Chloe Bailey, half of the sister duo Chloe x Halle and known individually as simply Chlöe, is a triple threat. The singer, actress and dancer’s debut single “Have Mercy” went platinum, and since then she’s continued to make a name for herself as a solo artist with singles like “How Does It Feel” featuring Chris Brown and “Treat Me” from her debut album In Pieces. The project, which was released in March 2023, peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums Chart. Despite this accomplishment, In Pieces was deemed a flop by several critics. With the arrival of her sophomore release Trouble In Paradise, however, Chlöe is proving naysayers wrong. With vocals like ear candy, amazing production and lyrics you can’t get out of your head, Trouble In Paradise shows Chlöe’s sensual side and reveals her true self.
This album gives listeners more of an intimate R&B feel than In Pieces, which seemed to have more of a mainstream pop approach. Chlöe also dropped this project with very little promo in comparison to the rollout for In Pieces, which added a surprise element that many fans weren’t expecting. The process for making this album was also different than her debut, as she recorded several songs in St. Lucia, hence the album’s title Trouble In Paradise. The artist claimed to have the “most fun she’s ever had making music in a long time” and now calls the Eastern Caribbean nation her favorite island.
“Thank you for inspiring me more than you know. I have found my happiness, my peace, my joy here, my sanctuary,” Chlöe shared in the caption for her Instagram post following the album’s release.
From the first track, listeners can feel the solace she found on the island through the sonic quality and storytelling, showing her growth as an artist. The album’s opener “All I Got (Free Falling)” is a dreamy melodic R&B song that sets the scene for the rest of the LP. Chlöe sings about an untrustworthy lover that she didn’t mean to fall for but somehow can’t let go. The layered background vocals and piano make you feel as though you’re free-falling with her.
The songstress then gives us a soulful performance and shows off her vocals on “Might As Well,” a duet with Ty Dolla $ign. The breakup bop “Boy Bye,” which was released earlier in April as the project’s second single, follows and she keeps the tempo up on “Redemption” with its fun Afro-pop vibe.
She keeps the grooves coming with “Temporarily Single.” Featuring an interpolation of Tyrese’s 1998 hit “Lately,” the production on this track stands out along with Chlöe’s buttery vocals, as she sings about a love affair that seems wrong but feels right.
The singer also embraces her sexuality throughout this album. She starts turning up the heat with the self-love anthem “Rose.” Chlöe makes it clear no man can love her like she – and the viral sex toy – can. She remains in an amorous mood on the ballad “Same Lingerie,” which is about not feeling the same sexual spark after a breakup with some more self-pleasure thrown in for good measure. She keeps that same sexy energy on the slinky lead single “FYS” and the bold cut “Nice Girls Finish Last.” On these tracks, Chlöe not only shows off her vocal range but her pen game, too.
Chlöe gets the party started once again with Anderson .Paak on the upbeat jam “Favorite” and dips back into Afrobeats territory on the YG Marley-featuring “Never Let You Go.” The collaborations and vibes keep coming on “Shake” with Jeremih and on the album’s standout track “Want Me,” the highly anticipated reunion with her sister Halle Bailey.
- Advertisement -On “Want Me,” Chlöe and Halle lament a lover who shows no effort. Even when someone else does, they truly care about the one who doesn’t. It should come as no surprise that the sisters sound angelic together. Although this is Chlöe’s song with a Halle feature instead of a straight-up Chloe x Halle track, their undeniable spark and unbreakable bond remains intact.
Elsewhere, Chlöe blends R&B and pop on the sentimental number “Moments,” on the sweet and breezy “Strawberry Lemonade” and on the yearning cut “Somebody,” which closes the set.
- Advertisement -Chlöe is in her bag and has truly come into her own as a solo artist on Trouble In Paradise. She delivered on all fronts – from her vocal ability to songwriting, storytelling and production, the quality of the album is superb and feels authentic to who she is. This project not only shows the Atlanta native’s versatility and range but her overall growth as an artist. With Trouble In Paradise, Chlöe has proven to those who may have doubted her that she has that solo IT factor and is here to stay.
Chlöe Trouble In Paradise [Amazon][Apple Music][TIDAL]
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