Column: Chloe x Halle have grown as artists

Kyara Morales-Rodriguez

The singing duo composed of sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey, Chloe x Halle, have had a very successful career in just a couple of years. They started by taking minor roles in films and now they are Grammy-nominated singers, songwriters, and actresses.

I first saw the duo on Disney Channel when they were crowned the winners of Radio Disney’s “The Next Big Thing” in December 2012. I remember how 12-year-old me sat in awe in front of the television, watching them sing and being blown away by how much talent they had. It has been amazing seeing them grow as artists and as women since then.

Most recently, I have been nonstop listening to their latest album, “Ungodly Hour,” since its release in June 2020.

The album presents us with what has always made this duo so incredible: the harmony the sisters have when they sing. Though they have very different singing styles, their voices work beautifully together.

The album is an R&B record with elements of pop, trap, soul and hip hop. Through all these different styles of music, the album masterfully presents the combination of the sisters’ music tastes and singing styles to create a sound that is unique and beautiful.

The album features hauntingly beautiful vocals and incredible instrumentals—all a testament to the duo’s talent. The album was entirely recorded in the sisters’ home studio, with Chloe and Halle being active participants in the album-producing process by writing and producing their songs primarily by themselves.

By being their most mature record so far, this album also best reflects the way they have grown as women and artists, allowing them to shed the squeaky-clean images they were given since the start of their stardom.

With this album, they were able to sing about their experiences as normal 20-somethings: lives that involve sex, partying with their besties and getting into very messy situations. They were able to show that they are women with layers, flaws, emotions and struggles. They achieved that by being truthful and completely unapologetic about who they are.

I am so incredibly proud of everything this dynamic duo has been able to accomplish so far. They deserve all the success that they have had and all the success that they will have in the future. Chloe x Halle are definitely the future of the music industry, and I cannot wait to see what they do next.

 

Kyara Morales-Rodriguez is a junior English major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].