Rising artist Chloe San Jose admitted to feeling overwhelmed as she officially launched her debut extended play (EP) album, Chloe Anjeleigh… For Real.
In an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, Chloe opened up about the emotional rollercoaster of staging her first major album launch, attended by family, friends, loved ones, and fans.
“I just felt so overwhelmed. Like I keep saying kanina pa earlier sa mga interviews ko, na I wasn’t looking at the tables with familiar faces, kasi parang I’m gonna cry on the spot. Pero the show must go on. Just overwhelmed, but good nervous. I was just so excited. Had fun, enjoyed the moments,” Chloe said.
Her debut EP features seven tracks: “FR FR,” “Nonchalant,” “Iyo,” “Something Right,” “Tanim,” “Dulo ng Bahaghari,” and “Shush.” The album centers around themes of authenticity and falling in love, capturing Chloe’s unique perspective on life and love.
Chloe expressed her deep connection with each song on the album, noting how much she enjoys their individual styles and messages.
“Me, when people ask, “What's your favorite song?”—it's so hard to choose, because like, when I like a song, it doesn't matter what genre or what, I'll sing it. So I'm just open, I guess, for any genres that are able to—whatever—challenge me,” she expressed.
Among the seven tracks, Chloe highlighted “Iyo” as one of her personal favorites. She dedicated and performed the song for her boyfriend, Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Yulo, who was present at the launch.
"He said, 'Mahal, it's really beautiful.' Like, there's no stopping any of the songs," she recalled, beaming as she shared Carlos's reaction.
Aside from “Iyo,” Chloe also expressed her love for “Dulo ng Bahaghari,” which was written and composed by Rox B. Santos, head of ABS-CBN Music's StarPop label.
“(I also like) ‘Dulo ng Bahaghari.’ I just thought when I first heard it, I was like, 'Eto, this is it.' Parang ito 'yung genre na people knew me from—like when I was doing covers back then. Sabi ko, 'This is it.' Parang like R&B-ish, tapos pwedeng i-guitar, acoustic, ganyan. So I was like, 'This is it. I love this one. This one, please,'” she expressed.
Speaking of covers, Chloe was previously known for her viral rendition of “Aking Pagmamahal” by Ladzkie of Asiano Family. As a nod to where she started, she took the initiative to incorporate a rap verse from the song into “Dulo ng Bahaghari.”
“Yes! So… first of all, when we were rehearsing it, it didn't seem like it was perfect, it didn't seem like we didn't know how to mash it together. But it just came about, then it happened naturally. And yeah, we were able to add 'Sa Aking Pagmamahal' naturally to 'Dulo ng Bahaghari,'” Chloe explained.
READ: Chloe San Jose drops debut EP, opens up about music journey and love life
Now embarking on her journey as a recording artist, Chloe emphasized the importance of staying true to herself and not giving in to pressure.
“I don’t want to put that pressure sa’kin. Because if I put that pressure sa’kin, parang the fun will be taken away—the enjoyment, and the happy vibe ng ginagawa natin together, the music and the performances. Parang when I put that pressure on, that’s gonna tear me down. Like, I’m the only one who’s gonna tear me down. Parang ganon, 'di ba? Let’s keep it real, authentic, and fun,” she expressed.