Chloe Matharu is a Scottish Indian singer songwriter, harpist and harmonium player based on Isle of Lewis. She is a multi-award winning, internationally touring, musician and draws on her experience of sailing the world as a Navigational Officer in the Merchant Navy to lend a voice to the modern day seafarer through music.
Bringing back to life the folk tradition of narrating working conditions and traditions, she uses her lived experiences, storytelling, and music to reel audiences into her watery world.
Live, Chloe performs in English and Scots, interlinking modern and historic maritime themes through song. Matharu accompanies her singing with either the clarsach- one of Scotland’s oldest instruments – or her Punjabi Harmonium - an instrument adopted into Indian traditional music and used by her grandfather during Sikh worship in the Gurdwara. Her performances are deeply personal and unique.
You may have come across Chloe in her TV and radio features such as on BBC Scotland's Island Crossings, BBC Woman's Hour, BBC Loose Ends amongst others. She is the only artist to have won Celtic Music Radio’s Album of the Year twice; she's also received the Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections amongst other awards and nominations including MG Alba Awards Scots Singer of the Year Nominee. She's a Live Music Now Musician and is open for collaborations with local projects and venues to bring performances to some of Scotland's most vulnerable communities.
“A voice of milk and honey” – Anaïs Mitchell
“Absolutely Incredible” – BBC Woman’s Hour
“Superwoman enigma… incredibly talented” – BBC Radio Scotland