Alt-pop’s flair for melodrama finds a sharp, self-aware edge in Chloe Star’s latest release, “call you back”, a track that leans into heartbreak while refusing to wallow in it. Instead, the Los AngelesA and London-based artist reframes emotional fallout as spectacle, pairing biting lyricism with a visual that feels as theatrical as it is tongue-in-cheek.
Having already caught the attention of Rolling Stone and a string of tastemaker outlets, Chloe Star continues to position herself as an artist who thrives on contrast: polish and chaos, vulnerability and bravado. Her influences, from Amy Winehouse to Nirvana and Janis Joplin, surface less as direct sonic references and more as an underlying attitude, one that favours rawness over restraint. There are shades, too, of contemporaries like YUNGBLUD in the track’s defiant energy.
“call you back” itself lands as a tightly wound alt-pop cut, driven by punchy percussion and an instantly memorable hook that skirts the line between irony and sincerity. It’s this tension that gives the song its staying power, Chloe Star isn’t just recounting heartbreak; she’s reframing it, turning emotional upheaval into something performative and, at times, darkly humorous.
The accompanying video pushes this idea further, unfolding as a stylised, near-camp murder mystery. With stunt coordination from Nate Horowitz and choreography by Ryan Ramirez, the visual moves at a relentless pace, quick cuts, exaggerated drama, and a deliberately chaotic narrative mirroring the emotional volatility at the song’s core. A mid-video dance break feels particularly emblematic of Chloe Star’s approach: unexpected, slightly absurd, and entirely self-assured.
Where many alt-pop releases lean heavily into introspection, “call you back” stands out by externalising its emotions, making a spectacle of them without losing their sting. It’s a balancing act Chloe Star handles with increasing confidence, suggesting an artist not just finding her voice, but learning how to weaponise it.