[@CurlyHaris] How’s your year going so far?

[@ChloeConlon] 2021 has started off quite positive for me personally, but that being said, so did 2020 which didn’t turn out to be the best year. (hold for laughter)

[@CurlyHaris] You make a very good point! I definitely miss going to concerts and being out and about—is there something lightly pencilled in the calendar if all goes well?

[@ChloeConlon] Yes! I was supposed to see Dua Lipa and 5 Seconds of Summer in 2020, and they’re postponed until 2021 so fingers crossed, they go ahead. I also have two festivals that wеre postponed last year but havе a feeling they won’t take place. I’d also love to go abroad this year, but we’ll see how things go.

[@CurlyHaris] Both great shouts to be honest! For a second I flashed back to when "Amnesia" was released and 5SOS first came onto the scene, different times for sure! What was the climate of Genius like towards that time period, as that was when you were starting out, right?

[@ChloeConlon] The first song of theirs I heard was “Heartbreak Girl” and it’s a very nostalgic song for me, takes me back to discovering them all over again. Correct; I’ve been onsite for ~7 years or so and Genius was definitely in a different place back then. There was more emphasis on the community, collaboration, and outreach; something that has been lacking from the Genius of 2019+.

[@CurlyHaris] I hate to share the sentiment; no matter what happens to the site though, the community will always be at the heart of the site, and its driving force which distinguishes it from other websites. I know you worked on one in the past too, want to share more on that?

[@ChloeConlon] The community is definitely Genius’ selling point, and what differentiates it from other lyric sites. Without the community, there would be no Genius, and it’s important we continue to fight for the community. Ah, the infamous purple-background lyric site that should not be named. Just kidding, I used to contribute to AZLyrics cleaning up Chris Brown's older songs, but it was very tedious to actually update the lyrics because every change required approval from the powers that be, which was a lengthy process for older songs. Eventually, I started searching for another lyric site that would simplify the process and stumbled across Genius, and thus begins my love affair with the site.

[@CurlyHaris] Absolutely! It may seem corny to some, but without the user base, the site would just be an empty conglomerate of words. That being said, with all love affairs come hardship and various ups-and-downs; what led to your brief spells away from the site before your subsequent return?

[@ChloeConlon] I couldn't have phrased it better. As many people onsite are aware, I'm an OG user, a relic of Genius past, but what may surprise some new users is that I was quite a controversial user. I was de-edded numerous times for bannable offenses nowadays and I was stubborn and unwilling to listen. I took a brief break after the de-eds but I took a 6-month break after the last one to really re-evaluate things and it was during that time I really realised how much I enjoy Genius and contributing to the website. When I came back, I came back with a new sense of purpose, determined to prove everybody wrong and prove my worth. I never thought that being an editor again was a possibility after my transgressions, let alone a moderator, so that was the farthest thing from my mind upon my return. I can't thank @Michael enough for taking the time to work with me when I did come back, and I guess starting my road to redemption. More recently though, I took a few months off last summer amidst COVID lockdown to spend time with my friends when I could.

[@CurlyHaris] I think I speak for the entirety of Genius when I say that I’m glad you turned the page, because you’ve poured your heart and soul into the site! Just reading your list of achievements in your bio exudes dedication and a lot of hard work! How does it feel being recognised for it all, and did being given the moderator role change anything with your level of output?

[@ChloeConlon] Thank you for the kind words, Haris! To be honest, it felt very rewarding being recognised for my efforts onsite. I'm only one of many users, but it is nice to know that it's not thankless work and people do appreciate and notice my contributions. Being promoted to a moderator is without a doubt the highlight of my Genius career, and it was a bit of a full-circle moment for me. I had the pleasure of @VinylZombie_MCR writing my proposal, one of my dear friends on Genius, and funnily enough, I was the one who initially "discovered" her on Genius when she was a whitehat and I was an editor. In terms of how the role has changed my level of output, it's definitely propelled me to being a leader onsite and making sure I can be as consistent as possible.

[@CurlyHaris] Consistency is key as I hear @xMERLYN remind me from my own mentoring! Something I couldn’t leave out from our conversation was being toured around Genius HQ, describe how you felt during all of that because I imagine up till that point it was words on a screen, and then the next minute you’re putting those same words to faces, right?!
[@ChloeConlon] Visiting Genius HQ in Brooklyn was a surreal experience for sure, but also a very humbling one. It was amazing being able to finally meet some of the people I've worked with and looked up to for years! I was given the grand tour by @Empath and @streetlights and they introduced me to a lot of the team---mostly team members who work behind the scenes, but knew of me and my work, which was such a strange experience. It was also very heartwarming to finally get to meet @Michael and @TheScrivener, who were just bundles of joy. Other honourable mentions include @nightpool and the legend himself, @RobMarkman. Colby, Stephen, and I (and my guest), sat down for a while and had a very genuine conversation about life, Genius affairs, and they gave me some more Genius "swag" to add to my collection. It's an experience I'll definitely never forget.

[@CurlyHaris] It definitely sounds like a must for any avid Genius user, and i'd be lying if i said i wasn't a tiny bit jealous! Lastly, do you have any advice for future generations of Genius users and/or any other closing remarks?

[@ChloeConlon] @Michael told me years ago, "Stick to what you know" and it's something that I always keep in mind. Oftentimes, contributing to unfamiliar artists/genres results in poor annotations, but working on artists you're more knowledgable of will allow you to remain consistent. And also don't be afraid to reach out if you need help or you're unsure about something, to me or any other experienced user! Lastly, I want to thank you Haris for taking the time to interview me and to acknowledge all the work you have been doing onsite---spearheading the Genius UK revival and all the work that entails, bringing back the Genius Interviews series, and your high-quality work. You're definitely one to watch out for!