Hailing originally from Clearwater, Florida, indie pop, folk, and Americana artist Cloe Wilder was only 14 when she released her debut EP, the aptly titled Teenage Lullabies, in early 2021. Initially trained as a classical pianist, Wilder fell in love with songwriting after attending a writing camp as a preteen, and began to craft the impressive, captivating, and wise-beyond-her-years crop of early songs which would make up her debut; a wistful and vulnerable encapsulation of the feeling of adolescence, made by an actual adolescent. After relocating to Los Angeles and spending the next couple of years working on new material and landing tours with the likes of Charlotte Sands, Steinza, and Spencer Sutherland, Cloe’s sophomore EP, I Spent My Summer on the Road, arrived in 2024, and exhibited a tremendous amount of artistic and personal growth, again capturing the teenage experience and journey towards young adulthood with an immense amount of intmiacy, wit, and self-reflection, while incorporating more of a folk influence, which has been prominent in her more recent work.
Influenced by artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, and especially Lana Del Rey, Wilder’s songs are dreamy, story-driven, and deeply earnest, and really showcase such a strong vision and sense of identity that would be impressive for any artist, but especially one of her age. Garnering critical accolades as she’s continued to evolve her songwriting, and to hone her live show across stages in North America and Europe, Cloe’s third EP, Life’s a Bitch, dropped early last year, and showcased even more emotional depth, introspection, and a perfect balance between the cinematic pop and raw folk she’s come to write so effortlessly.
The now 20-year-old remains as prolific as ever, having released her latest EP, Lucky Me, just a few weeks ago. Landing as something of a sonic amalgamation of everything else she’s made thus far, Wilder’s latest is also her most mature record yet (no surprise there, since it’s also her first written in young adulthood, and first released outside of her teens), tackling topics like love and longing, the learned experience of growing older, imposter syndrome, and more, all with more confidence and edge, and a perfect balance of lightheartedness and vulnerability. The musical journey from Teenage Lullabies to Lucky Me provides such an impressive chronicle of growing up that few artists can claim (Taylor Swift or Olivia Rodrigo come to mind), and Cloe’s latest feels like a perfect start of a second chapter, and one you should absolutely be keeping an eye on if you haven’t been following her already.
No stranger to playing Nashville over the years, Wilder is set to embark on her first headlining tour later this month, which will bring her to The Basement on Aug. 26, along with local singer-songwriter Elizabeth Covington (plus some special guests). You can still get tickets right here while they last, but we’re excited to announce that we’re also giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky reader! Whether you’re new to Cloe Wilder or a longtime fan, catching an artist like this on the rise at a spot as intimate as the OG Basement is something extra special, and we seriously encourage you not to skip out on this show. Check out Cloe’s new music video for EP title track “Lucky Me,” and enter below!
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