we constantly pinch ourselves. On the Formation tour there were 50,000 people every night!’
C: ‘No matter where we’re performing, we still get nervous. In the moment, I’m like, “I’m gonna faint,” but then, right when we get on stage, it just releases. The stage is our safe haven, like, “This is where we belong.” That’s such an incredible feeling. I’m happy that we get to do that for the rest of our lives.’
H: ‘I discovered the music of Billie Holiday when I was five. I listened and immediately fell in love with the feeling it gave me. It was like the sound of love. I feel like an old lady in this body, because all I want to do is sit in the sun and eat ice and listen to jazz.’
C: ‘Growing up, I loved R&B. Our parents would play Jill Scott around the house. I remember hearing Toni Braxton and, of course, the Queen B. I am such a big fan of Imogen Heap, Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs, and Björk — female powerhouses who create their music from scratch. They inspire me. When someone listens to the music we create, I want them to feel empowered, because that’s what those women have done for me.
You’ve had so many huge opportunities this year…
H: ‘It’s all still so new and we constantly pinch ourselves. On the Formation tour there were 50,000 people every night!’
C: ‘No matter where we’re performing, we still get nervous. In the moment, I’m like, “I’m gonna faint,” but then, right when we get on stage, it just releases. The stage is our safe haven, like, “This is where we belong.” That’s such an incredible feeling. I’m happy that we get to do that for the rest of our lives.’
If you had just one word to describe 2018, what would that be?
H: ‘I feel like 2018’s going to be majestic. You feel like something’s bubbling. Especially from us, from the youth. You feel us getting angry — we’re using the sadness and this anger and putting it into a bubble. I feel like 2018 is when it’s going to burst and we’ll see the glitter and the beauty.’
H: ‘I feel like 2018’s going to be majestic. You feel like something’s bubbling. Especially from us, from the youth. You feel us getting angry — we’re using the sadness and this anger and putting it into a bubble. I feel like 2018 is when it’s going to burst and we’ll see the glitter and the beauty.’
Pictures: ASOS Magazine
If you had to choose one song for your New Year’s party…
C: ‘I think I got it! Not for how it feels, but for the message – Breathing Underwater by Emeli Sandé. We’re not drowning, we’re breathing underwater, we’re going to handle the situation whatever it is. It’s borderline gospel, because she has a choir in the background. Every time I listen to it, I’m like, “Yes!” What about you?’
H: ‘Well, Chloe just mentioned gospel and it takes me back to this song called Confidence by Tasha Cobbs. It’s a song that makes me feel like I’ve got confidence. It always restores my hope.’
C: ‘I think I got it! Not for how it feels, but for the message – Breathing Underwater by Emeli Sandé. We’re not drowning, we’re breathing underwater, we’re going to handle the situation whatever it is. It’s borderline gospel, because she has a choir in the background. Every time I listen to it, I’m like, “Yes!” What about you?’
H: ‘Well, Chloe just mentioned gospel and it takes me back to this song called Confidence by Tasha Cobbs. It’s a song that makes me feel like I’ve got confidence. It always restores my hope.’
