Artist Spotlight: Chloe Bodur

Just when we thought the UK Alternative R&B scene couldn’t get any more sumptuous, a new starlet appeared from its sultry crevices, served upon an appetising platter for well-fed listeners, leaving us craving more - after all, who can’t find room for dessert? 

Emerging onto the scene in the back end of the previous decade, Chloe Bodur has been building a bountiful discography that has ebbed and flowed stylistically, drifting between sub-sounds but remaining consistently sensual, striking and spellbinding. Last year’s MAVI EP was a fabulous effort that felt like the beginning formulation of Chloe’s true artistry, with the broody cuts matched by vibrant visuals. 

The singer’s progressive tendencies have continued to flourish this year. A smattering of singles, Come With Me and Kitty & I, promised more groove-laden, colourful sonic ambitions, a factor that has now been fully realised following the release of her eloquent, engulfing and encapsulating new EP RÜYA. Written during the derivativeness of COVID, the project sees the singer rise pass a menial reality and encompass the kaleidoscopic palettes with tales that stem from an almost dream-like state, exploring her inner-conscious through an altered character that exists without barriers and conformity. Amongst the most effortless R&B EP’s of the year, RÜYA ascends Chloe to giddy artistic heights; it doesn’t feel like she’ll be crashing down anytime soon. 

I caught up with Chloe to talk representation in the musical industry, finding the confidence to love herself fully, and the dazzling new EP. 

Who and what influences you? 

I’m inspired by Solange, I think she’s super cool, everything she does. I love Nick Hakim, Rosalia. In terms of harmonies, I’m influenced a lot of old school soul and R&B. Out of music, I go to the BFI a lot and watch movies when I do have anything on. They show a lot of old films and from around the world. It usually sparks something, even if it’s just a visual idea. It makes me inspired. 

How did you first get into writing and creating? 

When I was a kid, whenever it was someone’s birthday I would write them a poem, and always thought in my mind that I was quite good at it. I did piano lessons when I was a younger. My older cousin was making beats and I always thought he was the coolest person in the world, so I wanted to do whatever he was doing. I just went down the classic school route through school and studying at uni. Naturally, I just started writing songs. 

How did you find your sound?

I always feel like I struggle to find a sound. I think some songs from my catalogue stand out as being different to others. I think that the consistency of who I work with helps me a lot. The reason there is a coherent sound across everything is that I have my band - I play with these four boys and the instrumentalists on my tracks are always going to be them, then producer wise it’s usually my cousin or Will who’s in the band. I think only working with a specific group of musicians means that we are bound to create a similar kind of sound. They are the hidden magic behind a lot of it. 

How would you define that sound? 

I think I would describe it as alternative R&B, or psychedelic soul, or RnBossa. In terms of the mood, they are usually quite dark and sexy. My ears enjoy minor keys and that slips into my own work as well.    

I love how you incorporate and celebrate your heritage in your music and image - why is that something that is important to you?

I struggled for so long when growing up with my own identity, and that’s still something that I find now. Growing up and not seeing anyone who looks like me as pretty or cool; when you don’t see yourself reflected in the media, you can internalise that. I was kind of delusional and thought I was white for years because I was trying to identity with something. I felt lost in who I was. Thankfully now with artists like me, Tara Lily and Joy Crookes, there is a growing representative, so hopefully the younger generation can look at us feel more comfortable to be themselves. 

Do you think those struggles with identity affected the way you create?

I think it definitely held me back for a while because I was very insecure about how I looked. On my early track’s, on artwork I never showed my face and I didn’t do a video for them. I was so scared of being on camera and I didn’t know how to present myself. When there’s no blueprint that’s come before you, it’s quite difficult to know what to do. 

What changed? What allowed you to see with more transparency? 

My partner had a lot to do with it. We’ve been together for like four years. He’s not from the same background as me, he’s Guyanese/Polish, but his family are Buddhist and have a real appreciation for South Asian women. He made me feel beautiful in a way that I didn’t think I would feel. He helped me find that within myself. 

Actually melting my heart right now.

Haha! I’d never stepped into anything like that, I didn’t expect a boy from Essex to be able to tap into that, but his appreciation for me allowed me to appreciate myself. 

I needed that today, thanks. Anyway, how are you feeling about the release of the EP? 

I’m excited! Whenever I make a project, I always make it a year or two before it’s released. So by the time it comes out I’m onto the next thing. I am excited for this one though, it’s my favourite to date. I finally got all my favourite people together to work on it. We were able to all be in a room together and just jam, which has been really nice, definitely how I want to keep making music going forward. 

What was the creative process?

Several of them literally came from jamming which I love about it. It feels so natural, so effortless. There’s nothing worse than forcing a song out- if it’s really a challenge, then surely there’s something wrong. My bassist and guitarist lived together in a warehouse in Tottenham when we were writing it. It was so dodgy, it didn’t have windows or anything, but they did have a recording studio in there. We pulled from how D’Angelo would make Voodoo. Basically just jamming our favourite songs for hours and then kept the vibe and wrote stuff. We never had tried that before, but once we did it we questioned why we never had before!

What are the main themes and ideas that you are conveying? 

A lot of the tape was written in COVID times, and I was so bored. It was in my dreams that there was excitement. I would dream about going out and doing stuff, having deep dreams about partying, people from my past etc. I was just in this constant dream state, so decided to write a project from the perspective of the girl that I was living as in my dreams. On a lot of the songs, it’s not reality, it’s the things that I wish I said to people, the things that I wish I was bold enough to be. There are things that I would never say normally, but under this character I felt comfortable enough to explore my mind on a deeper level. 

What do you want a listener to take away from the project?

I think the lyrics are quite empowering for goals. It’s about sensuality, saying what you want and owning yourself. A lot of my work before was quite serious and sad, but I feel like this one is more fun. I want people to just enjoy it as a relaxing project to pop on. 

If you were introducing yourself to a new listener, what track of yours would you play them?

I’d play them Come With Me and show them the video too. I think it’s the song that captures mine and my band’s essence the best. It was pulled straight from a jam, it’s basically just what we do all the time. 

Where do you want to take your artistry?

I have big dreams, big ambitions. I feel like I’m only about 30% of what I want to be. I’ve been publicly building a portfolio and working towards where I want to be. I think people will be really surprised with the next set of music I put out. I’m just constantly trying to evolve. Performance wise, I wanted to be a dancer when I was younger so I want to incorporate that more into my art. I want to also bring my heritage more into my music, using sounds from different cultures, Eastern sounds but still in the R&B space. 

What are your short term plans?

Lots more music coming, maybe my first longer project, and lots more shows!