There is something wonderfully, deliciously complex about Chloe Star’s brand new single ‘Games‘. On the surface, the track from the California native is packed to the brim with carefree confidence, urging listeners to ignore the same external judgement that she’s raising a middle finger to, and to embrace the messier moments in life.
Yet beneath its explosive, breathtaking energy lies a song that was carefully reshaped through Star’s willingness to embrace experimentation and a lack of fear when it came to putting the music, and not the ego, first.
“‘Games’ is about not caring about any judgment,” she explains with a smile, one balmy summer evening. “I’m good at games. I’m going to continue being silly, continue messing around and doing what I’m going to do.”
It’s a mantra that runs through every second of the track in both its lyrics and composition. Equal parts alt-rock swagger and high-energy electronic beats, “Games” feels constantly in motion, playing games with the listener as you shuttle between fast running verses and the hard-hitting release of the chorus.
Unpredictability? Check. The confidence to embrace such uncertainty? Check again.
To create the addictive song, Star headed to New York to work alongside producer Alan Markley. Many a listener might surprised to hear that “Games” was ecorded live with a full band, giving Star the freedom to build the arrangement organically as ideas emerged in the room.
“Circle the drain
Think I’m a fake
Chasing the fame
Tied to the tracks of a
Runaway train
I wanna jump cause it’s
Coming on fast”
“We had a live bassist, drummer and guitar player there when we were recording it,” she recalls. “It was super cool because you get to change things on the spot… we’re like, ‘Do this,’ and they’ll just do it.”
That collaborative environment became central to shaping the song’s identity. Instead of treating each element as fixed, the musicians continually experimented, allowing “Games” to evolve beyond popular conventions. Case in point: Star scrapped the song’s original chorus entirely.
“When we originally wrote “Games”, it had a full chorus lyrically,” she explains. “It just wasn’t hitting. Something was missing… I was like, ‘No, I want it instruments. I want it to just be this big boom-tsh, you know? And I feel like just even that little switch just completely like changed the song.'”
The gamble paid off. The transition into the instrumental chorus is one of “Games” most satisfying moments, allowing the listener to live the anxiety and unpredictability of someone who has been caught up in games out of their control, only to realise they have it in them to be the player and not the played. It ties in well with what comes across the more we chat about her music: trust your instincts first and explain or refine them later.
This is reflected in how Star approaches songwriting as well. Entirely self-taught in several instruments, Star believes not having such formal training has allowed her to remain open to instinct, a strength when it comes to keeping in touch with what she genuinely wants to create as an artist.
“I go based off feeling,” she says. “If something feels good, hell yeah!”
It is perhaps the simplest way to understand Games. Beneath the explosive instrumentation and infectious hooks is an artist giving herself permission to stop overthinking. The result is a song that celebrates imperfection, spontaneity and the freedom to keep moving forward regardless of who might be watching.
As an artist who has been so honest and open about her struggles throughout her career, the strength she has developed as queer woman of colour (Star has both Persian and Native American heritage), means that she’s learned to grow a thick skin against any naysayers towards her work. If anything, it sounds like learning to navigate the madness of the online world has only strengthened how she approaches her music.
“Lost and confused
Where’s my shirt and my shoes
Momma called and said she saw meOn the front page news”
“There’s so much judgment, there’s so many opinions out there nowadays,” she says. “People are constantly going to say something. You just kind of have to know that people are going to talk shit. People are going to say all sorts of things, and you’ve really got to just keep going: left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot… as a human, but also with your music, too, you know?”
With more music set to be released later this year, the statement’s clear. Whatever happens, Chloe Star’s not waiting around for anyone’s permission. It’s her game, and we’re lucky enough to join her on the ride.
“Games” is out now. Chloe Star can be found on Instagram here.