Young, aspiring pop songstress Cloe Wilder joins us for an evening visit to the ever popular Urth Caffe in West Hollywood, CA to discuss the factors she bases her song cover choices on, the benefits of utilizing YouTube and social media, and the inspiration for her to start her music career now.

So you’ve put out a fair amount of well-produced covers from some heavy hitting ladies in the music industry. What inspired you to choose the songs that you’ve chosen to cover?

Cloe Wilder: I usually choose songs based off of how I connect to the lyrics. I’ll take the elements of the song, and kind of twist them into how I’m feeling when I’m listening to it and how I sing it. With my cover of “Breathin’” by Ariana Grande, I completely chose it solely because I related to the lyrics, and I just knew that I wanted to make it sound like who I want to be as an artist.

And it’s so cool to hear you talk about how you’re more of a lyrically based person, especially with you being so young. I think it’s great! We need more of you!

Cloe: Thank you! I think so too. *laughs*

And you released your cover of Alessia Cara’s “Out Of Love” on Valentine’s Day. What made you choose that song to cover and have it released during the Valentine’s Day season?

Cloe: “Out Of Love” just felt so real to me. Like, it didn’t feel like it was trying to fake emotion or anything. I just loved how true it felt at its core and I knew I just had to do it!

Yeah! I feel like with the modern music industry now, it’s just so hard to get away from all those songs that sound the same. It’s almost like an oversaturation.

Cloe: Unfortunately, it really is.

But we’ll push through it!

Cloe: Yeah!

And how has each experience with recording each of the songs that you’ve covered been similar or different from each other?

Cloe: Every time I record a song, I do my best to try to connect with it in a different way than the last one I recorded. Of course, there are some similarities, but mostly, I just try to make my emotion show through my voice on every song and really connect to the lyrics.

So apart from the covers you have already released or plan to release, if you could make an EP of five covers, which songs would you choose?

Cloe: Oooh! It would definitely have to be “Faking It” by Sasha Sloan, “Lucid Dreams” by Juice WRLD, “When The Party’s Over” by Billie Eilish, “Out Of Love” by Alessia Cara, and the last one would have to be “Without Me” by Halsey.

Awesome mix featuring the work of some awesome ladies! Hopefully it can be a real thing soon!

Cloe: I hope so too! It would be so cool!

Yeah! So with you having started your music career through YouTube and it being such a heavy hitter in the industry, would you say that YouTube in combination with social media kind of helps make or break artists or is a way for new artists to be discovered?

Cloe: I would say that it’s definitely a way for new artists to be discovered because it’s such a huge platform where you can reach so many people with a single video or a single piece of content. I mean, it’s people’s lives now. This generation is surrounded by social media. You check Instagram every day, you check Facebook every day, you check YouTube every day, and you see these artists trying to get themselves out there. So yeah, I would definitely say it’s an important part of making it in the industry.

And do you think social media kind of adds a pressure on artists to always need to be doing something or to express themselves in certain ways?

Cloe: Personally, I don’t really feel a pressure with social media because I know why I’m putting my content out there. I know who I’m doing this for, so that kind of keeps me in that state of mind.

It’s like we know we have to do it. Even if we don’t want to, we have to. *both laugh*

Cloe: Right! Exactly! But I try to focus on doing what works for me the best.

As a young woman starting off her music career, do you feel that women in the music industry, especially in the younger generation, need to portray themselves in certain ways in order to be successful?

Cloe: I don’t think any woman in any industry should have to change themselves for anyone else’s views. It’s your content, it’s your music that you’re putting out there, it’s your image, it’s your art, so you shouldn’t have to change that for anybody.

Yes! Wonderfully said!

Cloe: Thank you!

Now I’d like to get your thoughts on the diminishing of music education programs in schools as you’re still in school. How important do you feel that preserving these types of artistic and creative programs is in order for the younger generation to springboard those aspects to their lives?

Cloe: I think it’s extremely important to keep music and the arts as a part of your life, whether it be in school or just in everyday life. I think it’s something that should continue to be there. It really is sad how lacking it is now, and I hope that it gets better as I grow up.

I hope so too. And what initially got you interested in pursuing music?

Cloe: There was never really anything specific that got me into music, it was just kind of something that I was born doing. Before I started talking, I was singing.  I was around two years old when this all started, but I never questioned what I wanted to do as I got older, which I just took as a sign of ‘this is what I should be doing with my life.’

You saw the stars align!

Cloe: Yes! *laughs*

And apart from music, what other fun activities and hobbies do you take part in?

Cloe: Apart from songwriting, I just love writing in general. I think it’s a really cool way to express your emotions and get them out there. I feel like I’m always writing, whether it’s for a song or how I’m feeling at that moment. I just love it!

Our written words are more powerful than speaking sometimes.

Cloe: Oh yes. Absolutely!

If you could choose three artists to go on a world tour with, who would you choose an what would you tour be named?

Cloe: Oooh. That’s actually a really good question. *laughs* I think I would have to go with Lana Del Rey because she’s been one of my biggest inspirations since I was six years old. I would also pick Billie Eilish and Conan Gray because they’re both so emotional and they’re not afraid to put everything out there in their music. And I think I would call it the ‘Tour of Emotions.’ *laughs*

Perfect! We can all go and cry!

Cloe: Exactly! It just feels right. *laughs*

What one word defines you as an artist and even a songwriter?

Cloe: Definitely ‘emotional,’ as you could tell from the music I like and the name of my dream tour. *laughs*

Hey, there’s definitely nothing wrong with owning your emotional side! *laughs* And to end us off, what other exciting things should we be looking forward to from you?

Cloe: So I’m working on finally getting out some original content this year, and I’m really excited about that. I’m also going to be constantly releasing more covers throughout the year in order to keep creating content. So yeah, just a lot of new music coming out!

Well we’re excited to get some sneak peaks!

Cloe: Yes! They’re coming your way! I’m really excited!

We are too!

Check out Cloe Wilder on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!

About Urth Caffe Melrose:

Angelinos from far and wide have probably heard the name Urth Caffe more than a few times with how successful this local chain has been in making a name for itself. Currently at a total of nine locations (including inside of the LAX airport and inside The Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas) since its inception in 1991, no matter what part of La La Land you are in, you are bound to run into one of its shops. Clearly, they’re doing something right, and it absolutely must be because of their genuinely warm and friendly atmosphere combined with a delectable food and drink menu.

Now let’s talk specifically about Urth Caffe’s Melrose location, which is technically the OG shop after owners Jilla and Shallom Berkman re-located from their first location in Manhattan Beach. For nighttime visits, this chain is one of the few that you can always count on to be open later for winded tourists, lovers of all ages, and businessmen and women looking to wine (in this case caffeine) and dine potential clients. Seating choices are endless once the sun goes down, where you can either perch up inside and drool over their wonderful display of sweet treats or relax on their outside patio at a heat lamp furnished table while being serenaded by the sounds of The Rat Pack or grand opera numbers. I set up shop next to their cute little fountain to enjoy my fragrant, detectibly creamy English Tea Latte and my light, yet filling, prosciutto panini. While their pricing very much reflects the neighborhood they are in, I do have to say that I was pleasantly impressed by the service and the portion size for both food and beverage. No overpriced rabbit food or overrated drinks here!

Check out more about Urth Caffe on their Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.