Clairo
Claire Elizabeth Cottrill (born August 18, 1998), known professionally as Clairo, is an American singer-songwriter. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Carlisle, Massachusetts, she began posting music on the internet at age 13.[7]
Not to be confused with Clario Tech or Cairo.
Clairo
Claire Elizabeth Cottrill
Clairo, DJ Baby Benz
Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
Singer-songwriter
- Vocals
- guitar
- keyboards
- clarinet
2012–present
Clairo rose to prominence following the viral success of the music video for her lo-fi single "Pretty Girl" in 2017.[8][9] She subsequently signed a record deal, releasing her debut EP Diary 001 (2018) with Fader Label.[10] Her debut studio album Immunity (2019) received critical acclaim and spawned the singles "Bags" and "Sofia", the latter of which became her first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.[11] Cottrill's second studio album, Sling, was released in 2021. Upon its release, the album received critical acclaim and saw commercial success, debuting in the top 20 of the US Billboard 200.
Artistry[edit]
Clairo recalled that the Shins' Wincing the Night Away (2007) was the first album she "really completely geeked out over", crediting it as her inspiration to make music.[47] Based on the fact that many around her told her that a career in music was unlikely, she did not consider it a likely prospect and musically "kind of did whatever" she wanted.[47] She has stated that her musical influences were a mixture of her mother and father's musical taste, citing musicians such as Al Green, Brenton Wood, Billy Paul, Cocteau Twins, Trashcan Sinatras, The The and Public Image Ltd.[48]
Political views[edit]
In July 2020, Clairo signed an open letter to then-UK Equalities minister Liz Truss calling for a ban on all forms of LGBT+ conversion therapy.[49]
In May 2022, a leaked draft opinion showed that the U.S. Supreme Court was planning to overturn abortion rights established in Roe v. Wade. Cottrill, alongside other musical artists like Lorde, Olivia Rodrigo and Phoebe Bridgers, signed a full-page ad in The New York Times condemning the planned Supreme Court decision.[50][51] While performing at Glastonbury in June 2022, Cottrill wore a t-shirt saying "Bans Off Our Bodies" in protest to the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization final decision which overturned access to abortion granted in Roe v. Wade.[52]
In October 2023, Clairo signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter calling for a ceasefire in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war to President Joe Biden.[53]
Personal life[edit]
In 2017, Cottrill began attending Syracuse University,[15] studying in the Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries, but dropped out after one year to pursue music full time.[54]
Cottrill was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at the age of 17.[22]
Cottrill came out as bisexual to her fans via Twitter in May 2018.[55][56] In an interview, she explained that making friends in college is what helped her to come out, as they were openly gay and she was inspired by "their confidence and their willingness to be exposed."[57]
Studio albums
EPs
