NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Cosmic Strip ‘Another Day’
21 December 2023
Chloe Hawes is an Essex-born and Manchester-based singer and songwriter. They released their first album back in 2017. They have since performed all over the UK, selling out shows and performing at Manchester Pride. Chloe possesses a unique sound combining ‘modern British folk with the cinematic sentimentality of classic Americana and a punk rock outlook’. The artist’s focus on love through their queer experience provides a fresh and deeper understanding of relationships in their new single ‘Bookends’.
Chloe’s song lyrics discuss themes of identity, acceptance and the complexities of relationships. The opening lines of ‘Bookends’ instantly showcase the artist’s defiance of societal gender norms by refusing to conform to others’ expectations. Their point of view is clear: how they live their life does not impact anyone else’s. This sentiment is exemplified by the lines ‘you can get on with yours [your life] without taking down mine’.
While addressing the difficulties of existing as a queer person, the song grows into something more positive. As queer people, we find our community, a chosen family that accepts and celebrates us for who we are. Chloe focuses on this beautiful and hopeful aspect of the queer experience. Their friendships do not fit ‘in the space between your binary bookends’ and that is exactly what makes them worthwhile. As for the music, Chloe’s love for the punk rock genre is evident. This song in particular captures the classic rock sound with strong instrumentals that are accompanied by Chloe’s smoky voice and raw emotions.
‘Bookends’ explores how our society others queerness, positioning it as different from the cisgender heteronormative default, but it also shines a light on queer perseverance and the importance of chosen family. Chloe creates a narrative that resonates with anyone who has ever felt excluded or marginalised for who they are, celebrating the freedom from society’s binary limitations within queer friendships.