Alt-pop has a new poster girl. Her name is Chelsea Cutler.
Cutler rocketed onto the music scene in January 2020 with her debut album 'How To Be Human', which landed no less than #23 on the Billboard 200 Chart. However, prior to this she had been amassing her following since 2017's 'Your Shirt' exploded across schools and colleges in America.With her wealth of production skills, Cutler became the it-girl collaborator, her most notable being the 'Brent' and 'Brent II' EPs with Jeremy Zucker, and later 'Crazier Things' with Noah Kahan.
Beyond the metrics and streams well into the billions, it is what Cutler offers that draws the listener’s affections – honesty. Sometimes heartbreakingly, sometimes bluntly, Cutler conveys emotions that others are too scared to say, both lyrically and sonically.
Her latest album 'Stellaria' is named after a Latin word that translates to chickweed, an everyday plant you don't really see unless you're looking for it; and that is what Cutler embodies in her latest work, appreciating the magic of the everyday right in front of your nose.
Naturally, the album presents a more organic sound than previous offerings, lighter, more relaxed and optimistic. "I love that assessment," Cutler confirms.
"It's interesting. You can go into a project with an idea of what you want to make, and whatever you're feeling at the time is gonna come through more than whatever you set out to make, but I really dig it sonically.
"I definitely knew that I wanted it to live in a more organic world. So much of the album, for me, was about remembering to practise gratitude and be where my feet are, really love what's right in front of me. So I'm sure a lot of that translated in some capacity."
Cutler is something of a modern Dylan, producing music at a prolific rate. To date, six albums and three EPs in the space of seven years bear her name, as do countless collaborations with other artists.
Her source of inspiration has a double-faceted edge. "It's a combination for me. I'm pretty intentional about; if I'm home, I go sit in my studio for a bit, whether there's production stuff I need to finish, or even answering emails, I make it a point to do things in there with the hope that some inspiration will strike – and sometimes I'll pick up a guitar and say 'just write something. It doesn't need to be good, just move those muscles a little bit.'
"But the most interesting stuff comes at the least expected times. I got out of bed at 1am the other night and ran into my studio to figure out an idea I had in my head. So some of it really does just hit you when it hits you."
Cutler's career continues to flow through milestone after milestone, her latest being a sold-out show at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Videos show Cutler's 'Your Bones' streaming out into the darkness lit only by smartphone lights, creating a moment in time Cutler herself struggles to believe. "That meant a lot, New York being the hometown show.
"I grew up going to shows there, so that was pretty crazy. I don't know if I've entirely processed that moment or that show. Some of this stuff is really hard to wrap your brain around. It's very weird for your brain to conceptualise 6,000 people bought tickets to come see you tonight.
"That's very weird for me, so I don't think about it that much, but I'm blown away and really grateful. When you're in the moment, it's easier to be like 'wow, this is really crazy', but after I'm like, 'wow, that was weird. I can't believe that happened.'"
Cutler will be gracing Australian shores for the first time ever next week, stopping at four cities. She admits to being an unashamed tourist, eager to embrace Australian culture.
"I'm looking forward to the cliche things that Americans look forward to. I really want to see a kangaroo. I know everyone says that, but I really want to see a kangaroo and I really want to see a koala.
"It's probably unethical 'cause I know that zoos aren’t always the most ethical thing, but it would be really cool to hold the koala for the picture; and I'm very excited to hear people sing my songs in Australian accents, and I think I'm probably gonna have to do the shoey thing."
Cutler leaves us with the latest book she is reading, and like Cutler, it is unique and personal. "It's a little weird, but it's called 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'. It's about this lady who worked at a funeral home. Anytime someone makes fun of me for reading it, I just say it was a New York Times bestseller, so I'm not the only one who liked it. I'm almost finished that."
If you're a fan of musicianship and human story, miss Chelsea Cutler's tour at your own peril.
Chelsea Cutler 2024 Tour Dates
Thu 2 May - Metro Theatre (Sydney)Sat 4 May - Northcote Theatre (Melbourne)
Sun 5 May - Princess Theatre (Brisbane)
Tue 7 May - Astor Theatre (Perth)
