Alt-Pop Punk’s Next Voice: Chloe Star and “Emergency Contact”

Last week, I sat down with rising alt-pop punk artist Chloe Star, an independent artist out of  Los Angeles. As a Persian–Native American artist, she brings a new perspective to music, weaving her heritage into both her sound and storytelling. During our conversation, she opened up about her biggest influences, creative processes, and her exciting plan to release a new song every month throughout 2026. 

Still By Tanner Grandstaff for Chloe Star Music Video Call You Back

Q and A disclaimer: Responses are lightly edited for grammar and clarity

Not On Stage: For someone discovering you for the first time, how would you introduce yourself and your music?

Chloe Star: My name is Chloe Star, I’m 28, based in Los Angeles, and I’ve been working on this project for the past couple of years! My sound is constantly evolving, but I’d say I’m in that pop-punk genre. Some big inspirations are Third Eye Blind, Machine Gun Kelly, Amy Winehouse, and P!nk. There’s a lot of storytelling in my music. I love telling stories through sound and art and really connecting with an audience when I perform. If someone’s never heard me before, I’d say there’s a lot of “I don’t give a f***” energy. I really try to put my personality into my art and have it all feel like one.

Not On Stage: How has your Native and Persian heritage shaped your experience as an artist?

Chloe Star by Kai Dickson

Chloe Star: It’s been a journey. Being Indigenous in this industry isn’t common, especially in the pop-punk world in L.A., so there’s a lot of educating people on what I’m doing and where I come from culturally. But that’s also a positive because I get to say, “This is who I am, this is where I come from, and this is what I want to do.”

I grew up going back and forth between my family’s reservation and Los Angeles, and storytelling is huge in my culture. My great-grandmother used to tell us stories about how she grew up, and that really stuck with me. When I write songs, I want them to have intention and tell a story. Music is also really important in my culture. We have traditional songs that are sacred and tied to ceremonies. As I got older, I realized how important music is in my culture, and I’ve taken that and put my own twist on it in a modern way.

Not On Stage: What other experiences inspire your music?

Chloe Star: I haven’t had the best relationship track record, and I’ve struggled with mental health and substance abuse. I’ve been in and out of rehab, and it’s a constant journey. I use all of that, the not-so-fun things we go through, and put it into my music. Even just everyday life inspires me. There’s always something going on, so it definitely helps the writing process.

Not On Stage: You’re releasing a new song every month. What inspired that approach?

Chloe Star: I feel like the more I drop music, the more momentum there is. With an album, it’s kind of like, “Here’s 10 songs, enjoy,” and things can get lost. This way, each song gets its own moment. I can promote it for a full month, connect with it, and really explain what it’s about. It also lets the music breathe and gives listeners time to take it in instead of everything being dropped at once. I also started thinking about what I’d want to listen to during each month. Like, what does September feel like? What does December feel like? That made everything make more sense.

Not On Stage: Do you have any unique creative processes when writing or recording?

Chloe Star: I like to make mood boards before I go into sessions. I’ll pull together colors, images, clothing…like, if my music had an outfit, what would it wear?

I show that to the producers and writers I’m working with so everyone can really dive into the world of the project. It makes everything feel more visual and helps shape the sound.

Chloe Star by Kai Dickson

Not On Stage: What’s the story behind your song “Emergency Contact”?

Chloe Star: It’s based on being in relationships where I was always the one to drop everything and show up, but when I needed that same energy, it wasn’t there. I got to a point where I had to ask myself why I kept putting myself in that position. The song is about stepping back and saying, “I’m not going to show up for you anymore because all you do is take.” I want the same thing in return.

Not On Stage: Are there any lyrics in that song that stand out to you the most?

Chloe Star: There’s a line: “I’m stuck in the cycle of hating f***ing loving you, s**t it feels like survival with every little thing you do.” That really sets the story. It’s that toxic push and pull where you break up, get back together, and it just feels like survival mode. Then the chorus is basically saying, “I’m done. I’m not your emergency contact anymore.”

Not On Stage: What do you hope people take away from your music?

Chloe Star: Put yourself first. That’s something I’ve had to learn. I believe a new door won’t open until the current one is closed. You have to sort your own stuff out before you’re ready for what’s next. We meet people, we learn from them, and we keep moving. Life’s too short to let anyone take your spark.