Chloe Bailey releases album inspired by St. Lucia

American singer Chloe Bailey, who performed at the Jazz Festival earlier this year with local band DYP, released her latest album, Trouble in Paradise, at midnight Thursday, which is heavily influenced by the island of St. Lucia.

The album features 16 tracks and is the follow-up to her 2023 debut solo album, In Pieces.

Bailey first came to St. Lucia for Carnival last year and quickly fell in love with the island, saying her latest work is “the most fun I’ve had making music in a long time.”

“Thank you to the country and people of Saint Lucia for welcoming me into your home with such warm and loving arms. Thank you for being an endless inspiration to me,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

“This project was literally about writing about my troubles in paradise,” Chloe explained of Trouble in Paradise, according to Rated R&B. “The water and the coming storm symbolize my mood and how it changes like the weather. I wanted this project to be fun, even with its ups and downs.”

The majority of the album was recorded in St. Lucia, and the artwork shows Pele in neon beachwear, partially submerged in a pool of water.

“I have found my happiness, my peace, my joy, my sanctuary here. My troubles don’t seem so bad anymore as I soak up the sun and swim in paradise,” the singer said in her post.

Bailey has gushed about her love for the island on numerous occasions, and she even returned this year for St. Lucia’s Lucia Carnival with the legendary Carnival Band – the band she first joined in 2023.

In March, Forbes magazine interviewed the singer, who has quickly become famous. Bailey has starred in several popular TV shows and currently has more than 7 million followers on Instagram alone.

Speaking about why she wanted to attend the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, Bailey said: “I’m always very bold and loud when it comes to my love for St. Lucia. I went there for my first time last year for Carnival and I just absolutely fell in love with it. I had heard about the Jazz Festival and all the incredible artists. And I love performing. Why not perform in my favorite place at one of the biggest festivals? I’m so glad it worked out.”

So, what is it about this island that captured her heart?

The singer said: “First, the water. Second, the people. Third, the way I feel there. Whenever I go there, all the superficial things in life don’t seem to matter. I’ve been to islands before, but for some reason, St. Lucia holds a special place in my heart. To be honest, it feels so different there, it feels like home.”