11 Questions With Singer-Songwriter Chloe Stroll

Canadian singer-songwriter Chloe Stroll has released her debut album, Bloom in the Break.

Here, she explains the artistic process behind the album, including how motherhood and her marriage with Olympic snowboarder Scotty James impact her sound.

How did you discover and shape the sound that defines Bloom in the Break?

It really came together piece by piece. I was following where the emotion led and letting each producer’s perspective shape the sound without losing the heart of the song.

You wrote over 70 songs for this project — what guided your decision-making in narrowing it down to the final 12?

I kept coming back to the songs that felt the most honest, the ones that still hit an emotional nerve, even after time passed.

On the cover art: How did you capture an entire emotional journey of the album in a single image?

We wanted something that held softness and strength at once.

When you’re writing, do you think more in terms of narrative or emotion?

Always emotion first. The narrative usually unfolds once I understand what I’m really feeling.

Which song on the album was the most challenging emotionally to work through, and why?

“Prisoner.” It brought up parts of myself I hadn’t fully faced yet, but writing it helped me move through that.

When releasing songs years after first writing them, do you find it hard to keep your emotional connection alive, or does time change your relationship with them?

Time definitely changes the lens, but the emotion is still there. I just experience it differently now, maybe with a little more compassion.

How has motherhood shifted the way you approach music and introspection?

It’s deepened everything. The way I connect to lyrics and the way I reflect on my past.

In what ways does your relationship with your husband, Scotty James, influence or inspire your songwriting?

Scotty has always encouraged me to be brave in my writing.

Did you encounter creative blocks in this process, and if so, what helped you move through them?

I did. Giving myself space to step away and come back with fresh eyes helped me reconnect to why I started in the first place.

Which track do you feel most perfectly represents who you are right now as an artist?

“A Lot to Give.”

Do you ever hesitate to release music that feels too personal?

Sometimes, yes. But I’ve learned that when something feels too personal, it usually means someone else needs to hear it too.