Chlöe Bailey Gets Real About The Negative Impact The Internet Can Have On Artistry
Over the last few years, TikTok has been the driving force for a lot of artists’ success due to content creators making up dances to songs that would sometimes go viral. While dance trends may have happened organically, record labels are now asking their artists to create songs that will gain them TikTok fame. However, many artists are speaking out against this increasing demand. Chlöe Bailey is no stranger to having her songs take over the social media platform but even she isn’t here for what she views as watering down the art.
The “Treat Me” singer appeared on the When We All Vote’s inaugural Culture of Democracy Summit virtual panel along with her sister Halle Bailey, DJ D-Nice, co-host Valeshia Butterfield-Jones, and others on Friday, June 10.
She spoke real!!! Chloe Bailey said we aren’t appreciating artistry anymore. It’s all about what will “trend” on social media, like TikTok 😪 pic.twitter.com/xEGQFDQrZ9
— Lazy Love 🖤 (@ungodlygoddesss) June 12, 2022
The Culture of Democracy Summit was created by When We All Vote which is a non-profit co-founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama, Kerry Washington, H.E.R., Stephen Curry, and others. According to the website, the four-day event was assembled to “raise awareness of the issues facing our democracy and to increase civic engagement.”
Chlöe appeared on the panel discussion about how music and art can influence and create change and she shared her views on how today’s artistry is under attack.
“I think just giving artists the time to grow into their artistry and to not expect every song to hit right off the gate with streaming numbers and TikTok. Right now, because everything is overly saturated and there’s so many songs per week they rely on a popular trend to chart with music and it’s great,” she said. “The internet is great but it’s also the downfall because we are not appreciating artistry and say an album comes nobody’s really listening to it within the next week or two weeks and there’s so much music so many visuals we are so stimulated we don’t know what to focus on. I think it’s just really finding ways to truly sit there and marinate in the moment of a song like that is what I wish that I got to be a part of years before I was born.”
The Grammy-nominated singer then shouted out her mentor and boss Beyoncé for allowing her and her sister Halle to have creative expression. “I’m really grateful that sis and I are signed to somebody like Beyoncé because we are given the creative freedom and space to grow and not everything will be perfect,” she said. “You have to make mistakes and fall so you can grow from that.”
Chlöe joins a growing list of artists speaking out against their record companies for asking them to make their songs go viral. Halsey, FKA Twigs, and JoJo have exposed their record labels in videos that they shared on TikTok.
what tiktok has done to the music industry is upsetting like… pic.twitter.com/bSJ0EIVfv1
— allure (@alluregaga2) May 22, 2022
Halsey revealed that her record label wouldn’t put out her song until she created a fake viral moment while Twigs said that she was “told off” by her record label for not putting enough effort into marketing herself.
The Culture of Democracy Summit: Friday, June 10
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Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Feature image by Franco Zulueta
Serena Williams Hits Back At Skin-Bleaching Accusations: 'I’m A Dark, Black Woman, And I Love Who I Am'
Serena Williams is clapping back at skin-bleaching accusations. During a makeup tutorial for her beauty brand, Wyn Beauty, the tennis legend took the opportunity to address the "haters."
“And then I put just that neutral color, that is actually my skin color, and no, for you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin,” she said. “There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colors.”
The rumors started after the mom of two posted a video of herself and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, at their daughter's school play. In the video, she appeared to look a few shades lighter. During her response, she revealed that she was volunteering at the play and wore stage makeup.
“Yes, I’m calling you out on this because it is ridiculous that everyone’s like, ‘Oh, she bleached her skin,’" she said. "I’m a dark, Black woman, and I love who I am, and I love how I look and that's just not my thing.”
The 23-time Grand Slam champion also said that she doesn't judge anyone who bleaches their skin as she "stays in my lane."
Serena has always had style on and off the court, and even collaborated with Nike with her own collection Serena Williams Design Crew. However, the tennis champ has now pivoted into beauty.
Wyn Beauty was launched in April 2024 with at 10-piece collection of lip, eye, and complexion products. The brand was inspired by Serena's time on the court and the packaging is reminiscent of a tennis ball due to its chartreuse color.
“Throughout my career, I was always searching for makeup that looked good after hours on the court, mixing products myself and creating my own formulas while traveling the world,” she said in a statement. As she continues to make a name for herself in the beauty industry, I'm sure we will see a lot more looks from the tennis star.
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Feature image by Marc Piasecki/WireImage