Chloe Qisha will heal your teenage self

For most women in their twenties, nothing is more daunting than logging onto The Apps and entering into the Dante’s inferno of modern dating. But somehow, singer-songwriter Chloe Qisha has managed to emerge unscathed – with a boyfriend in tow. ​“I’ve been quite lucky. I haven’t ever gone into fuckboy territory,” she says, calling in from a London cafe, wearing a black cap and white vest. ​“But I’ve experienced that secondhand through my friends. It sounds like a minefield.” That’s putting it lightly.

Nonetheless, for someone who’s been in a happy relationship for ​“5,000 years”, the 26-year-old is surprisingly adept at writing about betrayal, heartbreak and yearning. Growing up in Malaysia before moving to the UK aged 16, Chloe took a winding path towards a career in music. At university she studied psychology, hoping to follow up with a master’s in counselling, but got to the end of her BA ​“and quickly realised I was not cut out to be anybody’s therapist!” she says, laughing.

And so Chloe got a job at Ace & Tate and spent her free time uploading pop covers to social media. ​“Retail is like a rite of passage for creatives,” she says, ​“just purely to expose yourself to other struggling creatives so you don’t feel as bad about your life.” But in the winter of 2022, her career took an upturn.

“Rob [Milton] slid into my DMs two weeks before Christmas. He said, ​‘I love your voice, I know this is crazy, but are you free to come in and do a session?” Given he’d worked with the likes of The 1975 and Holly Humberstone, Chloe was eager to get started. The pair hit it off, producing a string of singles and Chloe’s debut, self-titled EP together in 2024.

Now, Chloe is gearing up for EP number two: Modern Romance, a slick alt-pop project.

Standouts include the Roan-esque 21^st Century Cool Girl and an ​’80s-tinged The Boys. The latter saw Chloe dig deep, inspired by a crushing rejection that took place in… year eight. ​“I invited him to my birthday party and he came up with the most clearly fake excuse not to come!” His parents were apparently, er, running a marathon which, luckily for Chloe, makes for good lyric fodder. Keep scrolling for more.

If you could make a rule for a month, like dry Jan, what would it be?

No social media March. I’ve definitely been scrolling on TikTok too much recently. I follow a lot of horse farms in America and I’ve fallen into this hole where every day I’ll go on and be like, which mare is giving birth?

Do you have any self imposed rules when it comes to making music?

Yes, I do. The title really is the most important thing these days. Starting with a great title hones you into the concept and the lyrics so easily and keeps you on the right track.

What’s your favourite candle?

Baies by Diptyque.

If you could go back and give your 15 year old-self some advice, what would it be?

Everything will work out, don’t rush, trust the process. Even if there’s something that you really want and it takes double the amount of time to come to you, it’s meant to be.

What about some advice for women in their twenties who are in the dating app trenches?

I think as much as you can, try and find out who you are and what you love to do. What are your passions? What are your hobbies? Really learn to love yourself first.

Can you recommend us a musician to listen to?

Joe Keery has been absolutely slaying the house boots down. His album is so incredible.

What’s on your style moodboard this summer?

A lot of suits but deconstructed for summer paired with a graphic baby tee and a trusty cap.

If you could swap wardrobes with anyone in the world, who would it be?

Either Drew Starkey or Jacob Elordi. There’s nothing sexier than a girl in guy’s clothes who rocks it as well. Levi’s jeans, oversized tees, Sambas and a worn out book in the back pocket. Yeah.

Modern Romance is released 15^th May