Disney's The Little Mermaid LIVE ACTION

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From Comicbook:

The Little Mermaid: Halle Bailey Addresses Online Backlash to Her Playing Ariel

By Aaron Perine - June 12, 2020 12:23 am EDT

The Little Mermaid’s Halle Bailey addressed the online backlash to her playing Ariel. She sat down with Teen Vogue to talk about her life and using her platform for positivity. Eventually, the highly-anticipated live-action version of the Disney classic came up. Bailey is still very thankful for being cast, and she’s balancing the good with the bad when it comes to the Internet response. Things have cooled down considerably, but the issue will probably reappear when the trailer releases. Until then, its just time to keep positive and be open to the experience for the young actress. She’s heard some of it and won’t be letting it get her down. There is so much support out there and it helps push out the hate.

Bailey told Teen Vogue, “We've always learned to just keep our heads up no matter the situation. No matter what anybody has to say about you...just keep pushing.”

When the news of the casting came out, Variety had a sit down with the actress and she reiterated her excitement to be associated with this project. "I feel like I'm dreaming, and I'm just grateful." Bailey said. "And I don't pay attention to the negativity. I just feel like this role is something bigger than me, and greater, and it's going to be beautiful. I'm just so excited to be a part of it."

So, she feels confident in this choice, and the voice of Ariel from the animated feature stepped up to support Bailey as well after all the drama kicked up.

“I think that the spirit of a character is what really matters." Benson told the crowd at a convention appearance. "What you bring to the table in a character as far as their heart, and their spirit, is what really counts. And the outside package — cause let’s face it, I’m really, really old — and so when I’m singing ‘Part of Your World,’ if you were to judge me on the way that I look on the outside, it might change the way that you interpret the song. But if you close your eyes, you can still hear the spirit of Ariel.”
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“We need to be storytellers." Benson added. “And no matter what we look like on the outside, no matter our race, our nation, the color of our skin, our dialect, whether I’m tall or thin, whether I’m overweight or underweight, or my hair is whatever color, we really need to tell the story. And that’s what we want to do, we want to make a connection to the audience. So I know for Disney that they have the heart of storytelling, that’s really what they’re trying to do. They want to communicate with all of us in the audience so that we can fall in love with the film again.

Are you looking forward to the live-action version of the film? Let us know down in the comments!

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From DigitalSpy:

Little Mermaid star responds to online backlash over her casting in live-action remake

"Just keep pushing."

By Charley Ross
12/06/2020

The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey has spoken out about how she deals with online critics making racist remarks about a Black actress being cast as main character Ariel.

"We've always learned to just keep our heads up no matter the situation," she told Teen Vogue in an interview. No matter what anybody has to say about you... just keep pushing."

In a previous interview with Variety, the actress voiced her excitement at playing the role, and the importance of not engaging with the "negativity" around her casting.

"I feel like I'm dreaming, and I'm just grateful. I don't pay attention to the negativity. I just feel like this role is something bigger than me," she said. "It's going to be beautiful."

Back in March, it was confirmed that one week before filming was set to begin in London, production had been paused on the remake, due to the coronavirus crisis.

Halle previously confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that the pandemic saw her sent back from production in London to her home in Los Angeles.

However, she said that she's "very excited" to resume production on The Little Mermaid and revealed that the cast will remain the same amid the inevitable schedule changes.

"I was in London at the beginning of the year about to start filming and of course this pandemic caused everyone to slow down," Halle said. "I actually welcomed it because I was really missing my sister who was here in LA, so I was happy to get back to her and I'm just so very excited for when we start back again."

The remake's cast is rumoured to include Awkwafina, Melissa McCarthy, and Room star Jacob Tremblay.

The Little Mermaid is scheduled for release on November 19, 2021.

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From Koimoi:

The Little Mermaid: Halle Bailey Opens Up On Dealing With Negative Criticism On Her Casting As Ariel
Halle who is well known for musical works with her elder sister Chloe, who together make up the group Chloe x Halle, received severe criticism on social media following the announcement.
By Koimoi.com Team -
June 12, 2020

It was in July last year when the news about a remake of Disney’s 1989 release The Little Mermaid with Halle Bailey playing the lead, and portraying the iconic character of Ariel was announced. Halle who is well known for musical works with her elder sister Chloe, who together make up the group Chloe x Halle, received severe criticism on social media following the announcement.

While many people are keen to catch Halle Bailey portraying the role of Ariel on the big screen, as they believe that the young singer-actress can pull off the character pretty well. At the same time, others are against the idea of makers casting in Halle to play the lead in The Little Mermaid, as they feel that a young black woman doesn’t suit the role.

Those who weren’t that convinced with the idea of Halle Bailey playing Ariel took to social media with hashtag #NotMyAriel asking the makers to recast the character with a white woman.

Halle Bailey in a recent interview with teenvogue.com was asked how she dealt with all the negative criticism that came around her way, she said, “We’ve always learned to just keep our heads up no matter the situation. No matter what anybody has to say about you…just keep pushing.”

After the news of her being cast to play the character of Ariel broke out last year, Halle in an interview then with Variety.com opened up about negative criticism and said, “I feel like I’m dreaming, and I’m just grateful. I don’t pay attention to the negativity. I just feel like this role is something bigger than me. It’s going to be beautiful.”

More about The Little Mermaid, the remake will be helmed by filmmaker Rob Marshall. In the past, the director has helmed the likes of Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Sides, Chicago along with other films.

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From EpicStream:

The Little Mermaid Star Halle Bailey Finally Addresses Online Backlash Over Ariel Casting

By Nobelle Borines
June 12, 2020 11:16 AM

There is little doubt that landing a major role in a Disney film could be truly exciting for an actor. Not surprisingly, Halle Bailey was over the moon when she was cast as Ariel in the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Unfortunately, not everyone was thrilled and there was a notable backlash against the Grown-ish star's casting. Now the young actress has addressed the issue.

Halle and her sister Chloe Bailey were recently interviewed by Teen Vogue where they spoke about several issues including the delay of their new album release. Interestingly, Halle was once again asked how she felt about being a part of The Little Mermaid reboot and the young musician had a graceful response.

“We've always learned to just keep our heads up no matter the situation. No matter what anybody has to say about you...just keep pushing,” Halle said.

It's slightly different from Halle's previous comment to Variety where she said that “I feel like I’m dreaming, and I’m just grateful. I don’t pay attention to the negativity. I just feel like this role is something bigger than me. It’s going to be beautiful.” Nevertheless, it is clear that she is still grateful that she landed the role.

Friendly reminder that Halle of Chloe x Halle will be playing Ariel in TLM live action film by Disney and that she is even backed by Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel. pic.twitter.com/DYI0SbivZr
— Doug Dimmadome’s Apprentice (@hecallsmepp) June 7, 2020

It's understandable why Halle is trying to avoid making a big deal out of the whole thing considering that there are bigger issues to worry about. Needless to say, we're already looking forward to seeing her as Ariel in the highly anticipated The Little Mermaid remake.

The Little Mermaid reboot has not yet been given an official release date. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

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From Screenrant:

The Little Mermaid Live-Action Star Rejects Casting Backlash
The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey rejects backlash the film received for her casting and says the reaction has been largely positive.

BY JULIA WAGNER
10 HOURS AGO

Halle Bailey, star of the upcoming live-action The Little Mermaid, is rejecting the backlash accompanying her casting as Ariel in the Disney adaptation. Bailey was officially cast in the role in July, along with Jacob Tremblay, Melissa McCarthy, and Awkwafina. The remake, directed by Rob Marshall, has been delayed due to the pandemic, but will be released sometime in 2021 and will include four new songs as part of The Little Mermaid repertoire.

Halle Bailey is one half of the Grammy-nominated R&B duo Chloe x Halle, along with her sister, Chloe. After being signed to Beyonce's record label, the duo went on to star in the sitcom Grown-ish. When Bailey was announced as the lead of the live-action The Little Mermaid adaptation in July, the response was mostly positive. However, there was some online backlash, including some fans who were upset at the thought of an Ariel actress not having red hair.

Halle Bailey is continuing to ignore any online backlash to her casting as the Disney princess. In a recent interview with Variety, Bailey said, "I don't pay attention to the negativity. I just feel like this role is something bigger than me, and greater, and it's going to be beautiful. I'm just so excited to be a part of it." When Bailey's casting was revealed, Variety reported she was described by insiders as the "clear front runner from the beginning."

Original Ariel actress Jodi Benson expressed her support for Bailey at Florida Supercon, stating, "The most important thing is to tell the story." Benson went on to say, "I think that the spirit of the character is what really matters. What you bring to the table in a character as far as their heart, and their spirit, is what really counts."

Despite the negative backlash, most of the response to Bailey's casting has been very positive. Upon the announcement of her casting, many celebrities, including her Grown-ish co-stars Yara Shadidi and Francia Raisa, reached out on social media to convey their excitement over the news. Jordin Sparks and Sophie Turner (who was rumored to be up for the role herself) also reached out with positivity.

Casting a black actress in the titular role of The Little Mermaid, a character traditionally depicted by white women, is a massive step in the right direction regarding minority representation in Hollywood. Reimagining stories with traditionally white casts, and Bailey's rejection of any race-based backlash to her casting, is particularly relevant amidst the ongoing protests across the country. Though there has been some backlash, Halle Bailey's insistence on focusing on the positive and embracing the role makes her an ideal choice to portray the always positive and hopeful princess in The Little Mermaid.

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From NPR:

MUSIC INTERVIEWS
Chloe x Halle On Releasing Their New Album During America's 'Ungodly Hour'
June 14, 20208:00 AM ET
Heard on Weekend Edition Sunday
Lulu Garcia-Navarro



When Beyoncé deems your music "flawless," you know you've probably made it. That's more or less what happened to the sister R&B duo, Chloe x Halle, when they passed their latest album, Ungodly Hour, to Beyoncé for feedback.

"We love Beyoncé so much and we value her opinion so very much, so whenever we can get her feedback on something, it's very much appreciated," Halle Bailey says. "But for this album, we only heard positive things and that she loved it. So that really made us happy and feel proud."

Chloe and Halle Bailey have been singing and acting in TV shows all their lives, but their real break in the music industry came when they signed with Beyoncé's Parkwood Entertainment label after their cover of the star's song, "Pretty Hurts," went viral and caught her attention. Since then, they have opened for Beyoncé and Jay-Z's world tour, wrote the theme song for Grown-ish and Halle has been cast as Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of Disney's The Little Mermaid.

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro spoke to Chloe and Halle Bailey about writing music and pursuing both acting and singing together, delaying the release of their album to call attention to the ongoing protests against police brutality and racism and Halle's upcoming role as a Disney princess. Listen to the radio version at the audio link above, and read on for highlights of the interview.

Interview Highlights
On delaying their album release and to support the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests

Chloe Bailey: We decided to postpone it because with everything going on in the world right now, we just didn't want the attention to be on us. We wanted the attention to be on getting justice for our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives to police brutality, and we felt that was more important, to use our platform for that. We're just really happy and proud to see our other peers doing the same, and we're all letting our voices be heard and we're not backing down. Seeing how the whole entire world really is coming together to fight racism in America and anywhere else, it makes me really hopeful.

Halle Bailey: The past few weeks have been actually very heavy for the both of us. An emotional ride, because when we see what happened to George Floyd, we think of our father and we think of our little brother, and how that could happen to them any day. It's definitely been a heavy time, but also a hopeful time because of our peers and everybody that's finally standing up for what's right and we are just so happy to be a part of this generation who are not afraid to use our voices to speak up for what we believe in.

On the original of the album's name, Ungodly Hour

Halle Bailey: My sister actually had written in her notes this beautiful phrase, "the ungodly hour." And we used it because we basically feel like during this time, there can be a lot of things going on through your head. During the ungodly hour, you're thinking of all of the insecurities that you have, the ups and downs of your life, everything. In this case, for this song, we were basically telling somebody "When you decide you like yourself, and you need someone in your life, love me at the ungodly hour. Love me at my best and my worst." So we feel like the title track of this album is really going with the times of what's happening right now, because truly this does feel like the ungodly hour and we just hope that our music can be a healer right now.

On starting songwriting at a young age and maintaining control of songwriting and production on Ungodly Hour

Chloe Bailey: We have to give all that credit to our parents. When we were growing up our dad would always be like "If you don't know something, figure it out." And Halle and I, being around 10 and 8, living in Atlanta, going producer to producer, and songwriters and singing for them, no one really wanted to write music for us at that time because we were so young.

So that's when dad sat us down at the table like "Look, you all can create your own music as well." And so that's exactly what we did. And from then on, we just kind of progressed gradually together. Halle is the best music partner I could ever have. I appreciate how we bring two completely different perspectives — because we are two different people — to the music. We don't try to be the same, but we make our differences work and the synergy is pretty electric. We did most of this album in our garage here in our home. We put a bunch of carpet down, we have our mic and our speakers and keyboards and guitars in there. It's always such a good vibe. When we were creating songs for this album it truly felt like we were just storytelling and telling each other things that had been going on in our lives.

On remaking The Little Mermaid and the importance of representation

Halle Bailey: I'm very honored. I feel so blessed to be in this position. The Little Mermaid has always been one of my favorite movies since I was a little girl, so being able to make Ariel mine in a way has been a beautiful process and a beautiful journey, and I'm just so excited to go on it. I just hope people love it.I definitely hope that a lot of beautiful young black girls can know that they can be princesses, too. And that they are beautiful in every single way.

Sophia Alvarez Boyd and Hadeel Al-Shalchi produced and edited the audio of this interview. Jon Lewis adapted it for the Web.

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From Inside the magic:

‘The Little Mermaid’ Star Halle Bailey Opens up About ‘Black Ariel Backlash’
IN DISNEY, ENTERTAINMENT, MOVIES

Posted on June 14, 2020 by Kelly Coffey

Last summer, Disney announced that they had finally found their Ariel for the upcoming live action remake The Little Mermaid. The Disney Princess, Ariel, will be played by actress Halle Bailey, who is known for her work in ABC’s Grown-ish and as one half of the popular R&B singing duo Chloe and Halle.

But it wasn’t long before the Internet spoke out about this decision — While many fans were extremely supportive, others immediately took to Twitter and other social media platforms to express their frustrations about the casting of the Disney Princess. The hashtag #NotMyAriel immediately began to trend.

The Walt Disney Company, Jodi Benson (the original voice for Ariel in the 1989 animated classic), Lin-Manuel Miranda, one of the producers and composers for the upcoming live action remake, and others spoke out defending Disney’s decision and Bailey’s casting.

And now, the one and only, Ms. Halle Bailey, is speaking out against the online backlash she has received for being cast as the star in The Little Mermaid.

The Grownish actress recently spoke with Teen Vogue about The Little Mermaid backlash, explaining that though she has heard some of the criticisms online, she won’t be letting the hate get her down. Bailey went on to explain how she knows there is so much support out there in the world and because of that, it helps to push away the hate and negativity.

“We’ve always learned to just keep our heads up no matter the situation,” Bailey told Teen Vogue. “No matter what anybody has to say about you…just keep pushing.”

When the casting first came out, Bailey was extremely excited that Disney had cast her for this iconic role. She told Variety “I feel like I’m dreaming, and I’m just grateful. And I don’t pay attention to the negativity. I just feel like this role is something bigger than me, and greater, and it’s going to be beautiful. I’m just so excited to be a part of it.”

In March 2020, Disney made the difficult decision to suspend the production of multiple films, including the live action The Little Mermaid due to the current global pandemic. Halle Bailey also recently spoke out about the film production for the upcoming Disney film, which you can read more about here.

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From Skyler Shuler instagram stories:

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Video of Johan Hauer King, he can sang very well:

http://instagram.com/p/CBefCFglw59

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From Today:

Chloe x Halle talk about new music and ‘Little Mermaid’

Chloe x Halle, the sister duo who became R&B superstars after catching the attention of Beyoncè, join TODAY’s Hoda Kotb by video chat in Los Angeles for a discussion about “Ungodly Hour,” their latest album they’ve decided to postpone releasing. Halle also talks about landing the role of Ariel in the live-action version of “The Little Mermaid.”

June 16, 2020


Video here

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From Foxla:

Chloe X Halle discuss new album, their father's influence and more
Chloe X Halle are riding an incredible wave of success. They talked about their new album, “Ungodly Hour”, the reasons why they delayed the release of their second studio album, and what part their father has played in their careers.

Video here

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From WWD:

The Youthful Wisdom of Chloe x Halle
As they release their second album, Chloe and Halle Bailey are more sure of themselves — and more empowered in using their voice, at a particularly relevant time — than ever.
By Leigh Nordstrom on June 17, 2020

Your early 20s are not generally known as a time of great wisdom, understanding of your own emotional health and giving yourself grace to come of age. Yet Chloe and Halle Bailey, 21 and 20, respectively, are far more centered and in touch with their own growth than many of their peers. And they’re particularly skilled at being able to translate that into music, as seen through “Ungodly Hour,” their sophomore album, which was released last week to much fanfare and positive reviews.

It’s no wonder why Beyoncé plucked the sisters — better known as Chloe x Halle — out of obscurity after seeing their cover of her song “Pretty Hurts” on YouTube when they were barely teenagers and signed them to her Parkwood Entertainment label, drastically altering the course of their young lives and careers.

“This album, we’re baring our souls,” Chloe says. “We’re sharing our insecurities, showing our vulnerabilities, all of those things. We just want people to accept us for who we truly are. It’s like ‘love me at the ungodly hour.’ That’s why we called this project that. It’s that time when you’re not perfect. It’s that time when you’re struggling and it’s OK to struggle. There’s beauty in that.”

“And it’s definitely something that we’ve had to work at,” Halle adds. “A lot of the messages on the album, talking about and addressing insecurities and being OK with them, is really just us talking to ourselves, trying to mark these messages into our hearts and our brains. Because when we are feeling down, one of us is there for the other one to lift each other up. So, those lyrics in the songs are definitely messages to ourselves to cheer us up as well. If it can help other people and make them feel better, then that’s our goal.”

The sisters are on Zoom, each from their respective bedrooms in the house they share in Los Angeles with their parents and younger brother. Chloe’s just finished a HIIT workout while Halle cleaned her bedroom (Chloe admits some tidying is needed in hers as well). The Baileys have been in lockdown at home since March, listening to gospel (Chloe) and Marvin Gaye (Halle), watching “Love Island” and the Michelle Obama documentary, “Becoming.”

“It’s been a journey. In the beginning, it was like a fun sleepover; we can’t leave the house. And then, it kind of kicked in for us like, ‘Whoa, this is real,’” Halle says. “This is really heavy for us all. We’re all just trying to stay safe. With the recent events that have been happening over the couple of weeks and all the protests, we’ve just been so grateful to be alive, and we’ve been clinging to each other, and remembering to be grateful for every small thing, and trying to stay positive and hopeful.”

Both sisters have the immediate, natural ability to be utterly grounded in the severity of something — the Black Lives Matter protests that have followed the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd — paired with hope. It’s hard not to feel positive, inspired and hopeful after conversing with Chloe and Halle, who are wise beyond their years and see themselves clearly.

“Ungodly Hour” was set to be released on June 5, but the sisters said in a video posted to Instagram earlier that week they decided to push the date back to June 12, in light of the protests against police brutality that began to capture national attention around that time.

“We were kind of numb in a way,” Chloe says. “We were feeling very overwhelmed and saddened by everything, but also hopeful because the youth were raising our voices. We’re really making a change. You could visually and physically see that. We felt like we should just put all of the attention on using our platform to shine the light on the injustices of our people. We didn’t want to make this moment about us that week. Music is healing and all we ever want to do is heal with our voice. But, we said, ‘Let’s just wait a week. It’s just one week. Let’s put our attention on the problems and the issues that matter the most to us right now.’”

“Whenever something as traumatizing as what went down happens, whenever somebody can see a man get murdered in the street, that’s traumatic,” Halle says. “We think about how that could have been our father, that could have been our little brother, that could have been our uncle — so it’s really hard for us to swallow that pill. With everyone raising their voices and using social media for the better and to try to get justice for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and all of the others, it’s a beautiful thing. People can now see what has been happening for a very long time. For that, we are grateful. But at the same time, it’s very sad. It’s very traumatizing. We just try to hold our loved ones close and remain hopeful during this time, even though it’s hard. All we can do is try to use our platform to speak on the things that matter to us and try to get justice for those who need it.”

Chloe x Halle released their first album, “The Kids Are Alright,” in March 2018, when they were teenagers. The album took three years to make in part because, Halle says, “we were still trying to find our sound, and growing.” The new album, then, finds them much more confident in who they are and the sound they’re putting out.

“It felt more like we know who we are and we’re just sharing our experiences of what’s happened in our life,” Halle says. “The album takes you on a journey of all the ups and downs of womanhood and insecurities, and not knowing if you’ll be OK being by yourself, and then all of the relationship problems or relationship fun times. It’s all in there. I feel like it was much easier for us to do for this album because we had so much more to share and we knew more about who we were.”

“The Kids Are Alright” was created in the living room of the first house the family lived in after relocating to L.A. from Atlanta. After moving into a new home, the garage was converted into a studio. Though “Ungodly Hour” had more outside hands involved than the first record, it always came home at the end of the day for the sisters’ final touches. (They both executive produced the album and cowrote each song, with Chloe producing 10 of the 13 tracks.)

“I loved it because after we created the music with them, we were able to take the stems back home to our home studio and layer more of our harmonies into the song, and really add pieces of us that made the song feel like my sister and I,” Chloe says. “It was really collaborative. But we still executive produced it. We had our hands in everything on this album.”

Which is, of course, of note in an industry dominated by men. Halle says whenever they’d be in studio sessions with any major male producer, the fact that Chloe had made the beats always drew shock.

“They’re like, ‘What? You do that? This little girl, you did what?’” Halle says. “That’s always my favorite thing to see.”

It’s a confidence they’ve seen play out from their mentor, the one and only Beyoncé.

“Not only is she a fantastic musician and artist, but she is a wonderful businesswoman,” Chloe says of Beyoncé. “She knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to say it. She’s not afraid to be a perfectionist. That is very inspiring to me because a lot of times, women are seen in a different light when they are a boss and when they take leadership and when they raise their voices. But she has never been afraid of that. It’s so empowering for us as young women to see that and one day become that, and not be afraid to raise our voices and speak our minds, and speak up in business meetings and these conferences, and all that good stuff.”

Much about future projects remain suspended, but each sister has solo acting projects on the horizon (they star together in “Grown-ish” on Freeform). Halle made headlines when she was cast as Ariel in the upcoming live-action “The Little Mermaid,” which was shooting in London until the pandemic shutdown, and Chloe will be seen next in “The Georgetown Project” with Russell Crowe. Acting was their first love and they aim to pursue both simultaneously. But for now, in this moment, the focus is on music and how it acts as an instrument for positivity.

“One thing I know for sure, music is a universal language. No matter what anyone believes, music always, for some reason, gets through to them. So for my sister and me, it’s been very important for us to share our voices, to bring some healing, as well as to sometimes wake people up to things that need to be heard,” Halle says. “That’s all we can do with what we’re given.”

Photos here

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From The South Africa:

Move over Queen Bey: Chloe x Halle are coming for your crown
Our fave RnB sisters Chloe x Halle finally dropped their long-awaited album 'Ungodly Hour', alongside their 'Forgive Me' music video.
Vuyiseka Dosi by Vuyiseka Dosi 2020-06-19 21:13in Art and Artists

Music duo Chloe x Halle. Image via Twitter @chloexhalle

The star of singing sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey is rising, with the latest being their appearance as Teen Vogue cover models in June.

The talented duo were first discovered when they did a YouTube cover of Best Thing I Never Had by Beyoncé.

Queen Bey didn’t waste any time and took them under her wing, signing up the singers under her record label Parkwood Entertainment.

#BLACKLIVESMATTER: CHLOE X HALLE SPEAK OUT

Chloe x Halle have been vocal regarding police brutality in the United States (US), urging fans to sign petitions and donating to the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

The sisters, who postponed the release of Ungodly Hour due to the spotlight on police brutality, posed together for the stunning June Teen Vogue shoot at their home in Los Angeles.

At the time, Chloe tweeted: “In honour of all of the lives lost in police brutality, we felt like it was right to postpone, and fully shine our attention and our work on them.”

She further stated: “Music has been used for a long time to bring us joy and healing in difficult times like this.”

However the duo blessed us with their much-anticipated album this morning.

The album, which explores the themes of love and regret, shows a different side to the sisters, flipping their image of “perfect angels” and introducing us to their naughty side.

TRENDING ON TWITTER

Chloe x Halle were trending at No 1 last week with most singing their praises.

A few tweets speculated that the Busy Boy song was a way for Chloe to spill the beans on why she broke up with Diggy Simmons.

Within seven hours, the album zoomed up to the No 1 spot on iTunes USA.

Rolling Stone magazine has also listed Ungodly Hour as one of the 50 best albums of 2020 so far.


chloe x halle
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@chloexhalle
#FORGIVEME music video x OUR ALBUM #UNGODLYHOUR OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! chloexhalle.lnk.to/UngodlyHour

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WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE DYNAMIC DUO?

In July 2019, it was announced that Halle is set to play Ariel in the live-action The Little Mermaid movie.

Many saw Halle’s breakout feature film role as a huge win for inclusion but, like clockwork, social media found an issue with a revamped Ariel played by a black woman.

That did not bother Halle one bit, as she continues to break boundaries.

Chloe, on the other hand, is also expanding her acting credentials in feature films. In December 2019 she wrapped filming for her role in the horror film The Georgetown Project, starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Simpkins.

The sisters have proven time and time again that they’re a force to be reckoned with. Being Beyoncé’s “crown jewels” doesn’t mean they have to sit around and wait for things to be handed to them.

Before we know it they just might dethrone the reigning queen of R&B …

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From ClashMusic:

In Conversation: Chloe x Halle
Highlights from our IG: Live excursion...
Earlier this week, CLASH hosted a live Q&A with sister duo, Chloe x Halle. The below interview is an edited transcript.

Chloe x Halle, hailing from Atlanta, are prolific creators in complete command of their art. They’ve executive produced four projects in the span of five years, culminating in the release of their second full-length, ‘Ungodly Hour’. Citing gospel giants, The Clark Sisters and Mary Mary, as vocal stimuli, Chloe x Halle belong to a tradition of virtuoso performers rousing the world with soul-stirring hymns and baroque harmonies.

Chloe x Halle are attuned to the state of the world they inhabit. Drawing from a treasure trove of black architypes, they interrogate the notion of “activism”, collective empathy and the power that comes with having a platform.

In my review for the ‘Ungodly Hour’, I wrote that “Chloe x Halle are an avowal of sisterhood and sorority. They’re the prototypal embodiment of the “black girl magic” hashtag - never more prescient in a time when we need figures to aspire to.”

How fortunate are we to have these young women as the vanguard of our next chapter?

CLASH: I should start by saying the CLASH team agree ‘Ungodly Hour’ is one of the strongest coming-of-age releases we’ve had all year. How does it feel to have your labour of love out there?

Chloe: Thank you. It’s so surreal and strange that it’s finally out and people are streaming it on their phones, and they can actually buy it. It’s so wild to us. We’re just happy that people are loving it and relating to it. We can’t wait to further promote it. This era is far from finished.

CLASH: Did you feel a sense of pressure or expectation that comes with releasing a follow-up record? Did you relish that challenge?

Halle: We did feel pressure, but a lot of that came from within. ‘The Kids Are Alright’ was such a special introduction for us - a Grammy-nominated record. When it came down to making this next project, we had a lot of questions. How do we follow-up our debut and do it well? Initially we had this mindset where we thought we had to one-up ourselves, but then we realised this record is a blank slate for us. We need to make something beautiful like we always do: go into our garage, have fun and create music, whatever comes out of that is meant to be. It was important that we drowned out any outside noise.

CLASH: Can you breakdown your album title ‘Ungodly Hour’? A small vocal minority have commented, believing ‘Ungodly Hour’ is your good-girl-gone-bad descent into “darkness”. In your own words, what’s symbolic about the title?

Chloe: We’re so spiritual, and we put God first and foremost. But the title actually came out of a session we had with Disclosure. Usually when Halle and I create, we have a phrase for inspiration, a starting point. So, we all sat down and discussed the phrase “Ungodly Hour”. We came up with lyrics – “Love me at the Ungodly Hour” – and what that means is love me when I’m at my best, but also when I’m at my worst. Love me when I’m sad, love me when I’m happy, love me when I’m feeling sexy, love me for all of me. We felt that phrase best described the entire album because if you listen to each song on it, we are truly baring our souls, we’re not just being one-sided.


CLASH: The track ‘Ungodly Hour’ is a different direction for you sonically, traversing a more soporific electronic soundscape. What was it like working with another sibling pair, but also these electronic pioneers?

Chloe: They’re siblings like us and in them, we saw the white male versions of us - it was so interesting to see their synergy.

Halle: Disclosure had actually been working on their album at the time, which is amazing! The creative process was so much fun, they’re mirrors of us. Guy is very much like Chloe, very techy and very anal about stuff. Howard is like me in that we have a more chilled demeanour, we go with the flow. It was so much fun watching other siblings that are intrinsically-linked, work.

CLASH: Let's go back to those early conversations you had when you started the journey of recording what would be ‘Ungodly Hour’. Did you have mood boards? What were your references? How was this going to be a different experience from your debut?

Chloe: We’re always creating, but it took us a year to get into album-making mode. We created this mood board: three to four posters that we put together with duct tape and a bunch of editorial magazines. The photos were of naked or nude women symbolising us coming into our own, owning our sexuality-

Halle: -The vulnerable side, the bare side that people don’t get to see.

Chloe: Exactly. There was even a phrase on there, that said “the trouble with angels”. That was inspiring to us when we were creating the project because we knew what we wanted this album to feel like: sexy, grown, vulnerable like us.

CLASH: There’s a religious theme interwoven into the fabric of the record. From the gospel interludes, to the ‘Intro’ which sounds like a hymn, to the allusions to prayer in ‘Baby Girl’. Can you explain, how your faith influenced ‘Ungodly Hour’ in the context of coming of age?

Halle: We grew up believing we were given this gift of song for a reason, believing we are being used as vessels to share God’s love and light. For this album, because we were showing a more mature side, it was important to keep that theme consistent and to convey the struggles that come with finding yourself. Not everyone is happy, perfect and satisfied every day of their lives. It was so important to show the prominence of spirituality, especially when we lean on it during the darker times. In our songs ‘Overwhelmed’ and ‘Lonely’ - these are mantras and messages that we’re saying to affirm ourselves with, and to remind us that we’re God’s vessels and that perfection isn’t a reality, the journey is.

CLASH: What are your favourite tracks on the record and why? I can imagine this changes quite often.

Chloe: Yes, it changes every day. Today I’m in a ‘Lonely’ mood. I love this track because it comes from an uplifting perspective. We’ve all had those feelings where we feel isolated, but then you remember you’re not alone because you have the person looking back at you in the mirror. I love being in love, I’m forever clinging to my family. I never really want to be alone, I’m a true Cancer. But I’m learning the beauty of being alone. Before quarantine started, I was taking myself out on dates and enjoying time with myself (laughs).

Halle: I think of all the songs as my children. I gave birth to them; I water birthed them. So, it’s very hard to choose a favourite, but I’d agree with Chloe, it’s a little gloomy today and ‘Lonely’ feels relevant.


CLASH: What star signs are you averse to?

Halle: Good question! (laughs)

Chloe: According to astrology, Cancer and Aries aren’t always compatible, they don’t get along. Halle: We’re not supposed to be partners.

Chloe: Because we’re good business partners and best friends, if I meet someone that isn’t compatible with my sign, I’m actually more open-minded about it because I relate it to how well my sister and I work together.

Halle: I love Libras.

CLASH: Very peaceful, serene people.

Halle: Yes! Our brother Branson and so many other people in our lives are Libras. Chloe: But do you like Cancers? Halle: I do like Cancers. I guess I’m used to Cancers.

CLASH: Someone just commented saying “Sagittarians are the best star sign” - I agree, because I am one.

Chloe: I think Sagittarians are cool, I haven’t met a mean one.

CLASH: You produce, you write, you arrange, even co-engineer. What does having complete creative control mean to you?

Chloe: Having complete creative control means everything. It’s all we’ve ever known. When we were 10 and 8 years old, we’d go around and sing for producers in Atlanta but no one would want to write a song for children.

Halle: What do you write for little girls?

Chloe: When we realised no one wanted to work with us in that way, our Daddy sat us down and wrote down “song structure” on these sheets of paper. He helped incorporate figurative language in our music. We wrote this first song together called ‘What Makes Us Sad’-

Halle: A truly terrible song.

CLASH: I think the world needs to hear it.

Chloe: If we can find it! My Dad is like me-

Halle: -They're nerds. They’re very into science and maths, they’re very techy people.

Chloe: I loved science and maths growing up, and that’s why I love producing. Music is math. We’re building something and putting these sounds together. Even when we collaborate, we’ll take the stems home, add more weird harmonies, experimental sounds and assess how much more of us we can put in the song. We’re two young black women in music who have executive produced all of the records we’ve put out.

CLASH: That’s exactly the point. Both of you are adept composers. Chloe, you’re a producer on pretty much every track on the record. There are so many black female producers but they don’t get the same recognition their male counterparts are afforded. What does it mean to you, to be seen amongst the most promising young producers in the game right now?

Chloe: Thank you. I’m so inspired by Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards, Imogen Heap, and Grimes because they’re so hands on with their music and find innovative ways to create sound and one day I hope to walk in their shoes. It’s why I love creating with my sister. In such a male-dominated industry we’re standing on our own two feet.

CLASH: Is it a challenge co-writing or co-producing, relinquishing a little bit of that control?

Halle: It’s always an eye-opening experience. We go into these rooms with these huge producers, feeling nervous. We’re just two girls that make music in our garage, we hope we’re going to be good enough. But when we start creating, we realise they do exactly what we do. When you collaborate with a soul that is open, kind and forthcoming, it’s very easy. With Scott Storch-

Chloe: We love Scott!

CLASH: I’m so glad you mentioned Scott because when you look at the pantheon of hip-hop and R&B, he’s underrated. He’s currently riding this resurgent wave and getting the acknowledgement he deserves.

Halle: Absolutely. Scott’s very open and collaborative. He’ll let you change up anything, he’s very humble in that way. My favourite part of these sessions is how shy Chloe is, she’ll say “Do you guys want to hear what I came up with?” When she plays it, they’re always mind blown. It’s this constant reminder that we can do this too. When you work with someone who is open, it’s a very loving experience. Sometimes, there’ve been isolated experiences where somebody is closed off, and the chemistry isn’t quite right.


CLASH: Do you want to name check anyone? Put anyone on blast?

Chloe and Halle: NO! (Laughs)

Chloe: None of those made the album anyway.

Halle: They’re learning experiences. It’s always hard opening yourself up to someone you don’t know, so we can understand why there might be some reticence. That’s why it’s easier working with one another. We can be honest, we argue but we move one, and we know it’s never a big deal.

CLASH: In the traditional songwriting canon, vocal production isn’t seen as equal to production or lyrical composition. In R&B, vocal production is the enhancing X factor. In the words of Whitney Houston, “I only listen to singers, I very rarely listen to singers who cannot sing”. I think of that line when I hear you both. How much work goes into creating those vocal moments?

Halle: That’s where we really play and flex. We’re the vocalists that will put a thousand harmonies on one small part because it sounds pretty. It’s important for us to show we can sing, that we’re versatile singers. The feeling we want to get across is this cosmic, angelic sound. In order to get that desired effect, we have to push ourselves up through the higher octaves. The crescendo on ‘Wonder What She Thinks Of Me’ was very important in the context of the record. It’s conveying the emotion in the story. That’s heightened when you sing with your sister. Our bond makes us better singers. We love The Clark Sisters and Mary Mary. Whenever we hear them sing together the sky opens up.

CLASH: What we’re seeing now is a generation galvanized by all of these systemic injustices happening. Activism is at the centre of our discourse today. A question we’re all asking ourselves is what can we do to enact change? Activism manifests in different ways, what does it mean to you?

Halle: Activism means so much to us. We feel like it’s our duty as black women: as black women who are musicians and producers, and as black women who take ownership over their artistry. It’s our duty to stand up for what’s right and to use our platform for the greater good. It’s horrible what’s happening to our brothers and sisters, we’re getting killed in the streets by police brutality, completely unprovoked. It’s raw, and we’ve been very emotional, but now we’re hopeful because we’re seeing a lot of people with us and finally standing up for us. These are injustices we’ve been shouting about for so long. Now people are seeing it and they’re wanting to do something about it. We’re hopeful that change is coming and that justice will be served. We try to use our voices for the greater good, we try to bring some healing through our music. The Black community has been hurting for so long, we’re ready to heal together.

CLASH: Is the notion of getting “political” or taking a more radical stance something that unnerves you as young artists, because there’s a pressure to remain neutral?

Chloe: This isn’t a trend for us. We are black women. This is something we’ve experiencing every day of our lives since we were little girls. Whilst the world may be opening their eyes to this, we’ve always known this. This is our reality. Our parents taught us when we were younger, you have to be twenty times better just to get the same opportunities as your counterparts. We will continue to use our platforms for the little black girls and boys, to show them they can do this, and when they see proper representation, they’ll believe in themselves more.

CLASH: So many prominent black figures are coming to the fore and we’re discovering their work as a result of a demand in representation, as a way to redress the balance in coverage and education. What black activists, authors, entertainer or artists would you like your fans to know more about?

Halle: For me, I’ve been inspired by Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. Especially the work of Nina Simone, because she was always standing up for her community and was steadfast in her beliefs. I would say to our fans, gravitate to the artists that speak up. Read more. I’ve been reading a book called ‘The Water Dancer’ by Ta-Nehisi Coates, it has opened up by eyes and perspective on everything. It tells a story about this slave named Hiram, and his struggle to break free, and it really resonated deep with me.

Chloe: I’ve been delving into the lives and works of Chaka Khan and Donna Summer. What they’ve done for music is so incredible. Donna did so much for Disco and Electronic music. As a black woman she didn’t really get her dues.

CLASH: Halle, when it was announced you’d be playing Ariel in the Disney Little Mermaid live action remake, my sister and I looked at each other and we slow clapped. I’m so happy a black actress gets to play a Disney heroine - a very long time coming. After hearing you sing on this record, I can’t wait to hear your ethereal tones all over the film and accompanying soundtrack. When will you resume filming?

Halle: Thank you so much. Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to share when filming will resume. But I’m so eager and excited to start back. It’s such an honour for me to take on this role, and show other black girls they can be Princesses too, and make Ariel my own.

Chloe: She’s amazing guys. You’re not ready. I’ve heard her sing the songs, and I cry every time.

CLASH: Final question. What key piece of advice were you given, that evolved you as artists and as people?

Chloe: We were performing at the opening of the Smithsonian Museum and President Obama was in the audience. We were part of the gospel segment. We always get nervous no matter the occasion. Mary Mary turned to us and said “You don’t ever have to prove anything to anyone, just go out and sing for God”. At that moment, it just clicked that I don’t have to prove myself, I don’t have to become a version of myself that other people want to see. We just have to be ourselves, and everything else will fall into place.

[veu]

From Okayplayer:

Chloe X Halle Are Imagining The Future On Their Own Terms
2 DAYS AGO

We tasked Chloe x Halle with the responsibility of interviewing one another about their current realities while allowing them the space to imagine their future.
Even the most exciting moments of the year have been undercut with the salty sting of current realities. The same applied for Chloe x Halle on what was supposed to be the joyous ushering in of their much anticipated second album, Ungodly Hour.

The Bailey Sisters are currently sheltering in place in their Los Angeles home turned de-facto production stage while stay at home orders are still in effect in California. While in quarantine, the pair, who are no strangers to producing from home, have shot everything from drone magazine covers to mini-concerts from the comforts of their tennis court. In the first week of June, when this conversation took place, they shot another type of video, as they sat backdropped by greenery shuffling shoulders explaining through near-tears, a decision that would mark their stance as artists in the current landscape. “My sister and I felt like it was only right to postpone our album,” Chloe says to the camera, “in honor of all of the lives lost in police brutality, we felt it was right to postpone and fully shine our attention and our work on them.”

Last year was filled with career-changing highs for the sisters individually. It was announced that Halle will play Ariel in the forthcoming Disney live-action The Little Mermaid while Chloe wrapped a shoot for her role in The Georgetown Project, a forthcoming horror film. And, in January, the pair celebrated the drop of the third season of Freeform’s Grown-ish where they play track star twins, Jazz and Sky Forster.

This year, though, we have indeed arrived at an ungodly hour. Amid a global pandemic and national protests, Chloe x Halle are learning to lean into new levels of fame, expression, and activism, all while stepping into new respective expressions of adulthood and sexuality.

Ungodly Hour is more than just a second album for the pair. It’s a departure from their saccharine debut EP Sugar Symphony, and a growth spurt from the time they reminded us The Kids Are Alright. It’s a declaration of Chloe x Halle’s arrival at the stairs of womanhood.

And who better to tell us about these times than the sisters themselves? We tasked the pair with the responsibility of interviewing one another about their current realities while allowing them to space to imagine their future. Read the conversation between the pair below.

*This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

CHLOE: So sis, how are you really doing?

HALLE: I’ve just been very up and down emotionally. Felt like I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster, to be honest, these past few weeks, just because everything that’s going on in the world. It’s sad, it’s disheartening. We’re nervous, we’re scared, we’re unsure of the future right now, but I’m hopeful that things could change. I’m just trying to stay positive and not be on social media because that makes me a downer. What about you?

CHLOE: I have been better. My emotions have been all over the place. I have been hurting. I’ve been confused, other moments I’m hopeful. And I think with the current state of everything, my spirits started feeling really down and sad and there’s been a few times this week where I’ve had to delete the social media apps off of my phone. But I just started working out again because my mental was getting crowded with negative thoughts and I wanted to change that for myself and I’m starting to feel a bit better and I’m grateful for LA sun. I’ve been appreciating nature a lot more. And it’s just been helping me feel a lot more Zen and praying has been getting me through.

There have been a lot of emotions. And our album, we postponed it to next week. It was supposed to come out this week and we were just praying to God to just give us the proper answer for the right thing to do when it comes to putting it out this week or [wait until] next week. I’m happy with our decision and I just hope everyone still receives it really well when it does arrive.

HALLE: How do you want to remember this year and this moment before our album launch?

CHLOE: What I’d like to remember about this moment is that our peers have really used their voices and they haven’t been afraid and haven’t backed down. And that is what I’m going to remember about this. I’m not going to remember the heartache and the pain that I’ve been feeling about our brothers and sisters dying but what I’m going to remember about this when I look back is how all of us are using our voices to make a change and it is changing things. And I’m truly, truly happy and excited for that change. I just hope our music could be seen as a healer. How do you want to remember this year? What are you feeling?

HALLE: I’m feeling like this is a year of change. It’s a year of evolution to me. I truly feel like we are in the Ungodly Hour in 2020. From the Australian fires to [the death of] Kobe Bryant, to COVID-19 to all of these instances of police brutality caught on camera. And now everybody is rallying together. I feel like finally, something might come of this, this might be the year of change. This just might be it. So I’m hopeful. I’m really trying to remain positive and hopeful that we will see the light at the end of the tunnel. People always say it’s darkest before dawn and I truly believe that. I have to believe that! It’s what makes my heart go on.

Chloe, can you remember the first time you were aware of your Blackness?

CHLOE: I do remember. I believe I was in third grade and we grew up in Atlanta so in our first elementary school we were around all of our beautiful Black and Brown brothers and sisters. Everyone looked like how we look but then we moved to another area, another part of Atlanta, which is mostly white populated. I remember as much as I love that school. I remember walking in and there are only like two Black kids in a grade. And I remember looking around like, “Do I fit in? Am I sticking out because of my skin color? Am I making friends because of my skin color?” I remember just questioning that with myself. I remember sometimes just sitting in the cafeteria and just looking at everyone as if it was an out-of-body experience and being like, ‘Do I truly belong here?’

HALLE: That transition happened for the both of us, one minute we were in a part of town where everyone looked like us and then the next, it was like, “Whoa, where are we?” And it was really interesting to deal with that transition and suddenly be the outcast and suddenly be the person that is the odd one out but at that time. I was really grateful for my family and my sisterhood with you because every day I came home, I was reminded of who I was and I would look around and see the beautiful skin that my family had and none of that in school could tear me down. None of those people who didn’t understand or who would call my hair a certain name or none of that could ever tear me down. So I think that’s when I definitely was aware of my Blackness but I was also aware of how special it was and the beauty in it because of my family.

CHLOE: Sis, describe the most beautiful thing or image you’ve ever seen.

HALLE: Wow. I have seen so many beautiful things. But I would say the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen is, honestly, Black people. I’m sorry. (laughs)

CHLOE: Don’t be sorry!

HALLE: It’s in every way, just the beauty of a Black person is just… It leaves me speechless. When I see my family. When I see my community, it’s truly like the sun lives in our skin, in our veins and I’m just so happy to be Black and I’m so happy to be a part of that. I truly think that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen from families to my grandmother and my grandfather and seeing generations and beautiful Black babies. That’s just, that’s it for me.

CHLOE: On top of that, for me, it would have to be when we were in Jamaica at Frenchman’s Cove and the water is my favorite thing. But being on that beautiful light brown sand that was soft to the touch, it wasn’t those hard grains that hurt your feet, it was so soothing and seeing that beautiful, clear blue water, you could see your brown skin under the waves. It was stunning. And I remember seeing the swings that were hanging from the trees and all of the gorgeous people that looked like us and seeing so many beautiful Black people with locs like me and just seeing everyone smiling and happy and joyous. And I think that would have to be one of my all-time favorite views. Anytime I’m at a beach, but more specifically when I was at Frenchman’s Cove, It was so healing for me.

Halle, if you were to paint me, what’s the first color you would use?

HALLE: Yellow.

CHLOE: Why yellow?

HALLE: I would definitely use yellow as a first color to paint you because I just feel like your aura just screams yellow. It’s just bright and filled with love. I would just start there. I would start doing a border of you just in yellow and then of course do your brown and your hair and all of that. It should be like a sunray around you. That’s what I would start with.

CHLOE: For you, the color that keeps popping in my head is dark purple. As much as we love the sun, in a way with our personalities, I am more like the sun and you’re more like the moon. You have like a mysterious calmness to you. So I would probably use the same colors as the night sky. That’s what I’m seeing.

HALLE: That’s cool.

CHLOE: Yeah, that’s what I see in my head.

HALLE: What is the most important singular memory that you have of me?

CHLOE: I remember… I don’t know why I’m going to cry.

HALLE: Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.

CHLOE: I think we were like five and three or something and Halle, you still had those cute little baby feet and I love babies. And I had this baby doll named Tracy. She was a beautiful chocolate little girl, and I would carry her around. So I always wanted to be like a mother figure, I guess, in a way. And you were still in your toddler baby state. And you had the cutest little baby tiny feet. And I’d be like “Halle! Halle! Spread your feet like a baby does.” And I remember we just laugh and laugh and that’s the first memory that popped in my head.

HALLE: That is funny! Well, now you have to ask me that one!

CHLOE: When you think about the most important time with me? What do you think?

HALLE: When we were younger in Atlanta when we were still in school, we knew we were sisters, but we were just like, whatever. And then when we became homeschooled, that was when we got our bond for real, for real, and instantly got closer. I just remember that whole time when we were both in the house together, both trying to learn together and being at the table together and just growing up and having all of these important moments together. That always pops in my head. You always being there as an anchor for me. I’ve never experienced a time where I have not felt safe and protected because you’ve just always been there. So I don’t know if I can point out one singular memory because there’s so many but I just remember just never having to worry because you were always there.

Chloe, What do you think is the biggest misconception about me?

CHLOE: Ooh. I mean, half of it is a misconception. Maybe half of it is, they just don’t know the full story. Yes, you are the sweet kind-hearted girl but you are so fiery and headstrong. And unless someone knows you personally, they don’t know that. And I think it’s so powerful when a tiny little person has such a bold spirit and an old soul. That’s, what’s special about you. It’s like a hidden thing and no one really knows until they meet you. I think that’s really special.

What about me? What do you think the biggest misconception about me is?

HALLE: You know what’s funny? I would say the opposite. I mean, I know when people meet you, it’s like, “Wow. She’s so goofy and fun and happy.” But I think that there’s also that other side that people don’t see, that is your protective side. That is your like, not bossy but like boss ***** side that people don’t really get unless they watch you work, unless they’re with you when you’re making beats or when you’re answering emails because a whole boss ***** comes out. And I think that people may not see that right away. They just see the happy, goofy CHLOE when they meet you. There are so many sides to you. Who do you see when you look at your reflection?

CHLOE: So I feel like it’s been changing obviously because I’m changing as a woman. But my perception of myself is changing, I’m actually loving myself right now. When I look in the mirror and see is someone who has a really open heart and someone who loves everyone greatly. As I’m falling more and more in love with my relationship with God, I’m seeing God’s light shine through me when I look in the mirror and I’m starting to see this new fire in my spirit when I look at myself and that’s evolving because I didn’t always see myself with so much love and happiness. And I’m really happy that I’m getting to that point right now. What about you? What do you see?

HALLE: This is a really tough question. I feel like it’s changing every single day, like you said. When I was younger, I remember seeing a more shy version of myself. I feel like since I’ve always had you to lead the way a part of me has always remained in a shell. But as I’m getting older and as I’m falling in love and as I’m having life experiences and realizing that I’m slowly coming out of that shell and seeing more of the world and seeing the wonder of all that it is. I think it’s me still growing into myself and finding the adventure in life and being okay with starting to become bolder and saying what I want to say.



CHLOE: I feel like we’re really being ourselves unapologetically and we’re not afraid to be these grown, sexy, fierce women that we know we are. And that has been really fun. We’re not these like sweet two little innocent girls. Yes, we’re very kind, we have big hearts, and we’re very loving but there are also layers to us. We like to have fun, we like to be naughty sometimes. We like to use our voices. We like to take control of our business, all of these different layers that make us who we are. How does that look for you? Reclaiming yourself, reclaiming your truth, making a stand, and using your voice?

HALLE: We are making that change and documenting it in the music. As we’re growing and changing every single day, our music has been our diary in a way and I think that when people listen to this new project, they will hear the new versions of ourselves and our new image.

Chloe, how would you define sexiness?

CHLOE: Sexiness is in the way you carry yourself. I’ll be 22 in July, and I’m really falling in love with my body and my curves and all that I have to offer to this world. I’m so proud to be a woman. Usually, I’m very bright and happy and smiley but something about when I step on the stage to perform, I think that’s when I unlock my inner sexiness and I turn into a different person. I think that’s why I love performing so much because I can tap into that and fully feel like a woman. I feel like a grown woman when it comes to my business but in everyday life, I’m pretty innocent in the way I look at the world and how I see people. But it’s really just about how you carry yourself. And I like to just bring it out sometimes here and there, that’s always really fun. What about you? As you are now 20 years old, how do you define sexiness?

HALLE: I feel like it’s in your strengths, like your power that you hold. Whether it’s your work or you have ownership in whatever that you’re doing, that is a form of sexiness. When you’re confident in yourself, that is a form of sexiness. I feel like my ways of defining sexy are a bit different because I’ve always been a bit more shy, a bit more reserved, and used other ways to feel more comfortable in my skin. I think it’s in the power of realizing that I can do anything and I can be whatever I want to be and nothing can stop me. That to me is pure sexiness when I can hold the world in my hands and know that nothing can stop me.

Ooh, Chloe. Imagine me in 10 years. Who am I? Be detailed?

CHLOE: I see you with two kids-

HALLE: Only two?

CHLOE: Well, two or more. I just see you with a big smile on your face with your dimples showing. I feel like you’re going to be really chill in 10 years.

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Bill Withers On Songwriting, Sampling & Legendary Concerts From Zaire To Carnegie Hall
HALLE: You think so?

CHLOE: I see you in a faraway land with your family just happy and caring about the world but really it just revolves around you and your family. That’s what I see when I think of you in 10 years. I don’t know. I just feel like you’ll have a family by then.

HALLE: Yeah, I agree. Because in 10 years I’ll be what? 31. Wait. How old am I?

CHLOE: You’ll be 30. da**. Wow. What do you see in 10 years for me?

HALLE: Wow. In 10 years, I don’t know.

CHLOE: In 10 years, I’ll be 31 going on 32.

HALLE: Oh my goodness. I see you in 10 years. I’m not sure if you’ll have children right away. I feel like you say you will.

CHLOE: I don’t think I will. I’ll be married.

HALLE: You will be making music you love and you’ll just be a badass producer who is producing for all these cool people and traveling the world with your husband and just happy. And you’d come over on my farm or wherever I live with my family of 10 children and you’d be the aunty.

That is so cool. And then I feel like you’d probably settle down and have children around 34.

CHLOE: That’s what I’m thinking, right?

HALLE: Yeah. That’s what I see for you.

CHLOE: If someone found Ungodly Hour in a vault in the year 2080, what would you want the reaction to be?

HALLE: I would want their minds to be blown, to be honest. I would want the music to instantly connect to their soul. And for them to feel like it’s up to date with what’s going on and it hasn’t missed a beat. I mean, there are so many albums for us that have lived on for years in years long past when the artist has gone. But that’s what music is about. I want our music to live on and for people to never get tired of it and to always be able to relate to it. Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On album yesterday and I was like, “This is so eerie how everything is saying is the exact moment that we’re going through.”

I want people to have that same recognition and feeling when they listen to our music in the near future. I never want it to die.

CHLOE: Yeah. I just want people to get the feeling that I get listening to older music. I want them to have that feeling where it feels so timeless but still so fresh. That’s what I hope for. I hope it’s still inspiring.

what does the word legacy mean to you?

HALLE: I mean, it just means living on and making a positive impact in people’s lives long past the moment you’re gone. I hope that we…Well, I know for sure, you’re going to have an amazing legacy when you’re gone.

CHLOE: So are you, Hal.

HALLE: Thanks but you know what I mean? I know for sure that people will always be inspired and lifted up by the creativity that you have put into the world. And I hope the same for me.

CHLOE: It’s definitely the same for you.

HALLE: I just want to live on in people’s minds as being a positive person and making people feel loved and some sort of happy emotion in their life.

CHLOE: Yeah. What I hope to leave with my legacy, is just love. I hope I raise some pretty sweet children who can carry that as well. If someone could look back at the family tree that I’ll continue to spread out and create, I just hope they see bright, positive beings who are contributing and spreading God’s light through their love for life. And that’s what I hope I bring. So I can’t wait for that. When I think about our grandparents and our great aunts, they were such phenomenal people-

HALLE: Amazing people.

CHLOE: With such great work ethic and drive and they were so kind and beautiful as well. And I just hope that further generations will look back and think of me that way.

[veu]

From Nicki Swift:

What most people don't know about Chloe x Halle

BY BERNADETTE ROE/JUNE 12, 2020 10:57 AM EDT
Chloe and Halle Bailey, commonly referred to as Chloe x Halle, are making some impressive waves not only in the world of music but also in TV and movies. Contrary to the common assumption that they are twins, the R&B duo are actually sisters. According to Page Six, Chloe has two years on her little sis.

The sisters started out on YouTube, sharing their magical covers of other artist's songs. In 2013, according to ET, their cover of Beyoncé's "Pretty Hurts" exploded online. Beyoncé wound up listening to the song and next thing you know, Chloe and Halle signed a contract with Beyoncé's label in 2015. Casual.

According to Page Six, the $1 million contract "provides for up to six albums over five years" and gives Beyoncé 15 percent of their "gross earnings." Not only were Chloe and Halle pumped about being signed to Beyoncé's record label, Parkwood Entertainment, but their father, Douglas, was also ecstatic. According to the outlet, he said his daughters "worship" Beyoncé. He added, "We cannot think of a better person to help guide the girls."

Since that impressive beginning, Chloe and Halle have gone on to do amazing things, from acting in grown-ish to getting cast in The Little Mermaid. But their journey to success hasn't been without conflicts. Keep reading to get all the details.

Chloe and Halle opened for Beyoncé and Jay-Z
Chloe and Halle Bailey have an impressive connection to Beyoncé. Not only did she sign them to her record label, Parkwood Entertainment, but she also offered them spots in her Lemonade film, according to Entertainment Tonight.

2018 was a busy year for the sisters. According to Billboard, they opened for Beyoncé and Jay-Z's On the Run II Tour in addition to releasing their first album, The Kids Are Alright. The song "Grown" from their debut album became the "theme song for the black-ish spinoff" called grown-ish, according to Billboard.

An endorsement from Beyoncé is bound to open many other doors, as Chloe and Halle's happy fates have proven. They were added as "series regulars" on grown-ish for Season 2, which debuted in January 2019, after appearing in three episodes from the previous season, per Billboard.

And that's not all! Their song "Warrior" also set the tone for the 2018 film A Wrinkle in Time, according to USA Today. Per the outlet, Chloe said, "We love [director] Ava DuVernay for allowing us to write such a special song for a special movie that inspires young girls to be themselves. We always pinch ourselves because we can't believe the impact it's making."

Are you blown away yet? Because Chloe and Halle aren't even close to being done!

Halle Bailey faced drama over 'The Little Mermaid'
June 12, 2020, marked the release of Chloe and Halle Bailey's second album, Ungodly Hour, per ABC News. The material was, of course, approved by Beyoncé herself. Chloe spoke with the Associated Press about their project, saying, "When we sent [Beyoncé] the album, she said that she loved it and didn't have any notes ... I'm really proud of this album and if she loves it, I hope everyone else loves it, too."

But before you think these two sisters had an easy rise to fame, think again. In 2019, Disney cast Halle to play Ariel in a live-action version of The Little Mermaid, according to The Washington Post. The news was met with some negativity, including hashtags that read: "#NotMyAriel" or "#NotMyMermaid."

Halle proved she's a total queen and rose above the drama when she told Variety: "I just feel like, you know, this role was something bigger than me, and greater, and it's going to be beautiful. I'm just so excited to be a part of it." She added, "I feel like I'm dreaming and I'm just grateful and I don't pay attention to the negativity." 

Production on The Little Mermaid was due to begin in early 2020 but, according to Entertainment Weekly, the coronavirus pandemic stalled production. However, not to worry. The film is still going to happen with Halle reigning supreme as Ariel! Rumor has it she'll be joined by Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Javier Bardem as King Triton.



The truth about Chloe x Halle's relationship with Beyonce

BY HEDY PHILLIPS/JUNE 11, 2020 8:58 AM EDT
Singing sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey, professionally known as Chloe x Halle, have one of the most iconic mentors in the music industry — Beyoncé. The sisters, who are two years apart in age and hail from Atlanta, have humble musical beginnings. They told Time in 2018 that they taught themselves how to play instruments and then started uploading videos of their favorite covers to YouTube. It was their beautiful cover of Beyoncé's "Pretty Hurts" that caught the eye of the 24-time Grammy winner herself. (Yes, Beyoncé has a cool 24 Grammys sitting around her house.)


Beyoncé was so impressed by Chloe x Halle's video — which has gained over 18 million views since being posted in 2013 — that she signed the singing duo to her company Parkwood Entertainment shortly after. Chloe told People in 2018, "Two weeks after we posted it, we got this email from Parkwood, her company, and we were freaking out. We were like, 'Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!' Our dad spoke to them about two days later. Then we found out Beyoncé wanted to sign us [to her record label]; we couldn't believe it. That was Jan. 2, [2014], and we were like, 'This is a great start to the year!'"

Chloe x Halle say Beyoncé is a boss who 'takes care of her own'
Since signing with Beyoncé, Chloe x Halle have collected advice and real-world knowledge from the superstar that has helped guide them in their own careers. In January 2020, Chloe shared with POPSUGAR what attributes of Beyoncé's that they really value and try to emulate. She said, "She's a boss and she takes care of her own. She's independent and knows what she wants, and she's not afraid to articulate that. That's what we truly admire about Beyoncé... she's allowed us to grow in our own right, and as much as she is vocal, she lets us fly on our own." And fly they did with their debut album, The Kids Are Alright, released in 2018, which earned them two Grammy nominations, one for Best New Artist and one for Best Urban Contemporary Album. 

Chloe x Halle have long praised Beyonce for how wonderful she is, calling her "the best human being ever" in People in 2018, but what makes their relationship with Beyoncé so special is how much Bey cares right back. When Chloe x Halle finished recording their second album, Ungodly Hour — which is set to release in June 2020 with Columbia Records — they sent it off to their mentor for feedback, and Bey told them it was perfect. "When we sent her the album, she said that she loved it and didn't have any notes," Chloe told the Associated Press (via USA Today).

Beyoncé is 'so proud' of Chloe x Halle
Chloe x Halle's star continues to rise with the help of Beyoncé, but also just because they're so talented and have a unique take on experimental R&B music. They earned a coveted spot performing "America the Beautiful" at the 2019 Super Bowl, which Beyoncé shared on social media with the caption, "I'm so proud of Chloe and Halle." They also performed at YouTube's Dear Class of 2020 online graduation event, where Beyoncé gave a speech. They performed one of the songs from their second album, Ungodly Hour, called "Do It." And when the video for that song was released in May 2020, Beyoncé was on hand to promote it on Instagram right away. 

They've come a long way from posting covers of their favorite Beyoncé songs on YouTube to now being able to call on Bey whenever they need guidance or feedback on their own music. It's like Halle said to People in 2018, "Being in the midst of having such a beautiful mentor like her, we were allowed to explore with our creativity, and we're so thankful to her for providing her platform and always reminding us that you don't have to dumb down your art for the world — you can keep creating new, innovative things and let the world catch up to you."