Clairo on Music, Gender Identity, and Finding Beauty

Clairo’s rise to fame began in 2017 with her viral hit Pretty Girl, a song recorded on Photo Booth that catapulted her into the spotlight as a quintessential “online teenager.”

Reflecting on her adolescence, she shared how the internet, particularly platforms like Tumblr, was a lifeline for connecting with like-minded people. “The internet was everything to me growing up because it was the place where I felt like I could meet like-minded people,” she said.

Living in a small suburban town, she found inspiration in Tumblr’s aesthetic collages, dreaming of city life and concert experiences that felt out of reach. These digital spaces allowed her to “mood board” her future, shaping her aspirations and musical identity.

She fondly recalled the era of MySpace and Tumblr for music discovery, trading niche band recommendations with internet friends, like one who introduced her to Neil Young’s Harvest Moon. This nostalgia underscores how her early online presence informed her artistry, even as she now gravitates toward a more analog sound.

Clairo’s latest album, Charm (released in 2024), marks a departure from her digital roots, embracing an “old-timey” aesthetic rooted in analog instrumentation. She explained her desire to “get to the source” of sounds, prioritizing real instruments over digital plugins. “How can we achieve this sound without a plugin? Like, what if we actually used the real thing and went and found it?” she mused.

This approach isn’t about chasing expensive or storied instruments but finding ones with a distinct, recognizable sound. Her influences for Charm include soul music luminaries like Lee Moses and Teddy Pendergrass, whose emotive and euphoric qualities she finds deeply moving.

“Soul music is maybe the most emotive to me. It’s the thing I want to hear when I want to feel something,” she shared, citing moments of listening to soul tracks at afterparties or while driving alone as profoundly affecting. This shift reflects her current phase of seeking authenticity and emotional depth in her work.

A standout moment in the conversation was Clairo’s deep admiration for the British band Broadcast, particularly the late Trish Keenan. Discovered through Tumblr in high school, Keenan’s restrained yet powerful vocal style resonates with Clairo, who identifies as a “soft singer.”

“She is one of the most compelling voices, and it’s so strong in its restraint,” Clairo noted, expressing her intent to emulate this quality in her new music post-Charm. She admires Broadcast’s ‘60s-inspired production and their commitment to using authentic gear to its fullest potential.

If given a time machine, Clairo said she’d choose to see Broadcast live, a testament to their lasting impact on her creative vision. This influence highlights her pursuit of music that feels timeless yet personal, blending nostalgia with innovation.

Clairo’s conversation with Flo Dill also touched on the broader landscape of contemporary pop music by women, with Charm situated alongside albums like Short and Sweet, Brat, Midwest Princess, and Virgin. These works, she noted, reflect a complex exploration of female sexuality, lust, and femininity.

“Sometimes I want to be soft and sweet and, like, cute. And feminine. Sometimes I want to be masculine,” Flo remarked, to which Clairo responded, “You should be all of those things.”

She expressed frustration with the societal pressure on women to choose a singular identity, questioning, “Which one is the right one for me? Which one am I actually, and which one am I pretending to be?”

Clairo sees these albums as part of a broader “female consciousness” that embraces multiplicity, allowing artists to explore varied facets of themselves without being confined to one archetype.

This perspective underscores her approach to Charm, which she crafted to feel authentically her, even if it defies traditional pop structures.

A recurring theme in the episode was Clairo’s pursuit of beauty in her music. Flo praised Charm for its aesthetic richness, noting that it feels crafted “in the pursuit of beauty.”

Clairo agreed, emphasizing her desire to “live inside of the music as much as possible.” She consciously designed Charm to be a world she could inhabit for years through touring and promotion, ensuring every aspect reflected her true self.

Looking ahead, she aims to explore deeper emotional layers in her next project, particularly the “good amount of sadness” she feels she hasn’t fully expressed.

Inspired by Broadcast’s ability to reveal lyrical depth on repeated listens, she wants her music to evoke euphoria and introspection, like “sinking into someone’s couch” at an afterparty. This vision suggests a continuation of Charm’s emotive qualities but with a bolder exploration of her inner world.

Clairo opened up about her fear of being misunderstood, a concern rooted in her rapid rise to fame at 17. “I was always afraid that I would be incredibly misunderstood,” she admitted, acknowledging the challenge of putting art into the world that invites varied interpretations.

Yet, she finds beauty in this ambiguity, noting that even misinterpretations can yield meaningful connections. Her goal is a long career where each album captures a different facet of her identity, ultimately leading to a fuller understanding of her as an artist.

The unexpected success of Charm has bolstered her confidence, making her “a little bit more brave” to take creative risks. She reflected on how fans revisiting her earlier work now see its value in hindsight, reinforcing her belief in creating music that feels true to her current self, even if it takes time for others to catch up.