Pigeon Opinion Featuring an Interview with Chloe Jessica

“Bitch In A Dress,” performed by Chloe Jessica, is an upbeat and energetic pop song which represents a definite leap in terms of artistic and musical development. Created around the idea of live performance, the piece shows all the signs of maturity and professionalism which characterize the music industry today.

Interview with Bitch in a Dress

(^)> “Bitch in a Dress” is a bold title and a confident statement. What inspired the song and what does it represent for you?

'Bitch in a Dress' is about being torn down by somebody else's victim complex. When you do the right thing but are painted as the villain to disguise the truth you have spoken about someone. I want the song to inspire people to take someone's malicious comments directed to tear you down and harness them into self-empowerment and assurance. The song is representative of me forgiving but never forgetting this situation. The animosity I hold towards the situation causing the creation of 'Bitch in a Dress' is immortalised in this track and that holds great power for me.

(^)> You’ve described this as the first song you’re extremely proud to share. What makes this one feel different from your previous work?

This song is the first song that I have created that feels authentically 'me'. The lyricism is witty, sarcastic and honest, all of which are qualities I value in myself and it means a lot to me to display this to my listeners. This is also a sharp genre switch for me, my debut single being country-pop, it has highlighted a change in my own outlook alongside representing my listening habits. Performing this song makes me feel proud of my work and I have never been ashamed to share this with people.

(^)> The lyricism is witty and sarcastic, which you say reflects your personality. How important is humor and attitude in your songwriting?

It has never really been something I have considered to be part of my songwriting. A lot of my songs are very tongue-in-cheek but I use a lot of metaphors so to make my music universally relatable. This isn't something I cared to do when writing 'Bitch in a Dress'. However, all of my music is representative of how I felt at the particular time of writing it, so I would say it is important for me to add a slice of myself to my writing.

(^)> You started writing this acoustically in your bedroom before developing it with your band. How did the song evolve through that process?

The initial creative process, writing in my bedroom, is not dissimilar to my usual process. However, lyrically both myself and my band knew that this song had to go in a different direction, it is very indicative of pop-rock. We happened to have a module at university which required original material, so we decided to use this song and simultaneously use the feedback we received in lectures to benefit our careers too, allowing us to develop the song with the professional feedback of our peers and lecturers. We left no stone unturned and we were very much perfectionists about it, which isn't usually the case for us, we usually allow the music to drive us.

(^)> Every instrument on the track was recorded live with students in your university studio. Why was it important for you to take that approach?

I think there is a huge rise in MIDI created music in the modern day, even full band tracks you hear on the radio use some sort of MIDI programming to create instruments. Whilst this isn't a bad thing, creating MIDI takes time and effort and creativity, in my opinion there is a gap in the market for live recordings and it just feels more authentic and human to me. MIDI doesn't allow the listener to necessarily feel and hear your emotion because it is created to be flawless for the vast majority of the time, live recordings capture the raw emotion and intensity of our work.

(^)> You’ve been very clear about your stance against AI in music. How do you see that conversation shaping the future of artistry?

There are many disadvantages to AI in creativity, that being the risk of human created music, including moral compasses being tainted by taking ownership of AI created music, a lack of transparency for listeners and causing further saturation in the market. I would hope by taking a stance against using AI to generate entire chunks or even whole songs, it would encourage others to do the same, to save our jobs and keep humanity alive in music. It is beautiful to feel what others are feeling, but AI prevents this.

(^)> Your sound blends pop with country, blues, rock, and R&B influences. How do you bring all those elements together without losing cohesion?

This is easier to do than you would imagine. As a band, we all listen to contrasting music, meaning we are all inspired and influenced by different styles and genres of music and playing, not to mention different methods of training. For myself, I love listening to female pop-rock artists such as Avril Lavigne and Olivia Rodrigo but I also enjoy mainstream pop music such as Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter. Sometimes I can play my 80s playlist and feel unstoppable and I am classically and theatrically trained, so my discipline and strive for perfection influences a lot of what I do. My guitarist loves Bruno Mars, enjoys the Beatles and really enjoys playing funk music. My bassist loves Fleetwood Mac and, having known her since we were sixteen, she has been through various eras of music tastes. My drummer can listen to practically anything and enjoy it, she is very versatile, but I'd say her tastes match mine the best. With that in mind, we all come from different backgrounds and disciplines and we all love and are influenced by different artists and genres, so this comes pretty naturally to us. However, trialling different ideas with complete honesty and transparency keeps our goals shared.

(^)> You cite artists like Lewis Capaldi and Taylor Swift as influences. What have you taken from their approaches to songwriting?

I enjoy the honesty that both hold in their lyricism, they both use metaphors to add a level of emotional intelligence to their writing and their instrumental drives and supports their music. This is a level of control and precision that I intend to have. Taylor Swift's 'Better Than Revenge' directly influenced this track, drawing inspiration from her cutthroat lyricism and directness.

(^)> There’s a strong sense of energy and confidence in this track. How do you translate that feeling into your live performances?

When performing, it is easy for us to interact with each other since we are so close as a group and I feel this infectious energy translates to the audience. It's always nice to see that the band in front of you get along, respect each other and share love between them all. That is exactly how we are on stage and it helps us to translate energy from a song to an audience without feeling awkward. However, I find taking moments to ourselves, to really demonstrate feeling in the music allows the audience to connect with you at specific points in the song, so I can be quite meticulous about when and where I present myself in a particular way in live shows. However, you will never see me stood still with a microphone stand when performing this song.

(^)> You’ve already played headline shows in Birmingham. How has performing live shaped your identity as an artist?

When I first began performing, I was very shy and timid, afraid to own the stage and desperate to take up as little room as possible. However, when placing myself in a vulnerable position performing for others, it has allowed me to accept myself in ways I had never thought possible and I can now move around the stage with confidence, which is refreshing to me. This has translated to confidence in my music, allowing me to believe in the music I am creating and not be afraid to show off sometimes. Not to mention we have co-ordinated outfits when performing. Our matching slogan t-shirts are always a hit with the crowd and you will never see me performing without my heels on. Something about being taller makes me feel less nervous, as strange as it sounds.

(^)> Building a career from the ground up can be challenging. What keeps you motivated during that process?

Just one compliment from a listener, one follow, one stream, the bare bones of any sort of validation or recognition from someone who genuinely appreciates the work I do definitely keeps me motivated. Younger me would be so proud if she could see where I am today and I refuse to disappoint her. When you have a passion for something as I do about music, it is difficult to keep away from it for too long. If I need a break, I'll take one so not to develop resentment towards music, but I can't keep away from it for longer than a day.

(^)> Your debut single was described as the beginning of something bigger. How does this second release build on that momentum?

I think the change and development of our sound embodies this comment. 'Bitch in a Dress' marks a new level of artistry and precision for us, it has allowed us to develop our other original songs to match this song in terms of energy and imagery, which has definitely improved our presence as a band, especially at live shows. Every release empowers you to release more, in my opinion. As soon as 'Bitch in a Dress' was out, I wanted to release another. Every release boosts your reach and following and streams, which means there are more people gaining something from your work, so 'Bitch in a Dress' has allowed me to see my vision for myself and my music come to life.

(^)> What do you hope listeners take away from “Bitch in a Dress” when they hear it for the first time?

I want people to take away that it is okay to be honest and assured of yourself. I pride my music on its honesty, whether is it 'The Middle' about a cheating ex, or surrounding mental health, or calling out a bad person with an unhinged victim complex. Your feelings are valid. Our society can be so censored, people are discouraged from sharing their feelings and opinions, told to put on a brave face, even change yourself to fit in. I think that's dangerous and wildly unfair. It harms people's sense of self and only causes conflict. Music is my outlet to express and be myself and I want it to be that for others too. Sometimes you just need to crash out and be a little bit mean about those who have hurt you and, to me, that's okay.

(^)> Is there a particular lyric or moment in the song that best captures who you are right now as an artist?

Probably the opening line of the chorus, 'Maybe I'm a bitch, but I showed up'. Right now, I am unafraid to say what I want and take it, grab opportunities and seek out new experiences and, sometimes, people might see this as being a 'bitch' or uncaring but I see it as being self-empowered and self-assured. I want what I want and I'm not afraid to ask for it or work to make it happen, which is precisely what I am doing when building a career in music.

(^)> Looking ahead, how do you see your sound and message evolving as you continue releasing music?

Since 'Bitch in a Dress', we have been creating music that has a definitive, distinct direction. I can see my sound only becoming more refined and assured, which is what I have been aiming towards for years as someone who had to learn to become a songwriter. My message will never change, though: feel what you feel and own it, honesty doesn't mean hiding yourself away.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Chloe Jessica on the Pigeon Opinion Playlist