Chloe Bailey, widely recognized for her dynamic talent, has recently spoken out about how her music is categorized. In a revealing interview with Nylon, the artist expressed her frustration with being pigeonholed into the R&B genre solely because of her race.
Chloe Bailey Challenging Stereotypes in Music
“Any music I do will easily and quickly be categorized as R&B because I’m a Black woman,” Bailey stated. “If someone who didn’t have my skin tone made the same music, it would be in the pop categories. That’s just the way it’s always been in life.”
Bailey’s sentiment echoes a broader issue within the music industry. She pointed out the parallel with legendary artist Whitney Houston. “Early on in her career, when she was doing the big pop records, she got a lot of flak for that: being told she wasn’t Black enough and wasn’t catering to the base that made her,” Bailey remarked. She emphasized how Houston’s journey proves that music transcends race and genre. “To see how she persevered and has become one of the most iconic, legendary artists that we’ve ever seen, shows that music has no race, it has no genre, it has none of that. It’s just a feeling and it’s a vibration.”
Inspiration and Mentorship
Bailey also praised her mentor, Beyoncé, for challenging genre boundaries with her music. Commenting on Beyoncé’s recent release, she said, “Black people originated country music. It’s just showing that possibilities are endless.”
Bailey received invaluable advice from Beyoncé during a creative rut. She recalled, “You have to let the world catch up because you’re always ahead of the curve.” Reflecting on her work, Bailey noted, “What I kind of love about my art is that it sneaks up on you. When In Pieces came out, not many people really got it. But now a year later, people are like, ‘Oh, it’s genius! It’s beautiful! It’s amazing!’”
Bailey is currently preparing for the release of her sophomore album, Trouble In Paradise. Comparing it to her debut, she explained that if In Pieces was about “appreciating the sadness of heartache,” then Trouble In Paradise is a “coming-of-age celebration of being a woman and having fun, not taking life too seriously.” The album is expected to release later this summer.
Chloe Bailey’s insights shed light on the racial biases in music categorization, urging a reevaluation of how artists are classified. Her journey and the wisdom she has gained from icons like Whitney Houston and Beyoncé inspire her to push boundaries and redefine her musical identity.