Growing up in a house where music ruled, Chloe Chaidez quickly followed her own Rock-n-Roll dreams while still an adolescence. Putting together her first band at the age of 10, by 15 she would find her comfort zone when forming KITTEN, a band which is now celebrating 11 years together. Releasing a slew of music with KITTEN, Chaidez has solidified herself as one of the most engaging leaders of a band in Alternative Rock. In fact, Chaidez most recently found herself one of four young ladies selected to form the band Nasty Cherry, as featured on the Netflix series I’m With The Band.
Energetic, spontaneous, as well as incredibly unique, Chaidez is a rising star who not only shines brightly, but is ready to blast off into another stratosphere. Taking the time out of her busy schedule, she recently sat down to talk about her early beginnings in music, the growth of KITTEN throughout the years, the story behind Nasty Cherry, plus a lot more.
Cryptic Rock – You have been involved in music professionally for over a decade now with KITTEN. Releasing quite a bit of music, touring, and being a part of Nasty Cherry, you have been very busy. To this point, what has your career in music been like?
Chloe Chaidez – That’s a loaded question. (Laughs) It’s been a really passionate time doing what I love. There have been ups and downs like anything you’ve been doing for that long. I love what I do, I love KITTEN, and I can’t really stop doing what I love.
Cryptic Rock – You have to follow your passion. As mentioned, you started KITTEN when you were still very young, so you have sort of grown up with the band. What has it been like growing up playing Rock-n-Roll?
Chloe Chaidez – Well, I have many stories, unconventional ones probably. I lived an unconventional life for a teenager, but I wasn’t a child star or anything. I was still on tour, in clubs at a young age performing and playing in the band. That was definitely different, but I’m grateful for everything.
Cryptic Rock – Having that experience so young probably helps you now with the band moving forward.
Chloe Chaidez – Of course. With each new chapter in life comes new challenges. My experience helped me, but I think if you’re growing that the people around you can help you figure it out.
Cryptic Rock – Speaking of growing, you have done a lot of different things with KITTEN. What would you say influenced and changed in direction from EP to EP and album to album for you, especially with the most recent, Goodbye Honeymoon Phase?
Chloe Chaidez – With this most recent EP, we really combined more classic influences such as Prince, Prefab Sprout, and David Bowie with more early 2000s that we were going back to. All while keeping in mind we wanted to make forward-thinking songs, I think that is what inspired this recent EP.
Cryptic Rock – Very cool. The EP came out late in 2019, and amidst the tracks is the single “Memphis.” A very catchy song, what was the inspiration for it?
Chloe Chaidez – That song just kind of happened, honestly. I think my best songs I don’t really know what they mean. I was not thinking about anything; in fact I was a little bit stoned, which I never do while I am writing. It kind of just flowed out. To this day, I’m not quite sure what it means to me, but it means a lot to other people and it has this big emotion that has a life of its own.
Cryptic Rock – It works and connects with people, so that is what matters most. You have done some really cool music videos with KITTEN over the years. Is the visual also very important to you as an artist?
Chloe Chaidez – Extremely. I think it’s the most important thing next to the music for me. I love spending time on getting the visuals how I like them.
Cryptic Rock – It shows, the videos are all very high energy. With the new KITTEN EP out, is there more touring for the band coming in 2020?
Chloe Chaidez – Yeah, we are definitely planning toward touring, new music, and all that stuff.
Cryptic Rock – Awesome. That is something to look forward to. KITTEN has been very consistent putting out music through the years, but there has not been a full-length album since 2014. Can we expect another full-length?
Chloe Chaidez – Yeah, we’ll probably do a full-length album.
Cryptic Rock – That is good. It is nice to see bands still release full-length albums, as well. Let’s talk the interesting project Nasty Cherry. How did it all come about?
Chloe Chaidez – Charli XCX approached me about four years ago when we were out for dinner with some friends about this idea for a girl band that was also a TV show simultaneously. I thought it was a cool idea. I said, “Yes, and I would be honored. Thank you for thinking of me.” I’d known her for years from touring and just being friends. That was that, it was very casual.
Cryptic Rock – That is very interesting. So is Nasty Cherry now an official band after the Netflix series and music released?
Chloe Chaidez – Yes, we are indeed a band now. We are going on tour end of February into March.
Cryptic Rock – That is great to hear. A lot of the music you have done with both KITTEN and Nasty Cherry has a very retro feel to it. Is it safe to say that you are heavily influenced by ’80s music?
Chloe Chaidez – Sure. But I think recently, and an ethos I’ve tried to always carry, is to try and make forward-thinking band music. We love a lot of artists from the ’80s, but I think our new stuff is pulling from the future and whatever that may sound like.
Cryptic Rock – Right, and KITTEN’s music changes a lot. You alter your sound from track to track. Is that diversity important to you?
Chloe Chaidez – I think it was when I was younger, but I think as I’m getting older, I think with each album I like to hone in on a sound; it’s very direct. I think with our new release it’s going to be a little bit more dialed in sonically.
Cryptic Rock – That is fascinating to hear. Beyond the music, you have done some acting when you were younger. Is that something you would consider doing again?
Chloe Chaidez – If the right opportunity came, but not right now.
Cryptic Rock – Understood. It seems like the main focus and passion for you is the music. You seem to be quite busy with both bands, is it difficult to balance it all?
Chloe Chaidez – Yeah, but women have jobs and kids and that’s difficult. People have friends and families and different relationships they have to balance, as well. It’s no harder than anything else folks have to deal with in the world. It gets hard, but who cares; life is hard sometimes. Whatever, you rock on!
Cryptic Rock – That is a good attitude: it is the challenges that make life fun and interesting.
Chloe Chaidez – Exactly. Maybe minus the fun, but definitely interesting. (Laughs)
Cryptic Rock – It makes you who you are. Last question. If you are a fan of Horror and Sci-Fi films, do you have any favorites?
Chloe Chaidez – Honestly, I’m a The Ring (2002) fan. I watched it when I was kid and was scared out of my pants. For Sci-Fi, I love Westworld. Those are my favorites. The Ring was really my jam when I was kid if I had one, it really creeped me out in an interesting way.
Cryptic Rock – Cool, so what genres do you enjoy watching?
Chloe Chaidez – I like movies about relationships in any form. I love Wes Anderson movies, movies like Kids (1995). I like Documentaries and that kind of stuff.
