A Bittersweet Debut Release from bitter’s kiss

bitter's kiss promo

With crisp clear vocals comes New Jersey singer songwriter, Chloe Baker, performing as bitter’s kiss.

The self titled album features eight original tracks from the fast rising indie-pop singer, who has only been seriously working on her songwriting for a year or so. Growing up in a musical household (her father has a recording studio and a collection of guitars, as well as working in musical theatre and a band), it’s not hard to see why Chloe should choose to tread a musical path. Her father has been very supportive of her music, and helped her record and produce the album.

Chloe uses her songs as a form of diary to examine her feelings, and at times her lyrics are more than tinged with sadness. This sadness is most clearly expressed in the song, ‘The Rope’, written to fully clarify how she felt about the suicide of a distant cousin, who’d come from a religious background. ‘The Rope’ is about staying true to yourself, and finding your own identity separate from what is expected of you.

bitter's kiss - Bitter's Kiss cd cover

Currently attending arts academy, High Tech, in North Bergen New Jersey, Chloe wrote the song, ‘Too Far Too Fast’ about her older sister leaving to go to college, and how quickly time passes. Sweetly poignant, especially considering how quickly even Chloe’s life must be passing, as she’s seen her music so well received and her fanbase increase dramatically: on Facebook alone she’s approaching 110,000 likes.

‘No One Will’ is Chloe’s most recent release, and it’s a accompanied by a video shot in Cork, Ireland, and produced by EPIC Productions Ireland. ‘No One Will’ at first seems a song of defiance: standing up for herself, not being pushed around. “No one will ever hurt me/No one will ever desert me/No one will ever leave me”. Listening further however you realise it’s more than that. It’s a bittersweet song of seeming envy, and perhaps written from a position of heartbreak, as Chloe watches couples holding hands, and says that “I hope they’re happy cos they won’t be in the end/When one of them is left heartbroken” and “No one will ever kiss me/No one will ever miss me/No one will ever worry when I’m not around”. The listener is drawn to empathise with Chloe; lyrically it’s simple yet challenging, and the video is the perfect partner.

YouTube player

‘Bitter’s Kiss’ can be streamed on Soundcloud. You can download the album from iTunes, and Amazon. Find bitter’s kiss online on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram.

About the author

Lisa has been writing for over 20 years, starting as the entertainment editor on her university newspaper. Since then she's written for Popwrapped, Maximum Pop, Celebmix, and ListenOnRepeat.

Lisa loves all good music, with particular fondness for Jedward and David Bowie. She's interviewed Edward Grimes (Jedward), Kevin Godley, Trevor Horn, Paul Young, Peter Cox (Go West), Brendan B Brown (Wheatus), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), among many many more. Lisa is also available for freelance writing - please email lisa@essentiallypop.com

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