Chloe x Halle Make Music for the Ungodly Hour

The sister’s sophomore album inspires in a time of national crisis

When Chloe x Halle uploaded their cover of “Pretty Hurts” to Youtube in 2013, they didn’t expect it to go viral. So it was beyond shocking when they received an email from Beyonce’s management company, Parkwood Entertainment, offering the duo a spot on her label.

Nearly five years after signing with Parkwood and working side-by-side with Beyonce, Atlanta-born sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey have stayed busy, releasing two albums, several mixtapes and EPs, starring in the popular teen sitcom  ”Grown-ish” and even breaking into the Hollywood film scene. Halle is lined up to play Ariel in Disney’s live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.”

Beyonce may have given the girls a boost into the mainstream market, but Chloe and Halle’s explosive talent and consistent work ethic have kept them in the game–even in the midst of a global pandemic. 

In June, the Bailey sisters released their sophomore album, “Ungodly Hour,” aptly named for its reflection of this period of national crisis.

The sisters’ 2018 debut album, “The Kids Are Alright,” acts as a coming-of-age for the duo, each song positioned in a mid-adolescence angst, with themes of self-discovery and lessons learned growing up in the music industry. Their newest release shows a departure from the childlike innocence of their teenage years.

In “Ungodly Hour,” the Bailey’s tackle a spread of grown-up themes. 

Whether they are joking about the woes of dating a playboy in “Busy Boy,” advocating for female empowerment in “Baby Girl” or detailing what it feels like to be the other woman on “Wonder What She Thinks of Me,” the sisters mark their clear transition into adulthood.

The album’s second single, “Forgive Me,” further proves the girls’ emotional and musical range, blending ethereal vocals with lyrics that prove they know their self-worth and won’t put up with someone who treats them like any less.

“So forgive me 'cause I'm not teary/Best believe I'll move onto better things/Oh, you lie, oh, you lie/Give me back all my time/So forgive me, no, not really/Best believe I'll move onto better things,” Halle sings on the chorus. 

In the music video, the sisters display a fierce, sophisticated attitude, all the while reminding listeners that they should feel unapologetic in who they are–no forgiveness is needed, not a tear is shed.

The sisters’ diverse collection of musical influences are showcased vividly in “Baby Girl.” The production is minimal, which allows Chloe and Halle’s distinctive voices and thoughtful harmonies to shine through, not unlike tracks from Motown girl groups. 

The lyrics also parallel this theme of sisterhood that is naturally presented in a majority of the duo’s music.

“So don't you forget about/The little girl that you met now/The one that's in your spirit/She's still got your back, yeah/Don't you let the world take back/All the love that you gave out/This is all our world now/This is all your world now,” Halle sings on the outro.

Despite its 60s vocal influences, the song is still quite modern; it holds a light-electronica air, coupled with a focused percussive baseline and bongos in the background of the chorus. The sisters’ production–much of it done by Chloe herself–reflects an update to the classic R&B stylings of the early ‘90s.

“Ungodly Hour” also gave Chloe and Halle their first major success. The slinky, feel-good dance beat, “Do It,” charted in the Billboard Hot 100 and was produced by grammy-award winning producer, Scott Storch, who is best known for producing a few of Beyonce’s early chart-toppers, including “Naughty Girl” and “Me, Myself, and I.” 

The public was quick to notice Chloe and Halle’s accompanying music video, showing off their dynamic presence and fun-loving attitudes. The industry was quick to follow, booking the pair to perform the hit single at this summer’s socially-distanced award shows.

Even though the Bailey sisters have proved their vast knowledge of sound, time and time again, their path to success has been filled with doubt from producers and studio executives.  

“People would tell us what we were creating was too complex for the average ear,” said Chloe in an interview with The Guardian’s Rachel Aroesti. “I feel like that’s so not cool to tell two young creatives who are pushing the boundaries, especially when we’re in a world where everything’s so manufactured exactly the same.” 

The sisters’ passion for music rises far above critics who fail to see their natural talent. 

As the Bailey sisters expand their empire across the airwaves, their ascent into R&B stardom is guaranteed. “Ungodly Hour” will continue to introduce generations of young men and women to unmistakable symbols of strength, sisterhood and self-empowerment.