A singer-songwriter and producer, My Chérie originally began as a solo, live-looping project of Chérie de Klerk.
The South African expat who calls Kaurna Land (Adelaide) home, My Chérie's music explores heartbreak, identity, faith and living outside the norms of society, her alt pop-rock style drawing comparisons to Julia Jacklin, Lana Del Rey and Regina Spektor.
Now backed by a six-piece band, last Friday My Chérie released 'Dishes In The Sink', a single exploring relationship friction, emotional cycles, and the longing for peace within complicated bonds.
"This song is a big, emotional release from utter exhaustion, rock bottom, deepest desire for being seen and held and wanting things to be different," Cherie says, the song written during a period of intense emotional reckoning.
"I love that out of the hardest times in my life some really beautiful art now exists out of it 😌!" The song unpacks the quiet chaos of kitchen-table arguments, broken routines, and the unspoken grief that can permeate our closest relationships.
Who is... My Chérie is an ethereal indie pop/ rock project that started off as a solo live-looping project by myself (Chérie de Klerk).
I'm a singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, and now also perform with my six-piece band, balancing ethereal softness with explosive energy and moments of live improvisation. Born and raised in South Africa, this project has been a place of finding belonging and expression.
I sound like... Saya Gray, Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, Lana Del Rey, Genevieve Stokes and my live shows are often compared to Kate Bush, Tash Sultana, Fleetwood Mac, and Florence & the Machine.
My first gig was... I can't quite remember because it originally started off with me doing a side hustle so I want to say either a university during the day, Crown & Anchor or The Hotel Metro.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous decision? The project started as a solo project when I first started live looping and was encouraged to try a different name from my first band and main project at the time (Ezra Hope).
I didn't want to use my full name, but I wanted something that felt completely me and deeply personal. I named it My Chérie, which means 'my darling'. It was just me and my guitar doing low-key gigs at the start, and then it developed into something more.
In the studio I usually... Hyperfixate and forget to look after my bodily needs, then crash after. I also accidentally put too much reverb on everything. Either I self-produce and get into a hyper-focused zone, or I co-produce and co-write with some special humans. Each way brings a different experience and outcome, and I love doing both.
If I could tour with anyone... I'm going to go ahead and manifest a few, sorry! Saya Gray, Montaigne, Sharon Van Etten, Julia Jacklin, and Hiatus Kaiyote.
Social media is... Addictive. A great tool in some ways, and a fun place to express but just so damn addictive.
My favourite app at the moment is... Pinterest. I'm so late to the Pinterest party, but it's such a cool way to doom-scroll while taking in intentional or subconscious artwork and ideas. It's also great for explaining visual concepts to collaborators.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was... If something really embarrassing has happened, I think I've blanked it out! Little micro-embarrassments happen daily though like putting my foot in my mouth, messing up a saying or wearing a shirt inside out, but I like to think that's endearing.
Life on the road can be... I'm dying to find out, but I haven't actually done a tour yet. It's coming.
If you'll have me on your bill, all I ask is that our rider contains... Maybe a hazy pale beer and some kombucha to even things out. I think that's how it works, right? I'd love to say fruit and veggies, but honestly, if you're playing a show you deserve a naughty treat. So, some carby pizza or sourdough, and definitely some choccies.
The scariest scenario I've found myself in was... Probably the time I had my phone and wallet stolen at a New Year's beach party in Thailand. I forgot the name of the hostel I was staying at, lost the people I was travelling with, and somehow spotted someone I'd seen earlier at my hostel amongst thousands of people; could have ended up a lot worse, lol.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be your spokesperson? Aurora. She's like a pixie fairy who would lead us all into a magical forestland. She's the most entertaining person to listen to, and I love how unapologetically herself she is.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? Although I love nature and could think of beautiful serene places, right now I'd like to move somewhere with a vibrant music scene, like Berlin.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... My Ouma, because it's been way too long. My friends who live far away, because dinner's better with belly laughs, and Jesus because I've got a LOT of questions.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Either some kind of made-up noodle dish, a rice bowl, or veg spaghetti. Those are my safety nets. Any dietary requirements? ;)
When it comes to pets, are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Guitar pedals or quality coffee.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Does a bouldering gym count? Because then, last week. It keeps me strong so I can carry my heavy pedalboard. I'm low-key ripped.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Cleaning a bathroom is never going to be fun, let's be real, but also, in stereotypical ADHD form, I am excellent at procrastinating putting away the washing. It truly seems impossible but I'm working on it.
Do you have any phobias? I have a bit of an eyeball phobia. It did not go well when I had conjunctivitis and had to put in my own eye drops. BLEH. UGH.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? Maybe a talent show, but honestly, I get kind of nervous about saying something and it being taken out of context.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? The closest I've gotten to a prank lately is making a joke and then saying 'just joking' straight after.
I'm not against pranks completely (probably from growing up with a big brother), but I love witty, lighthearted pranks. Honestly though, my friends are all so beautiful and gentle, I can't imagine us ever bringing each other down. Even for a prank.
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you with a food coma? Bakery On O'Connell, 24-hour bakery, is great for a savoury and sweet treat on the way home after a late-night gig. Otherwise, a cheeky HJs veg whopper hits different sometimes.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? Not sure why, but Marley from 'Marley & Me' was the first thing that popped into my head. I've been described as a Labrador more times than I can count. Probably because I'm a bit chaotic, but incredibly loyal.
Last show you binge-watched? Life has been a bit much for me to take on a drama with twists, so I've mostly been watching light-hearted comfort shows on loop: 'The Office', 'Friends' and 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine', and throw in 'The L Word' every now and then.
My Cherie plays Jive (Adelaide) on 29 August.
