Conversations with Chloëbeth Hamer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloëbeth Hamer.

Hi Chloëbeth, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started when I was a 5 year old little girl. I would sit on the windowsill in my mum and dad’s farmhouse, staring up at the sky whenever I heard an aeroplane in the distance. I would look up to the sky as I listened to the distant, mysterious (in my mind) hum of the vessel soaring through the clouds and I would sing. I had a curious, melancholic feeling internally as I sang to nothing other than myself and the universe. Kinda weird right? Haha. Anyway. Shortly after I found out that the best, most historic and loved theatre in my area (a little town called Halifax that I grew out of many years ago) was holding auditions for the musical of ‘Annie’. I obviously wanted to be Annie. I begged my mum to take me to the auditions. I got through! To my dismay I didn’t get the main role of adorable ginger haired Annie but I DID get a role of one of the main, named orphans with some speaking lines and solo singing. That was my introduction to performing on stage in theatres. It was my entire world for the rehearsal process and I remember always watching and listening to people and how they behaved. I was an introvert and unsure of myself at times. I was curious about everyone and everything. I continued to perform in many different productions on stage in theatres across the UK.

I did the whole high school and college, achieving high grades with very little work. I suppose I was a natural academic but had no interest in revising or homework so I would wing it last minute – I work very well under pressure when I’m left with no other choice but to get the work done. Usually on the day of the deadline so I’ve backed myself into a corner with no other option to daydream or procrastinate.

I was fascinated with boys and popularity. I wanted to be adored and that was, I’m sad and embarrassed to say, an integral part of my experience at school. I was in the popular group and that was important to me at the time. Current day I couldn’t care less – I’m a loner and absolutely love my own company. But back then – I wanted to be in the ‘cool’ group, and I was. Mission completed.

I went on to university in Manchester, studying Contemporary Theatre performance for the first 2 years and realising that course just wasn’t for me as there was no or very little singing involved in it. It was more about abstract performance. So I switched courses to ‘Popular Music’ in which I joined a band and got full marks on all my musical projects. But university wasn’t about the academic side for me. It was about partying. And party hard I did. I partied myself to almost death. My appetite for escapism was a never ending void I just couldn’t fill. I couldn’t get enough. It was fun in those days, going out every night with the cheerleaders, pre drinks to the point where I was in black out before I’d even stepped out of our uni halls. It was messy and I was wreckless. Still to this day I do not know how I managed to achieve a First Class BA Hons Degree. I was drunk every single day. My alcoholism really kicked off during uni and I would drink alone in my room a lot. I’ve always been a deep person so I just wanted to numb myself to everything around me.

Anyway – after university there was a few years which I won’t even go into now – that’s another story. It got dark very quickly with my active alcoholism. But in and amongst I would sing at weddings and events and leave the audience spellbound. They would tell me I have a beautiful voice. ‘The voice of an angel’ they would say. But my alcoholism wanted me out of the limelight and in a dark hole on my own drinking myself to death. And that I did. Almost.

I got sober when I was 27 after a chronic few years battling alcoholism which stripped me of almost everything good in my life. I felt hopeless. I didn’t know getting sober was going to be the best thing I ever did. I’m now just over 7 years sober. My confidence is growing. I started performing my opera and classical songs for people on the streets all over the world and I couldn’t believe how well it was being received every single time. People would consistently stop in their tracks and cry for joy when they heard and saw me. I now sing full time for my job – weddings and luxury events all over the world, music festivals, secret ‘pop up’ performances for my fans in different cities globally. I still sing on the streets sometimes to spread joy and inspiration. I like to be free. I’m a free spirit. I just like to do my own thing, in my own time. I like living slowly and soaking up the little things in life which often get taken for granted. When gratitude fills my heart I’m on cloud 9. I am filled with warmth and I know I’m safe and held. I always return to this knowing inside of me. This calming peace that’s always there waiting for me in the background to return to it.

When I sing for people I still can’t quite believe the reaction I get. I don’t know how it happens. People are mesmerised. I’ve never fully understood it. I just start singing from my heart and something beyond what I can explain happens. People start shedding tears of joy and love. We are all in the moment together, experiencing the frequencies and the energy created.

I think having humility is crucial. And letting gratitude be at my core for everything I experience and do. It’s a game changer. I didn’t get sober to be miserable – I got sober to live authentically and happily. I feel free today. I’m not really held down by anything. I’m single. No kids. Always in different countries. I just roam around planet earth spreading joy, so I’m told. I’m not very organised – I allow guidance to come in along the way at the right time, without even doing anything. Places and people call to my heart. I can’t really explain it but because of the way I live which is slowly and presently, I always end up in the right places. And I always always feel safe. The only fear I have is of being rejected by someone I really like. But traveling around the world alone singing to people – that doesn’t scare me at all. It’s just a way of life now. I love the spontaneity of it all! I’m not much of a planner. I just want to live life in a way which feels right to me internally. I don’t care for outside opinions. I don’t want to do the same as everyone else. I just want to do what makes me feel alive and free and joyous and calm. So I will continue traveling around the world singing to people in my own special way, with love and gratitude in my heart. With curiosity and wondrous awe of everything I see and do.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My alcoholism held me back for years. It was like tunnel vision. All I wanted to do was self destruct. Over and over again. Then I would make it a few days sober or sometimes even 2 or 3 weeks sober… and I would start feeling confident and productive again….I would try to piece my life back together in those short days and weeks of sobriety… only to drink again and blow up everything in my life yet again. Losing the trust of the people around me. Losing myself. Losing my spark, my light. I just wanted to drink until I was dead. I was caught in a vicious cycle. Alcoholism/addiction is no joke. It’s powerful and it completely consumed me for many years.

Another struggle was believing in myself and having the confidence to be seen. I’m much better at it these days. But in the past I would shrink and make myself smaller for certain people and certain environments. I would allow negative influences to be around me a lot. But now present day I’m seeing more clearly than ever and I’m very selective on who I let into my life and have around me. I’m happy on my own but I also know connection and support is important. I’m fiercely independent, which is a good thing, until it isn’t. It’s admirable until I’m isolating and finding it hard to speak to anyone. So I need to learn to let people in and I would actually love a team of people around me one day who I love and trust. At the moment I do everything myself regarding my singing business. I get overwhelmed by it a lot and put off certain tasks for days on end. I just don’t know where to start. The social media. Replying to comments and messages. Emails. Promotion. Making videos. Getting myself out there. Being seen. All the admin of a singer with a huge following. It’s a lot – to the point where I just have to shut off from it for days on end and pretend it isn’t there. It really depends what mood I’m in from one week to the next depending on my hormonal cycle. Some days I’m so introverted and shy and just can’t face anyone or any form of social media. Other days I have more motivation to share myself with the world generously. I have many different shades to me and I embrace them all. They are all part of who I am.
Anyway – one day I would love a team of people who can help me with my work and logistics and promotion etc who I feel close to and in good hands with.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a classically trained singer. I specialise in classical and opera songs. When I sing this genre of music it really touches and moves people deeply. But I can sing anything really including jazz which I also love!

I sing for people all over the world – whether that’s humbly on the streets, known as ‘busking’ (which comes from the Spanish word ‘buscar’ meaning ‘to seek’) or otherwise known as street performance where I share my voice with the public of different towns and city’s in different countries around the world. Street performing is gritty and extremely scary – no one has booked you to be there – you’ve just taken it upon yourself to push way outside your comfort zone and share your talent with the world – and there’s no room for ego here. I find it incredible how whenever I start to sing people gravitate towards me to enjoy a free / donation based open air mini concert. I love how I can make opera accessible to everyone in this way – no expensive tickets to the opera house required!

I also perform at luxury weddings and events around the world as well as music festivals, funerals, you name it.

I also spent a lot of time over the years creating my own musical therapy sessions and going into care homes for elderly with dementia and Alzheimer’s and singing for them. It fills my heart with a warming, deep encompassing joy when I see their faces light up when they remember the music and feel alive and young again in the moment. I did the same with going into rehabs across the UK for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts who were trying to get well and stay off their preferred poison. It’s been very rewarding work going in to help them. And in return it helps me feel alive and well because selflessness, generosity and helping others is golden. It’s the secret to happiness actually. Did you know that?

These days I’m known for being an ‘angel’ as people like to call me who roams around the planet alone singing to people and spreading joy and authenticity out of nowhere. Doing impromptu unannounced performances in high profile places. It shocks people every time when they hear my voice come out of me because I don’t look like your typical opera singer. I’m a rebel really and I’m so cool with that. I don’t want to be like anyone else I just want to be myself and not overthink it. Comparison is a thief of joy, as they say. Being authentic and true to who I am is deeply important to me. Also having and practicing courage is an integral part of my life.

I’m proud of finally getting sober (currently over 7 years T Total!) and free spiritedly venturing around the world alone doing my thing – sharing my gift with whoever wants to or needs to hear it that day.

I think what sets me apart from other classical/opera singers is that I look more like a rugged rock star than a strait laced classical singer. I have a very distinct, unique look which is just my own. I don’t want to be like anyone else – I’m simply being myself. I like to be free in what I do hence traveling to countries that call to my heart and doing random performances for my fans and for the public. I’m very grateful for my life and I do not take it for granted. I want to continue growing – the moment I think I know it all it’s game over. I will remain willing, open minded and kind. That’s for sure. There’s so much I don’t know. I want to remain curious like a newborn baby and just embrace whatever happens in life and lead with honesty, gratitude, hope, joy, wonder, optimism and love.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Just send me an email! Chloebethbookings@gmail.com.

If I don’t reply for a while send a follow up direct message on Instagram.

How people can support me – book me for your special events around the world. My Instagram is Chloebeth_singer and I also have a link in my insta bio with a virtual tip jar. Every tip helps me survive and keep traveling the world singing to people. I fund everything myself so every bit of support I get from my fans really does help. I’m under no management and I’ve never had an agent or anything like that. I’m a lone wolf and sometimes lone wolfs do need help and support too! Thank you : )

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloebeth_singer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JzAxgzQeB/

Image Credits
Marta