There are only a handful of Malaysian-born stars who have achieved global recognition. Some migrated to other parts of the world to launch their careers, while others set their sights on even bigger ambitions after finding success in their home country.
One artist who’s been making waves lately is Chloe Qisha, born and raised in Kuala Lumpur before moving to the UK to pursue her A-Levels. At just 26, she’s already been dubbed the next “It Girl,” having achieved major career milestones less than a year after her debut in 2024. Let’s take a closer look at this rising star:
1. She’s a self-taught musician
Learning to play an instrument is challenging enough, but teaching yourself is truly impressive. Chloe Qisha did just that, teaching herself to play both the piano and guitar. In an interview with Bandwagon, she shared that since the age of 16, she has been sharing song covers on SoundCloud and YouTube, where her talent eventually caught the attention of an Artist and Repertoire (A&R) agent from a record label. The agent later reached out to discuss the possibility of signing her as a recording artist.
2. Kelly Clarkson covered one of her songs
If your song has been covered by an icon in the music industry, it’s safe to say you’ve made it. Just a few months after the release of her self-titled EP, Chloe Qisha’s track “I Lied, I’m Sorry” became a hit and was even covered by the original American Idol herself, Kelly Clarkson, during a performance on her talk show.
3. Her music helped Coldplay Frontman Chris Martin through depression
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Being a renowned artist and touring the world can be thrilling, but it can also take a mental toll. During their stop in Hong Kong, Coldplay’s lead vocalist, Chris Martin, sat down with fans to discuss some of the practices that have helped him improve his mental health, one of which was listening to Chloe Qisha’s music. “There’s a new artist called Chloe Qisha, and her music is making me happy,” he said in the band’s TikTok post. Since then, Coldplay fans have gone to check out the KL-born singer who has indirectly helped their favourite artist with his depression.
4. She’s the first Malaysian artist to be on the cover of Rolling Stone UK
Chloe has been featured in several acclaimed publications, including NME, Elle, and Augustman. Notably, she made history as the first Malaysian-born artist to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone UK earlier in March for their “Future of Music” series, a major milestone in her career and a proud moment for her fans back home.
5. She was interviewed on BBC Radio 1
It’s no easy feat to be interviewed on a national radio station, but Chloe Qisha earned her place when she was invited as a guest on BBC Radio 1. Before the interview, she was given a tour of the station, then sat down to share her journey and the inspiration behind her upcoming EP, which takes a lot of 80s music inspiration.
6. She’ll be embarking on her first tour around Europe
Chloe Qisha is likely the only Malaysian-born artist to have reached such a milestone. She held several sold-out shows across the UK when she first emerged on the scene, and now, she’s set to take things to the next level with a European tour kicking off this October. According to her recent Instagram updates, her show at London’s Village Underground has already sold out. “Speechless!!! And I CANNOT WAIT to play Village Underground and see everyone! We’re gonna have the best time xxxxx,” she wrote in the caption.
