Claud (Jan. 2019)
If you asked Claud a year ago where their life would lead, their uncertainty would be as strong as the talent they were just beginning to tap into. Yet now, they stand in a position of newfound confidence and self-certainty. It wasn’t an easy task, requiring the output of a thoughtful EP, constant personal reflection and the difficulty of acclimating to newfound environments and individuals. But as hard as it all was, the results have been, simply, magical.
Claud revealed to themseelf, bit by bit, the unique individuality that was waiting for its moment to shine. They no longer felt compelled to travel in any artistic direction, instead, traveling in one completely their own. By bringing together both bright musicianship and hopeful lyricism, as they’ve always envisioned, they have truly articulated themself musically.
Ultimately, Claud has solved much of their past confusions. Little can take them off course, little can extinguish the creative fire burning brighter than ever. Certain doors are open for the first time, ideas seem endlessly inspiring and passion seems undying with every sunset. The puzzle to their life and art has finally come together, now all that’s left to do is share it with the anxiously excited world.
Our first question as always is just how’s your day going and how have you been?
My day is good, I had a late start because of a show last night, but honestly, other than that it’s good.
A great place to start is the last whirlwind of a year you’ve had which set up and built the foundation for a lot of what’s going on for you now. You’ve talked about a big part of that being moving to New York and going to college for the first time, how did you find the change to influence your artistry and you as an individual?
I went to college as a freshman at Syracuse, and in moving there I was coming from an art school, and before was in Chicago. It felt like a big change and it really did end up being a massive city for me. I got lucky with meeting great friends right away on the first day, ones who I stayed close with me all year. As a place, It was good for the time being.
But also you were recently in LA for a bit, taking in the area and all it encompasses. Within that trip, what was that time like for you and what was the impression it left upon you?
After Syracuse I lived in NY for a bit, then once my friends left for the summer I moved to LA. It was meant to be only temporary and I just wanted to check it out as I have family there, a lot of great friends too. Ultimately, I found a great community here in NY so I decided to move back, I like moving around a lot and didn’t want to settle in one place, yet.
Another large moment that year was dropping your EP, which was the biggest thing in getting the ball rolling. How do you reflect on the project and the experience as a whole? Do you remember the reception you expected and the feeling when it kept growing in audience and acclaim?
That EP is just so special to me. I made it made with my best friend as a friendship project. We started with the song Onetwothree, just about a year ago, it was just a first single and watching people enjoy it was an amazing feeling because we loved it even more so. I put out music before, but nothing I loved as much as the EP’s songs. I guess I believe that if you put a lot of love into something, you’ll get love out of it.
Going from putting those songs you didn’t like on SoundCloud at first, then turning to this project which you found peace within, what changed for you and what did you have to find within yourself?
It took a lot of personal changes. Just coming to terms with myself and going by Claud again. My sound as an artist was coming together at the same time, it was a very natural growth. I feel like I’m still growing a lot, but the EP marks a really specific moment in my life.
Looking forward, what are in your mind, the largest and most important milestones you hope to hit and achieve?
I really want to tour a lot and meet a lot of people. And, my biggest goal is to make sure I have people want to hear me play as much as I want to play for them.
If money were no object, where would be your dream location to play a live show?
I really want to go to Asia and Japan specifically. They fell so far away and going for a reason, not just for fun, would be amazing.
As well, what developments do you hope to make artistically and what skills are you looking to hone in your craft?
I want to focus more on my songwriting. I’ve been with a lot of producers and I want to experiment and play with new concepts. If I want a pop song, I need a pop song with my own voice. It’s fun to try more and more ideas and subgenres.
Through this time of personal growth and creation, what artists have you found yourself most inspired by and pulling from?
A lot of the Terrible Records artists I work with. I also love Blood orange and every song on his new album. Super into Super Organisms, gosh so much. I actually just made a Spotify playlist that was only supposed to have 30 songs, but I couldn’t stop adding more and more.
Taking it back to your first time getting into music, how do you compare your current influences to early ones and do you believe it shows part of the growth you’ve been through and are experiencing?
I definitely think the music I listen to has been a big part of my own development, I was weirdly into singer-songwriter music more than anything. Part of it probably came from when I went to an arts boarding school in Northern Michigan in the middle of nowhere. When you’re in a space like that you end up following that style. Because I listened to a lot of singer-songwriter music, I was shaped as a person, but not as an artist. But in college I started listening with a different ear, really expanding what I heard.
Through that beginning time, what were the biggest challenges you had to overcome to get those first songs out and to keep going?
I grew up in a very mainstream area that was difficult to be an individual within. Hive mind type environment in terms of entertainment and creativity. It made sense as to why I didn’t branch out with my early music. I’m just grateful for the friends I met who showed me what I could be.
Beyond music, which is obviously a place of inspiration for artists such as yourself, do you find yourself enjoying or drawing from other artistic mediums?
Honestly, I’m very into movements. It’s an art form I love beyond others. It keeps me motivated. I don’t love going to the gym, but I’m learning to skateboard and I did gymnastics when younger. I love seeing the body become an art form. I always loved dancing even though I’m shit at it.
Are there motions you find your music to be tailored to or ones you are trying to speak towards?
I really like the way people say that they enjoy my music on long walks and drives. Those everyday movements that I can choreograph with my sound is really beautiful. The production style I like is very rhythmic in a subtle everyday kind of way. It won’t catch you off guard but will just fit your movement.
Would you say that’s part of your overall larger goal? To create a soundtrack to people’s ups and downs? Or is there something beyond that?
It changes a lot. Right now, just being present is the most important thing to me, standing my ground. There’s a lot of musicians, but I truly see the value and necessity in myself. And I guess there’s not one specific message other than that I’m ‘here’.
Going forward in time to the present day, another thing you did through this last year was touring, as you said. And even currently you’re doing so. In your eyes, how do you compare the live experience to recording and a file, what do you feel towards it?
I love playing live shows. If I can’t see my songs translate live then there’s not always worth in putting it out. I don’t really get excited about a song until I can see myself perform it live.
Why is that though? Why do you see an importance in creating music that exists in both spaces?
It’s the best way to communicate with people… [Pause]… Oh my God… There’s such a big spider on my wall…
Oh my, are you okay?
Yeah yeah, I’ll be fine. But it’s just about connecting with people and sharing the new form of expression that does not exist in the record.
Through your life and time touring and just as a music fan, what’s been the best shows you’ve been able to see and be a part of?
At my first tour, with Triathalon and The Marias, I only saw 6 shows but every single time they both performed very different, yet inspiring. They just have ‘it’, they know exactly who they are and what they want to express. The confidence motivated me to be the same and to up my game.
You talked early of being inspired by songwriters, which makes sense considering your strong ability with complex lyrics and themes. Where from your life and art, in general, do you draw for your lyrics and ideas?
I just keep a running note in my phone of phrases I hear or think of, so when I sit to write I will begin or find inspiration within them. I recently started looking at my notes from when I was 15, finding out what was 15 year old Claud thinking on February 3rd, or seeing times I was in a relationship and reliving my feelings and thoughts from back then. All those past experiences shape what I say today.
You’re very brave for looking at stuff you did at 15, I could never do that, It’s honestly so terrifying.
[Laughs] I found one recently that said: “Write a song about feeling bubbly and pitch it to the Soda Company”. Like, what soda company was I even thinking about? It just said The Soda Company. Was I planning to call Mr. Coca Cola himself?
Did you find you’ve changed a lot and always shifted since you were young back then, or do you feel you kept your essence as an individual?
I feel like it depends on who you ask. If you ask my family they’ll say I’m the same as always, the same eccentric human who somehow ended up in our family. They often say they bought me in a grocery store [laughs. I think my essence is still there, but I feel but it will keep developing.
What’s, ultimately, the biggest mark and legacy with the music you’re making that you desire to build and be satisfied in creating?
I don’t know, I’m only just at the beginning. But to me, I would say I want to teach people to value their individuality, It was something I felt I wasn’t always doing, but now that I am, I want to share the feeling with others, as it’s really amazing. I’m still learning, it’s a process, but it’s great just to be finally working towards it.