Singer, actress, and music producer Chloe Bailey, also known as Chlöe, recently released her sophomore album, Trouble In Paradise, and it is a true testament to her growth as an artist. This 16-track R&B album features collaborations with Ty Dolla $ign, YG Marley, Anderson .Paak, Jeremiah, and her sister Halle. This marks the first time the two have released a song together since their R&B duo, Chloe x Halle, dropped their sophomore album Ungodly Hour in June 2020.
Earlier this year, Chlöe hinted at the release of a second album. It wasn’t until she performed at Coachella that the world got an official announcement of Trouble In Paradise, which Chlöe described as a "Summer Album." At the time, there was no official drop date. Although she teased some music on Instagram Live post-Coachella, the album still came as a surprise to many due to the lack of a traditional rollout or promo. On August 3, Chlöe took to Instagram, posting a picture with the caption, "I have some verrrrryyyy exciting news I’m announcing on Monday!!!! What do you think it is?" Then, on August 5, she officially announced that her second album, Trouble In Paradise, would be dropping on August 9.
Compared to Chlöe’s debut album, In Pieces, which was released in March 2024, Trouble In Paradise tells a more cohesive story sonically, allowing listeners to hear Chlöe’s sound more distinctly as an artist. In Pieces was a solid debut project, but with it being Chlöe’s first solo effort, it was expected that there would be areas of growth. The premise of that album was that she was "In Pieces" after heartbreak, but while the story was there, it didn’t translate as well sonically. The song placement wasn’t cohesive, and features from artists like Missy Elliot, Chris Brown, and Future felt forced and out of place. It was clear that Chlöe was still discovering who she was as a solo artist outside of her group with her sister Halle. Trouble In Paradise showcases her evolution as an artist.
Since the release of her debut album, and despite it not performing well on the charts, Chlöe has stayed busy and relevant in the music scene. She featured on tracks with artists like Offset, Libianca, Qing Madi, and BJ The Chicago Kid. Collaborating with these artists and experimenting with her sound on different projects may have allowed her to find her voice and become more comfortable as an artist.
Chlöe pushed herself on this second album, taking more risks. With upbeat pop tracks like "Boy Bye," "Strawberry Lemonade," and "Favorite" featuring Anderson .Paak, soulful tracks like "Same Lingerie," "FYS," and "Want Me" featuring Halle, and rhythmic island sounds on tracks like "Redemption" and "Never Let You Go" featuring YG Marley, Trouble In Paradise is a diverse-sounding album with a nice balance of sensuality, rhythm, and pop. While the features on In Pieces weren’t as cohesive, the features on this project fit seamlessly with each track.
Chlöe is arguably one of the best artists of our time, and her talent speaks for itself. Although her debut album didn’t fare well on the charts, it’s refreshing to see her still pushing and creating great bodies of work. Trouble In Paradise is a true testament to Chlöe’s growth as an artist, and she should be proud of her evolution. Be sure to check out Chlöe’s new album, Trouble In Paradise, streaming now!
