Cloe Wilder Afterglow Interview

A stunning mix of romance and nostalgia, the new single Afterglow from American singer-songwriter Cloe Wilder is a shimmering modern folk gem, marking an ethereal step closer to the release of Wilder's impending new EP I Spent My Summer on the Road, set for release on Friday April 19.

A folksy ballad soaked in acoustic guitar and dreamy melodics, Afterglow also features glossy vocals from both Wilder and her long-time collaborator NICOLOSI, with the track reminiscent of Bon Iver and Lana Del Rey caught in a gauzy trance. Simultaneously introspective and wistful with celestial overtones, Afterglow ultimately evolved from a melancholic narrative, as Wilder elaborates, "Escaping from locations is a big theme in my songs, but I also love the concept of leaving someone behind. Afterglow sort of morphed into this story of two people growing apart in the wintertime; the understanding that the house has gone cold and there's no way to imagine what that could feel like until it happens. I absolutely love that visual."

Accompanying the new single is a stunning lyric video that both emphasises the folk nature of the track, as well as putting a face to the name of the two leads, all the while leading the viewer through the affecting lyrics, handwritten by Wilder herself.

Working alongside NICOLOSI for both Afterglow and its overarching EP, I Spent My Summer on the Road, Wilder also teamed up with Grammy Award-nominated engineer Adam Grover (Maggie Lindemann, Zach Bryan, Dizzee Rascal) and videographer/photographer Jesse DeFlorio (Matt Maeson, Imagine Dragons, American Authors) to bring her creative visions to life, with the accompanying lyric video for Afterglow seamlessly reflecting its subject matter, as Wilder offers, "I wanted to reference the essence of Afterglow. It's a little bit of a nostalgic nod to classic folk with the super 8 look, but I feel that Sam and I wanted to give it a post-modern twist."

Following on from her debut 2021 EP Teenage Lullabies, Wilder spreads her sonic wings on her upcoming EP, with I Spent My Summer on the Road traversing everything from stripped-back bedroom pop (Little White Pills), to coming-of-age odes (Fake ID), lush indie swoon (Take It In), folk-hued warmth (Afterglow) and enraptured calm (Five Years). And while still laden with youthful exuberance following the release a few years ago of her debut EP at the age of 14, I Spent My Summer on the Road is a stirring and disarming experience, with Wilder once again finding magic alongside NICOLOSI and an array of influences, as Wilder explains, "I started writing with Sam when I was 14 and working on my first EP. I honestly didn't let him go after. Lana Del Rey is my ultimate reference for everything. Bon Iver, Matt Maeson, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes, The Lumineers, Florence & The Machine, and so many more came into play. This EP is a testament to the last three years of my life. It's my coming-of-age scrapbook through the lens of being 17 and confused. In the course of processing that evolution, I started to accept it and I had to write about it."

Emerging as a teenager armed with earthy melodies, wistful narratives and gossamer vocals, Cloe Wilder's innate ability to evoke warm and familiar melodies with her witticism and heartfelt lyricism aligns her comfortably as a Floridian young Taylor Swift, with sonic poise well beyond her young years. Dabbling in the bedroom pop realms of Lana Del Rey and Phoebe Bridges as well as folk and modern sentimentality, Wilder is as much a confidante as she is a conduit for evocative and memorable music. With her previous single Call Me If You Need Me currently in command of over 1 million individual streams, Wilder also has an array of live performances in her wake, including Breaking Sound in Los Angeles, and supports with EMELINE, Spencer Sutherland, Steinza and is currently on the road with Charlotte Sands. And in 2024, her journey continues with the impending release of her sophomore EP, I Spent My Summer on the Road.

"I put out my first EP out when I was 14, so I'm beyond excited for this new introduction," Wilder concludes. "These songs are really important to me, and I've loved being able to grow with them."

Afterglow is out now

Cloe Wilder Interview

How would you describe your music?

Cloe Wilder: I've tried to convey this incredibly honest and delicate version of myself, wrapped up in a fun little bow. 

Can you tell us about your song, and what inspired this song?

Cloe Wilder: "Take It In" is the core of my project. I felt so conscious of myself when I made it. I wrote the line, "I am a complicated sinner with a complicated life" and immediately knew what I was talking about; this uncomfortable stage of life made even stranger by how I'm living it. I just wanted to remember what was special about it. 

What motivates you most when writing music?  

Cloe Wilder: I write a lot about myself and how I react to an experience. It can really be the littlest thing; a conversation or a person that I feel connected to. I can also get pretty existential when it comes to songwriting. It sort of depends on the day. 

Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Cloe Wilder: Chappell Roan, Holly Humberstone, MGMT, and so many more. 

What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Cloe Wilder: I went to my first writing camp when I was 12. I was completely hooked.

If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Cloe Wilder: Lana Del Rey is the dream!

Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?

Cloe Wilder: Honestly, I was so dazzled by everything. I just knew that I wanted to be in it.

Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Cloe Wilder: I tried to go back to high school for my junior year. I thought I needed to wait on making music; I was so wrong. I ended up getting my first tour shortly after that little meltdown.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Cloe Wilder: I have learned to practice patience. For a while there, I completely lost touch of why I was a musician in the first place. It's such a vulnerable thing. I think it's easy to feel detached sometimes.

What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Cloe Wilder: It keeps getting better. I get to watch myself grow with these songs. It's literally documented for me.

What's next, for you?

Cloe Wilder: My new EP, I Spent My Summer on the Road, will be out April 19th! It's my own little coming-of-age introduction. I am so proud and excited. Hoping to be back on the road by the fall!

Can you share your socials? 

https://www.instagram.com/cloewilder/?hl=en

https://www.tiktok.com/@cloewildermusic?lang=en

PHOTO CREDIT: JESSE DEFLORIO