American singer Chloe Bailey who performed at the Jazz and Arts Festival earlier this year with local band DYP, released her latest album ‘Trouble in Paradise’, on Thursday at midnight, one heavily inspired by the island of Saint Lucia.
The album which features 16 singles is a follow-up from her 2023 debut solo album – ‘In Pieces’.
Bailey, who visited Saint Lucia for the first-time last year when she came for carnival, and who quickly fell in love with the island, said her latest offering was “the most fun I’ve had creating music in a very long time.”
“To the country and people of St Lucia, thank you for welcoming me into your home with such warm and loving arms. Thank you for inspiring me more than you know,” she said in an Instagram post.
Speaking on Trouble in Paradise, Chloe, as reported by the website ‘Rated R&B’, explained that “This project is truly about writing away my troubles in paradise. The water and the brewing storm symbolize my emotions and how it changes like the weather. I wanted this project to feel fun, even though there are ups and downs.”
The album was mostly recorded in Saint Lucia, and the art work shows Bailey, clad in neon beachwear, partly submerged in a pool of water.
“I have found my happiness, my peace, my joy here, my sanctuary. The place where my troubles don’t seem as bad when I’m basking in the sun, swimming in paradise,” the singer said in her post.
Bailey has gushed about her love for the island on numerous occasions and even returned to participate in Saint Lucia’s Lucian Carnival this year with Legends Carnival Band – the band she first jumped with in 2023.
In March of this year, Forbes Magazine interviewed the singer who quickly rose to fame. Bailey, who has appeared on a number of hit TV shows, currently has an over seven million followers on Instagram alone.
On why she wanted to be a part of the Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, Bailey said, “I am always very bold and loud when it comes to my love of St. Lucia. I first went there for Carnival last year, and I absolutely fell in love. I heard about the jazz fest and all the incredible artists. And I love performing. Why not do it in my favorite place at one of the biggest festivals? I’m just so happy that it worked out.”
As for what was it about the island that captured her heart?
The singer said: “No. 1, the water. No. 2, the people. And three, how I feel when I’m there. All of the superficial things in life don’t seem to matter whenever I go there. I’ve been to islands before, but for some reason, St. Lucia really just has a special place in my heart. It just feels different and it feels like home, to be honest.”