Behind the scenes: Durban songstress shares her jazzed up life

SINCE the Highway Mail last caught up with Durban’s talented songstress, Chloe Clark, she has travelled across the globe, launched an explosive jazz album and is currently working on a magical new musical treat.

What are the top three big life changes in the last two years?

Firstly, I got hitched! Secondly, I bounced between Japan and Durban, then Chicago and Durban, and am now in Cape Town for the next little while. Lastly, I launched a jazz album and have been enjoying writing more challenging melodies and poetic lyrics.

Where have you travelled to in the past two years and what was your favourite place to visit?

I have been to the UK, Ireland, Portugal, USA, Italy, Germany, Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka, Holland, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. It’s always hard to choose a favourite place as every place has a certain kind of magic! If I had to say, my top favourites would be Italy (all the passion and the pasta!) and Japan because of the different culture, food, clothing, scenery and so many things about it are unique. Portugal was also an absolute treat.

What was your favourite dish during your travels, and have you tried to replicate it at home?

We are certainly gastronomy tourists. Amazing food is really what makes a great place. My husband, being half Italian, recreates almost every dish that we try in Italy. I love delicious curries and spices and the biggest surprise country when it came to delicious food was Malaysia. We stayed in Kuala Lumpur for a couple of days and their food and spice additives are literally out of this world! I have tried to recreate one or two of the dishes and the steam buns and will continue to keep learning from the different delicious flavours in the different counties.

Where in the world are you now?

I recently moved to Cape Town and we were planning to be here for the next few months before embarking on a new adventure. With all the changes and everything that’s going on in the world at the moment, I think we are going to stay here until further notice!

ALSO READ: Hillcrest muso beats back lockdown blues

Where else are you still hoping to travel to?

There are still so many places I would love to go, see and experience! We were looking forward to possibly taking a trip to Jerusalem and Turkey later this year, we were also looking at going back to Chicago for a couple of months.

How did travelling influence your song writing?

With all the travelling that I have done, I have managed to see and work with different performers across the globe. It is so interesting to be a part of different cultures and sounds, but yet the same music culture draws so many people from so many walks of life, together. I often write music when I am inspired or moved emotionally, and what better way to be inspired and moved when you are amidst incredible experiences?

Did you do any performances when you were abroad?

I performed in Mauritius, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, America and China and had the privilege of sharing a stage with many incredible musicians. It?s so true what they say about music being an international language. I have played with band members who couldn’t even speak English but together, we created a little magic.

How did it feel to stand up in front of a foreign audience and share your music with them for the first time?

In a new country, there is so much unknown! It is such an exciting and risky feeling because, as an entertainer, you want to connect with the audience. One of my favourite shows was in a little jazz club in the heart of Delhi, India. I planned a set with a mix of originals and jazz standards for the show. My heart was so full by the end of it as the audience was so present and the air was vibrant and electric.

As a musician, how are you coping with the lockdown?

Apart from losing all of the work and shows I had booked for the next two months in one day full of cancellation calls, it has actually not been the worst experience. For the first week I decided to do some home DIY and get my little studio set up. Since then, I have been working on a few new projects and a couple of collaborations with different artists. The one great thing about this lockdown is that I am seeing a beautiful support network among the musicians grow stronger as we all work together during these trying times.

ALSO READ: Durban songstress, Ruby Rose talks about her battle with Fibromyalgia

Are you hosting any live performances online and where can readers find you to watch?

I did my first live performance last week! What a new and interesting experience to perform to a screen of your own face! I will be doing a few more of these in the next week. You can find them on my Facebook page @chloeclarksings. I will announce further shows on my Facebook and instagram pages – so watch those spaces!

Can we look forward to you launching something new in the near future? I have been working on getting my home studio and ‘production brain’ up and running during the lockdown. I plan on releasing a new acoustic single in the next few weeks. It has been a new and refreshing project recording and producing it all myself, so lets hope everyone else enjoys it too!

What artist or band are you currently obsessed with?

I have been listening to a bunch of Eva Cassidy?s songs lately. I just love her take on old standards and the way she adds a special flavour and expression to the songs she sings.

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