Music Bugle Exclusive – Q & A – Cloe Wilder

By Nicholas Jason Lopez

Age is just a number.

At 15, indie-pop artist Cloe Wilder has already garnered thousands of Spotify streams and gotten to work with Grammy winners Rob Kinelski and John Greenham (Billie Eilish) and established herself as a force.

The Clearwater, Fla.-based singer-songwriter recently dropped her debut EP ‘Teenage Lullabies,’ which features the downright anthemic single “I Wanna Be Alone With You.” The EP release was followed up with a video series entitled “Backyard Sessions,” chockfull of stripped-down song arrangements and more.

The Music Bugle had the opportunity to chat with Wilder – who has drawn inspiration from Sasha Sloan, Lana Del Rey and Lennon Stella – about ‘Teenage Lullabies’ and more.

Music Bugle – Do you feel your young age gives you any sort of creative advantage in today’s music industry?

Cloe Wilder – I’m not sure if my age plays a role in my creative abilities. However, I do feel that my songwriting improves year after year. I think my young age is advantageous because of the perspective that I provide. I’m 15 years old and I’m very honest. I’ll probably be able to answer this question better in a few years.

Music Bugle – What excites you the most about your style of music?

Cloe Wilder – I love that my music is mine. I love that I can grow and evolve, but it will always be mine.

Music Bugle – What was it like making your debut EP ‘Teenage Lullabies’?

Cloe Wilder – I was so ready to feel like a real artist. I consider it my proper introduction, because it’s the first project that I’m truly proud of from start to finish. This creative process felt much better than the others.

Music Bugle – Did the music video for “I Wanna Be Alone With You” come out the way you hoped?

Cloe Wilder – Yes! It was spot-on. Once we decided on the Pink Motel, everything else fell into place.

Music Bugle – What is the biggest challenge in being a singer-songwriter?

Cloe Wilder – I have trouble making peace with past projects that I don’t love anymore.

Music Bugle – What do you attribute your success to?

Cloe Wilder – I have a solid support system. Plus, fame isn’t a necessity to me. Any recognition that I get is such a cool bonus, because I would be making music whether people enjoyed it or not. I think it comes down to your intentions.

Music Bugle – Does social media help or hurt musicians?

Cloe Wilder – Personally, social media is useful to me as an artist, but harmful to me as a human being. There’s a fine line.

Music Bugle – What makes you the most proud about where you come from?

Cloe Wilder – My family is so proud of me. I take pride in their pride.

Music Bugle – How have you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Cloe Wilder – I was lucky because I was just starting to write my EP. I got serious about improving my songwriting. I had a couple of tours scheduled, but no serious plans of mine were affected.

Music Bugle – Where do you go when you need a break?

Cloe Wilder – I go outside! I don’t have my license, but I love a golf cart ride.