Who We Are
Chloe & the Steel Strings is a 6-piece Cosmic Americana band from Toledo, OH. Acoustically driven, the Steel Strings have spent the last five years crafting their unique sound of singer-songwriter Americana with a dash of psychedelic headspace.
With weaving rhythms and gorgeous vocals built upon the harmonies of identical twin sisters Chloe & Anna, the band’s sound has been described as if “Joni Mitchell had a baby with the Flying Burrito Brothers.”
Chloe & the Steel Strings released their debut album, Burn Bright, in early 2022. The album was written and self-recorded in their living room, and touches on topics of self-actualization, finding true purpose, and following your heart. Their sophomore album, Never Coming Back, is scheduled to be released in mid-2024.
What People Are Saying
“One of my favorite songs on the new album is the title track Burn Bright. With its weaving rhythms and gorgeous vocals like early Jefferson Airplane, it burns like incense the spirit of self-actualization. The body of the lyrics “Don’t you know the answers/To the questions that I have?/Don’t you know the reasons/For those dreams that you had?/Cause it’s way down deep inside you now/Waiting to come back” looks for that inner light within your soul. Not giving up on the dreams that your heart wants to follow is the constant thread holding these creative and passionate eight tracks together. All of the occurrences happening in Chloe’s life she took as signs that the path was presenting itself – to be a full-time singer/songwriter. My feelings are that she has chosen … wisely.”
- Jay Minkin, Minkin’s Music
“Chloe & the Steel Strings’ sound seems like somewhat pure country, especially with the sister harmony vocals of lead singers Chloe & Anna, but there is always a vaguely trippy element to the sound. It’s hard to pin down, but there’s a certain psychedelic color in the sound. Very enjoyable. Makes you think of a Summer day hanging out in the backyard.”
- Calvin Powers, Americana Music Show
“Chloe & the Steel Strings’ latest album ‘Burn Bright’ has a sound reminiscent of early Poco, Fairport Convention, & the Grateful Dead: just trippy enough to be trippy, without being too psychedelic. It’s like Judy Collins, Joan Baez, or Joni Mitchell had a baby with the Flying Burrito Brothers.”
— Fred LeFebvre, iHeart Radio WSPD 92.9 FM Toledo
“Fronted by vocalist and songwriter Chloe Wagenhauser, the band’s new record, Burn Bright, is one of the most stunning and beautiful Americana rooted recordings to come out of the area in years. Chloe’s voice is controlled and melodic and calls to mind a grainy, jazz and country-fueled mix of influences including Emmylou Harris, Margo Timmin, Norah Jones, and other vocal powerhouses. There’s a clear as a bell voice, with a vibrato that gives you chills, but with a folky country music quality tossed in. If you’re thinking Stevie Nicks, that is a bit in the ballpark, but you could sit around for hours trying to nail down a description and you will get to the same place: Chloe doesn’t sound like anyone else.”
- Alan Goldsmith, WATK 106.1 FM Toledo