Daily Inspiration: Meet Chloe Rose

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloe Rose

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in a musical family. My dad came from a family of eleven children and all my life I was surrounded by amazing musicians. I have had a love for music for as far back as I can remember. My parents put me in violin lessons when I was four years old and I played until the eighth grade. My parents said I was always singing and making up songs since I was a little girl. Everyone always asks me where I learned to sing, but its something that has just always been a part of me. My dad was a songwriter and I asked him to teach me how to play guitar after I quit the violin. I was always in my room writing poetry and once I started learning to play the guitar I started writing songs. I was a shy kid/teen and never really wanted anyone to hear my music. My senior year of high school my close friends and family encouraged me to play in the senior talent show. I played one of my original songs in front of the entire school and after that I decided I wanted to be a performer. I played my first paid gig at Margarita Mamas at the Legends the summer after I got out of high school.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I played gigs pretty consistently after high school and into my mid to late twenties. I always had a full-time job, so I just did it on the side for fun. I went to nursing school in 2012 and graduated in 2015. I have been working as a registered nurse for the past eleven years. School took up most of my life for a few years, so I put music on the back burner. There were a couple of years that I only played maybe 1-2 shows a year. I became discouraged for a while and just felt like I had given up on my true passion. I didn’t touch my guitar or write a song for years. In 2019 I finally decided I wanted to start playing music again. I reached out to one of the bars I used to play at all the time, Johns Big Deck, and asked if I could come back to play again. I was welcomed back, and shortly after, the pandemic hit. I was so excited to finally start playing again and then the world shut down. I took the time to teach myself how to play the piano because I had always wanted to learn. Once things started opening up again, I was back to playing and started becoming addicted to it again. I met a group of amazing musicians in Kansas City that I truly wouldn’t be where I am right now if it weren’t for them. I started networking with them but was still working full time as a nurse on top of playing music whenever I could.

In 2022 I decided I wanted to start pursuing music full time. I went prn at the hospital and went down to working 2-3 days a month. My dad was always a huge part of my music journey. He was my soundman, roadie, driver, teacher, and biggest fan. He was at every show I ever had. When I decided to start playing more and making music my main focus, I decided to have my dad start playing with me. He would play lead guitar or piano and we would switch back and forth. I was so grateful that I had this experience with my dad, and I noticed it as it was happening. Seeing the smile on his face at every show and seeing how the experience of playing with his daughter took him back to his glory days was something I’ll never forget. We would get into little tiffs just like any band does, but we would always just look at each other and laugh at the end of the day. I was having the time of my life. I did the school and career thing, but it was never what I really wanted to do. I love nursing and respect the profession immensely, but at the time I wanted to put more effort into my art.

In 2023 I unexpectedly lost my dad. The day it happened I told myself I never wanted to play again. That it would be too painful. I knew at every show I would feel his absence because he had always been there. Even if he wasn’t playing with me, he was there. Always helping me load in and out, setting up, helping me with sound. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it, but I knew I had to keep going for him and to stay true to myself. It’s been a year and a half and I still think of him at every show. It’s still really hard sometimes.

Last month I quit nursing completely (for now) and am now relying solely on music as my source of income. It’s a great feeling. Even if I’m not on the radio or on TV, just the simple fact that I am able to support myself by doing something that I truly love and that I got from my dad is success to me.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter. I love writing and connecting with people through playing my own music. I released my first single, “Sunshine” last fall. I’m a little late to the game as far as releasing my own music, but you know it’s really never too late! I am excited to record and release more of my original music to share with the world. It’s an amazing feeling when someone comes up to you and says they have been there or felt the same way as you.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Network! Make friends in the music scene and go support them at their shows. Play as many gigs as you can. The more you play in front of people the more comfortable you will become as an artist. I am so thankful for the music community in Kansas City. I feel like we all support each other and are always willing to help one another. I love helping new artists just as many of the men and women in the scene have helped me. I am forever grateful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/chloe_rose_music_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicbychloerose/