1.
Chlöe Howl is a name you’re going to be hearing a lot of next year.
The 17-year old singer appeared out of nowhere last week with “No Strings” and, if this debut is any indication, she’s already a fully-fledged pop star. It starts familiar; a synth that sounds ripped straight from “Pumped Up Kicks” and Howl setting her scene of the guy at the party who she’s convinced she will end the night with. As soon as it feels predictable though, she tears up the script. Jagged, arpeggiating effects dominate the chorus and the song itself turns delightfully mean: “Fuck your no strings” and “You don’t even know if I’m the right sex” aren’t exactly where you expect the high school pop song to take things. This feels like a hit, but one we can probably be happy for if it makes it big.
