AMANDA CHLOE Confronts People-Pleasing and Self-Worth on Vulnerable New Single “Speak of Me”

Filipina-American singer-songwriter AMANDA CHLOE explores the emotional weight of people-pleasing and the fear of disappointing others on her new single, “Speak of Me.” The California-based indie-pop artist delivers one of her most personal releases to date, shifting away from her familiar romantic themes to examine self-worth, anxiety, and the difficult process of learning to put yourself first.

Written by AMANDA CHLOE and produced by Los Angeles producer David Burris, whose credits include Calum Hood, McKenna Grace, and ITZY, “Speak of Me” pairs dreamy production with deeply introspective songwriting.

The track addresses the exhausting cycle of seeking approval, anticipating criticism, and measuring personal value through achievements and other people's expectations. Through its intimate lyrical perspective and atmospheric arrangement, AMANDA CHLOE captures the internal struggles that often accompany the desire to keep everyone happy.

Having grown up in a musical family, AMANDA CHLOE began sharing acoustic covers on YouTube in 2016 before establishing a career in the Philippines, where she won ABS-CBN's Bida Star Singer competition and later appeared on several television programs.

Since returning to California in 2023, AMANDA CHLOE has embraced indie-pop and dream-pop influences, with previous releases earning placements on Spotify's Fresh Finds Philippines and New Music Friday Philippines.

Now a mother, AMANDA CHLOE also draws inspiration from her desire to raise her son with an understanding of unconditional love and personal independence. With “Speak of Me,” AMANDA CHLOE delivers a relatable reminder that self-worth should never depend on external validation, marking a meaningful step forward in her songwriting.

“Speak of Me” explores the pressure of constantly trying to meet other people's expectations. Was there a particular experience that made you realize how deeply people-pleasing had influenced your sense of self?

I honestly feel like it started pretty young, especially with me wanting to get good grades or do well in music competitions to gain the approval of my family members or teachers. I remember just having so much anxiety as a kid about making mistakes for that reason. It particularly solidified when I was in high school, taking up so many advanced classes and extracurricular activities, and my choir teacher, whom I respected dearly, pulled me aside and told me that it was okay to say no. She noticed how burnt out I was and asked if I was doing these things for myself or to make other people happy. This was an eye-opener for me. But of course, like all habits, it wasn’t easy to break until I really worked on it in therapy as I lived through my early 20s. Especially being in this industry where you’re literally wearing your heart on your sleeve and expecting people to watch you, it’s definitely a process! I’m still a work in progress, and writing this song really helped. 

You mentioned growing up believing that love had to be earned through achievements and approval. How has unlearning that mindset changed the way you approach your relationships, creative decisions, and career?

As I mentioned in the previous question, I’m still a work in progress, and I definitely still have people-pleasing tendencies! I just feel like I’m more aware of it now and able to catch myself having such thought processes. I’ve definitely learned to be more confident and believe in myself more! By having a stronger sense of self, I definitely can manage my relationships, my career in healthcare, motherhood, and of course my music career through a better lens. I remind myself to do things for myself and for my own happiness because at the end of the day, it’s not what others think, but your own mental health that matters! 

This is your most vulnerable release yet and a departure from your usual romantic songwriting. Did writing about your relationship with yourself feel more intimidating than writing about your experiences with other people?

It was definitely more intimidating. For me, writing happy romantic love songs felt safe. I was comfortable with writing those cutesy love songs, but I recently realized that I wanted my audience to open up my discography and see who I really was as a person. And that includes my vulnerable side because I’ve been through so much beyond surface-level romance. “Speak of Me” is literally like a diary entry for me. It encapsulates my internal dialogue and the struggles I’ve had since I was a child. I feel like writing about something so dear to your heart is always scary, but I’m happy I wrote it, and with how it turned out!

Becoming a mother has given this song another layer of meaning. What lessons about self-worth and unconditional love do you hope your son learns from watching you pursue music and embrace your individuality?

Motherhood has given me a whole new purpose, especially in doing my music. I want my son to see my music and hopefully be inspired to pursue his own dreams when he’s older. I want to teach him that doing things for yourself and your happiness is healthy and that whatever he chooses to do won’t change my love for him! Basically, the things I needed to hear growing up, I’ll do my best to allow him to hear that. I also think that you can still pursue your goals and dreams after becoming a parent! 

Your career has taken you from performing in the Philippines to developing a dreamier indie-pop sound in California. How have those different chapters shaped your artistic identity, and does “Speak of Me” represent the direction you want to explore moving forward?

I’m forever grateful for all of the chapters I’ve gone through to get to where I am now! Looking back, I went from being a cover artist to performing on TV in the Philippines to discovering my true sound. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and contributes to your journey as an artist! So I had to go through all of those chapters to really discover who I wanted to be. I feel like this release definitely is the closest I’ve ever gotten to who I wanted to be as an artist, which is to make music that is a direct reflection of my experiences and my heart. David Burris, who I worked with on this track, really helped carry out my vision for the song and the dreamy elements of it just felt right. He’s actually worked with artists I look up to a lot, such as Calum Hood, and the sound is influenced by his latest album as well. So all of it felt like it perfectly aligned with my vision! I feel like being genuine and true to myself is my goal for my artistry, and this is definitely a track in that direction!