Meet Chloe Fredericks, Representing North Dakota on ‘American Song Contest’
Trae Patton/NBC Reading Time: 3 minutes
Chloe Fredericks is officially on her way to the American Song Contest Semifinals, representing North Dakota with her soulful song “Can’t Make You Love Me.” Chloe has an interesting history, and she’s been writing songs from a young age.
Chloe Fredericks Wrote Her First Song at Age 5
“I think North Dakotans are very proud people,” Chloe said in an interview. “I’m a Native American, solely from North Dakota. I’m Mandan and Hidatsa from the MHA Nation. We’re just big storytellers, and it set me up to be who I am today and how I strive to keep the culture alive.”
Chloe is from Halliday, North Dakota. She grew up on a ranch listening to old-school country artists such as Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline. Chloe wrote her first song when she was just 5 years old, inspired by a cattle drive she was on with her sister.
“We were on the reservation where I’m from in Twin Buttes,” Chloe shared on her website. “It was a long day and my little sister and I were riding behind the huge herd and I just started making up a song. Cate soon joined in and it was a song we remembered for a long time but now, can’t recall. I remember it was happy though, and about a red wagon.”
SEE ALSO: JORDAN SMITH COMPARES ‘AMERICAN SONG CONTEST’ TO ‘THE VOICE’
Chloe Released a Self-Titled EP in 2019
With the help of producer Will Hollis, Chloe released a self-titled EP in 2019, featuring five tracks. Songs on the album include “Don’t Come Back” and “Falling Into You.” Chloe told ESC United that working with Hollis “shaped who I am as a professional today.”
Since releasing her EP, Chloe has also released a couple of singles, including “Pink Cotton Candy Clouds.” She also released a dreamy music video to go with the track last year. After that, she released “How Sweet Is Your Love.”
Chloe recently made the move to Los Angles. Her voice has been compared to artists such as Adele and Amy Winehouse. The singer told ESC United that she’s currently inspired by Yebba and Brandi Carlile.
She Wrote ‘Can’t Make You Love Me’ During the Covid-19 Pandemic
“It was mid-pandemic, I was back at the ranch in North Dakota and had a session with my wonderful co-writer,” Chloe told ESC United. “This song poured out of me and in November of 2020 I took it to Studio 637 in the South Bay. Everything is recorded with people I know and love and it’s a baby I’m so proud of.”
Later, Chloe was contacted by talent scouts who asked if she would consider competing on the show and whether she had a song in mind that she thought would work. As Chloe said, “I never thought I would go for a TV show but I’m so grateful I did.”
Thanks to America’s vote, Chloe is officially moving on to the Semifinals and making North Dakota proud.
