Chloe and the Steel Strings

Local folk band Chloe and the Steel Strings aren’t the most seasoned musicians, but their newness only makes them more exciting to watch as they boldly enter Toledo’s music scene. Twenty-year-old twin sisters Chloe and Anna Wagenhauser, along with 22-year-old Connor Ward, make up the dreamy folk trio. Though the band is young in more ways than one— they only formed in March of 2017— that fact belies their comfortable stage presence and effortless energy.

Chloe and Anna have been playing music for most of their lives, performing briefly as a band called Up for Interpretation during their time in high school. A Cleveland native, Ward provides backup vocals and bass guitar, bringing along his experience from playing with bands from his hometown. The three met in 2016, and after encouraging each other’s musical pursuits, decided to combine their passions into a single project.
Combining old and new

The band tends to play mostly covers at their live performances, finding it the easiest way to engage a crowd. Their repertoire includes ’90s alt-rock, classic rock, oldies, and some modern pop.

“We’re trying to reach a broader audience, and it’s hard to do that when you only play original songs,” says Anna, “so we usually play five covers and one original, and we’ve found that it’s a good ratio. By the time we play the original, the audience is paying attention and really listening to it.” As their audience expands and word of their music spreads, they plan on adding more original tunes to their set list.

The magic of their music relies heavily on melodic vocals— think Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit for comparison. Influences from Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, and Alanis Morissette are evident in the band’s light but emotional folk vibe. Their EP, an eight-track self-titled album recorded at Toledo’s Firefly Studio, ranges from sugary pop-inspired tracks to tunes influenced by ’90s grunge, all through the unique female-centric filter.

“We want to keep it simple,” says Anna. “Chloe’s lyrics are what we want to shine; we don’t want the instruments to overpower the vocals.” And the album does shine, drawing you in with heartfelt lyrics, simple and lovely instrumentation, and fresh but familiar melodies. - Toledo City Paper

When Chloe Wagenhauser put together songs for her Spotify album, it was simply to give family and friends a recollection of her music.

But now looking back about a year later, it’s become so much more.

The album was created as the band Chloe and the Steel Strings began to take shape, and as Miss Wagenhauser sees it, having a produced album out already has helped the band quickly rise up the ranks of Toledo-area bands. They’ll play Thursday at Lunch at Levis Square in downtown Toledo.

“We’re kind of baffled by it,” band member Connor Ward said. “We’d rather be busy than not playing at all. My parents are surprised. They didn’t think it would work out this way.”

Miss Wagenhauser added, “We are surprised by how fast its come, and it’s only going up from here.”

Miss Wagenhauser handles lead vocals and rhythm guitar while also taking songwriting duties. Her twin sister, Anna, plays piano and keyboards while providing backing vocals. Mr. Ward is on bass guitar and backing vocals; Andre Shepherd handles cajon and percussion, and Pete Rodriguez plays lead guitar. Other than Mr. Ward, who is from Brecksville in the Cleveland area, the rest of the band is from the Toledo area.

To read more, download Blade NewsSlide at bladenewsslide.com - The Toledo Blade

A local band comprised of five University of Toledo students just released their first album: Chloe and the Steel Strings.

For third-year Chloe Wagenhauser, a Biology-pre-med major, playing in front of large crowds has always been just a dream. However, since releasing her album, Chloe and the Steel Strings has gained recognition and started performing shows around the Toledo area and throughout the midwest.

“The first time we all played together was at the Ottawa Tavern in Toledo,” Chloe said. “Now there are some weeks we play five or six shows.”

Her interest in music initially began when she was in elementary school, singing with her twin sister, Anna. When Chloe entered high school as a freshman, she taught herself to play guitar, and soon after started writing her own songs.

Now, after a whole year of writing and recording her original music, Chloe has released her first album comprised of eight songs. Chloe said she recorded her album in a local Toledo studio called Firefly Studios.

“It’s a lot more work than it seems,” third-year economics major Anna Wagenhauser said.

Anna plays piano and manages marketing for the band. She said she hopes to make a career out of music marketing someday.

Although the band formed in May 2017, what’s helped them grow is their passion, talent, strong connection, and bassist Connor Ward’s prior experience of playing for a band called Spilled Milk in Cleveland.

Chloe and Connor met at an open mic a little over a year ago and started jamming together. Chloe already had original material, and fourth-year finance and marketing student Ward helped with the recording of her album.

Soon, Anna, percussionist Andre Shepard, and guitarist Pete Rodriguez joined the duo, making Chloe and the Steel Strings a five-member band.

"It's been really cool. I never anticipated that we would be doing so much so quickly, but the doors keep on opening," Chloe said.

For her, it’s almost like another full-time job balancing rehearsals, writing music and performing. Chloe added that the hardest part has been marketing the group, since today’s music industry is very competitive.

"Now you have to prove to a lot of recording companies that you already have followers, that you already have people that listen to your music," Chloe said.

However, making it big in the industry isn’t something she’s focused on right now, Chloe said. Instead, she wants to make enough money as a musician to have a sustainable music career and go on tours.

"I would like to have a small group of followers who connect with my music,” Chloe said. "I'm not looking for a lot; I just want to do what I love and make enough money to support myself."

Ward also hopes to make a steady career out of music. He added that since music is his passion, he always finds time for it, even with his busy schedule.

"I look forward to going out and playing in front of crowds, hoping that they enjoy it," Ward said.

Ward said what’s different about Chloe and the Steel Strings is that they have a newer sound- something people are going to tune into. - The Independant Collegian

Chloe and the Steel Strings – “Something Real”
-If you’re looking for something a little sweeter, Chloe and the Steel Strings have that for you. I’ll tell you right now the subtle classic piano work on this track will win your heart. Of course the lead vocal is beautiful, but the balance of that with the piano works really well. The lyrics are charming, too. In a world of so many fake people, it is all we really want to find someone who we can be “real” with. - Ear to the Ground