“You need to feel shocked – but that’s difficult when news is constantly accessible”

Chloe Slater has spoken to NME about how she is becoming “desensitised” to politics and social media, while discussing the inspiration behind her debut album ‘Riot Youth’ and more. Watch the interview in full above.

The Manchester-based artist caught up with us at Mad Cool 2026 last week, shortly before she took to the stage in the Cinco Estrellas tent on Thursday (July 9). Her slot at the Madrid festival comes ahead of her releasing her highly anticipated first record on October 9.

Speaking to NME, Slater revealed that much of the upcoming LP tackles that feeling of being disillusioned and jaded by the political world around us, but persevering regardless.

“The title comes from a lyric on one of the songs on the album called ‘Hopeless’, and it’s about when you’re young, and you feel like you can do anything,” the former NME Cover star explained.

“You go and you do the protests, you vote for action and change, and you really try. But as you get older, you keep voting in these elections and you don’t see any real change. You go to the protests and nothing is working, and you’re still disadvantaged in life… it can be really hard to keep up that passion and not get burnt out.”

She continued: “I don’t think the album is exclusively for young people, despite ‘youth’ being in the title. I think it’s more about that feeling, which anyone can feel at any age.”

Asked if she thinks Keir Starmer stepping down and former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham stepping up as Prime Minister could make a change for the better, Slater added: “I’m not sure how much of a difference it’s going to make, because there are a lot of wild things going on.”

She went on to joke that just seeing “Count Binface take over all my news channels right now” was an example of how unpredictable things are.

“I feel like every time I look at my phone, there is something so unbelievable that I’m almost desensitised to it now, which is something we need to work on,” she added.

Slater then shared how she hopes people can take a step back from the never-ending stream of information online and find some clarity along the way.

“I think you have to filter yourself a bit from online. If you are online all the time and you’re constantly reading about all the horrific or crazy things that are happening – everything Donald Trump says every day – you do become desensitised to it, and it doesn’t seem like as big of a deal anymore.”

She continued: “You can’t be looking at that all day, everyday. Otherwise you get so used to it, and you think that’s the way the world should be and that’s the way it is. You need to feel shocked, but that’s difficult in a time where news is constantly accessible and coming out every minute.

“It’s good to filter yourself from social media and look at trusted news channels, rather than everything on Instagram. It’s difficult to have the desire to make real change if you’re just constantly being fed a stream of awful news.”

‘Riot Youth’ is out on October 9 and available to pre-order here. You can revisit all of NME’s coverage from Mad Cool 2026 here.

NME is the official media partner of Mad Cool.

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