Clairo

Album cover for Clairo's Immunity

       

Genre: Soft Rock

        Age: 21

        Est. 2014

        Label: Fader        

Monthly Listeners: 5.8 M

Claire Cottrill, better known as Clairo, built her music career the same way many artists do: on SoundCloud. Her earliest song currently on SoundCloud dates back to 2014. At that same time, she was uploading Youtube videos of her music mixed in with video diaries and song covers. Finally, in 2017, she had her first viral song “Pretty Girl”. It remains her most listened to song on Spotify with 75 million plays and 40 million views on Youtube. Since then, she’s been releasing other popular singles like “Flaming Hot Cheetos,” as well as EPs.

Clairo finally released her debut album Immunity in August of this year. I get bored easily so it’s very hard for me to listen to an album all the way through, but I’ve truly lost count of how many times I’ve listened to all of Immunity. I’ve also lost count of how many times I’ve cried to Immunity (does that even mean anything anymore?). It’s a beautiful album with such variety in every single song both vocally and musically. No two sound the same, which can be chaotic for some people but I love it. My favorite track is “Softly,” a song Clairo wrote confessing her love to a girl. It’s so easy to jam to it and I can honestly say I’ve listened to it every single day since I first listened to the album. 

Immunity has received criticism for being too plain and too soft. I can understand where these criticisms are coming from but I disagree. To me, it is truly a perfect *chef’s kiss* album. I’m so grateful I gave the whole album a listen instead of sticking to my ways. For being put in the limelight so suddenly, Clairo has not disappointed. She’s still in the process of finding her sound in this album, which is absolutely important to go through as a musician. This transitional phase from lo-fi music to soft rock has definitely been my favorite. 

Utah got a stop for Clairo’s Immunity tour this month and I was able to go. It took place in a pretty small venue in Salt Lake City so I was blessed to see Clairo’s beautiful angelic face pretty clearly. Having just gone through a breakup, I was fully expecting to cry at some point but it was far, far too quiet that I had to stop myself. It was the first concert I have been to with that kind of chill and relaxed environment. I’d been to Tyler the Creator and The 1975 shows, which have their slower moments, but the energy in those was definitely not the same as the one in Clairo’s show. This concert had very little jumping or yelling, and absolutely zero mosh-pitting but it was still a fun experience. I’ve never had that much space around my body at a concert before, it was freeing.

In conclusion, Clairo is a talented and pure soul and should be supported at all costs. Thank you.