Jon Stojan
In “Parisian Chic,” Ches Barrow delivers an anthem that feels like it’s waltzing through the streets of Paris under a neon haze—chic, seductive, and underpinned by a haunting vulnerability. As the curtain falls on another Paris Fashion Week, Barrow’s release is a fitting homage to a world she knows intimately; she’s not only the voice and writer behind the music but also the creative force in fashion, who has collaborated with brands like Dior and Manolo Blahnik through her company, Façonner. Her multifaceted creative fortes as a musician and fashion entrepreneur shine, and this single seems to distill her experiences into an evocative blend of melody and storytelling.
True to her signature style, “Parisian Chic” isn’t just a song; it’s a character study set against the backdrop of glitzy façades and deep undercurrents. Composed on the same Schimmel piano she’s been writing on since she was eight, the track leans into a ‘grunge with jazz’ feel (it has swing), a genre-defying cocktail that pushes the boundaries on Ches’s eminent, word-loving, pop-rock sound. With production and lyrics handled by Barrow herself, the song’s arrangement unfolds with careful intention—a static piano melody that builds to what she calls “beautiful chaos“ by the second verse. The tension captured here is palpable, with the piano’s notes reflecting the layers beneath her polished surface.
The song’s imagery pulls heavily from Barrow’s love of Helmut Newton’s photography, particularly his iconic “Le Smoking” shot. It paints a world where elegance and edge coexist: a powerful woman armored in Chanel and a red lip, embracing both the allure and loneliness of the spotlight. Mixing engineer Brian Scheuble (known for work with Fiona Apple) and mastering engineer Chris Gehringer (of Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga fame) help Barrow elevate her sonic to match the song’s striking visuals, bringing out each layer of her carefully sculpted sound.
Barrow’s voice has already captivated industry tastemakers, with her previous single “Wild” earning spots in Wonderland and Earmilk. Known for her lyric-heavy, rock-tinged compositions, “Wild” was even tapped for a national TV commercial, underscoring her knack for crafting songs that double as cinematic experiences. In “Parisian Chic,” Barrow takes this prowess a step further, merging her passions for music and fashion to a fever pitch.
The video is as visually commanding as her style; “Parisian Chic” cements Ches Barrow’s distinct voice in the alternative rock-pop landscape. She’s a lyricist unafraid to pull back the layers of glamour to reveal what’s beneath—the raw, unfiltered story of a woman both empowered and exposed. As Barrow herself puts it, “music is the rawness of all of that for me. You’re reading my diary.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmiVBNUubvc