Based out of Weehawken, NJ, bitter’s kiss is the vehicle of young singer/songwriter Chloe Baker, whose voice is reminiscent of various excellent chanteuses — from the diosyncratic folk stylings of Joanna Newsom and Regina Spektor to Neko Case’s penchant for bluesy/country twangs. Emphasizing human hardship and the melancholic monotony of suburban life, Baker flexes her emotive vocal muscles throughout her new album, Bitter’s Kiss. Chloe handles vocals in addition to some guitars and piano, and is joined by (presumed family member) Michael Baker on guitar, piano, bass, and drums.
“Love Won’t Make You Cry”, a bluesy rainy-day ballad, summarizes Baker’s strengths quite well. A tranquil guitar line slides smoothly over her youthful yet powerful vocals, with the gradual addition of playful keys and lush percussion complementing lyrics about how true love “doesn’t beat you, burn you, or hang you out to dry.” Simple yet resounding sentiments that, with over 100,000 plays already on Soundcloud, combines with Baker’s vocal strengths and the accompanying lush soundscape to result in a crowd-pleasing effort.
Stream the rest of Bitter’s Kiss below:
This girl has an amazing voice and the songs are fresh and pure. Very easy to listen to and so different. Going to be a huge hit!!