How would you classify your music?
French Jazz with a vintage touch.
Who are some of your top 5 musical influences?
Hard to choose 5! But definitely the 4 singers that I honor in my upcoming show “American Divas in Paris”: Blossom Dearie, Josephine Baker, Helen Merrill, and Eartha Kitt, I would add Ella Fitzgerald, and I could have a lot more!
What do you want fans to take from your music?
A break from their worries. A little trip to Paris in the 30’s. A desire to dance and maybe to make love to the one they love. A happy time.
How’s the music scene in your locale?
As I am bi-coastal, I have two. The New York Jazz scene is magical, and familiar as I stayed here for 9 years. I love the diversity of it. Depending of your mood you can go listen any type of Jazz. The musicians are amazing, and they work at a level that kicks your butt to get better all the time.
Right now, I am discovering the LA Jazz scene, which is more secret. LA is huge and everything is everywhere. It takes effort to discover the best clubs, and the best musicians, but I love that too. I got lucky to quickly find amazing musicians to work with. And the funny thing is that a lot of them were in New York before as well. I can’t wait to discover more as I am still pretty new there.
When did you know you were destined for music?
I think I knew after my first concert at the Réservoir in Paris, which I did on a bet. I was an actress but way too shy to sing without hiding behind a character. I was terrified, my legs were shaking, but I got hooked!
What is the best concert you have been to?
Funny enough, even though I have seen some amazing Jazz, the one concert that impressed me the most was Sting and Peter Gabriel at the Coney Island Amphitheater few years ago. The show was tight and amazing, and they were on for almost 3 hours. I want to be like them when I grow up!
What do you like most about playing live?
The relationship with the audience, and the deep connection with my musicians. I think I am addicted to it! I love to make the audience travel for the time of the show in a different universe and forgot their worries. And I love to be part of a team, and work together to make the audience happy. It makes me happy too!
Is there a song on your latest CD release here that stands out as your personal favorite, and why?
I am going to ruin it, ha ha, but even if I love all the songs since I chose them, my personal favorite is my hidden track, “Petite Fleur.” It was the favorite of my grandpa and is the title of the album.
How have you evolved as an artist over the last year?
I think that the pandemic—even if it was a hard time as I lost all my gigs, recording, tour, etc…—at the end has helped me evolve. Mostly I had time to know exactly how and what I wanted to do for my musical carrier, and in general for the future. It helped me know what I didn’t want anymore, and what I really do want. When I was playing 5 to 7 gigs a week in NYC, I loved it, but didn’t really have the time to think and create. I decided to have more space to compose and create and organize my time better to be able to do it, even if I have to say no to a gig for it. Before I was saying yes to everything!
If you could meet, play a gig, co-write a song, have dinner, have a drink with any band or artist (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
Hard to answer! I would say Duke Ellington, and I will do all the above with him. I would ask him about his inspiration for the song “Chloe” that gave me my name.
And John Pizzarelli. I have dreamed of doing a duet with him since I saw him playing at The Carlyle few years ago—I fell in love with his voice and guitar playing.
What’s next for you?
Releasing the 3 albums I have in mind, and touring the world in the best festivals & Jazz clubs, directing and acting in the movie I am writing, and opening my Life Coach practice to make more people happier. I know it’s a lot, but I am from the French Alps—I am stubborn, and want to do it all!
