Aastha Trivedi

Claire Cottrill, known by her stage name Clairo or DJ Baby Benz, has dazzled listeners with the release of her third album, Charm. 

The Atlanta-born music sensation began her career at thirteen by uploading her songs to YouTube. Her lofi-single, Pretty Girl, and music video took the indie-pop scene by storm. It led her to sign with a record label and later release the EP, ‘Diary 001’ (2018), with music producer Fader Label. Her newest album, Charm, was released on May 23rd. It arrived three years after her second album, Sling, and four years after her first album, Immunity. Because of her soft-spoken vocals and graceful stage presence, Clairo never fails to connect with listeners in their late teens and twenties, particularly those in the queer community.

There is no doubt that Clairo’s early songs, Sofia, Bags and Flaming Hot Cheetos, remain some of her most beloved hits. One of her most popular songs, Sofia, resonates deeply with anyone who understands the stigma of wanting to be in a relationship with another woman and the courage it takes to embrace one another despite persistent external homophobia. Moreover, Bags encapsulates her early experience of struggling to convey her true feelings for a romantic partner.

“Sexy to Someone, has a spot on everyone’s summer playlist”

Charm, however, focuses less on early experiences of exploring her sexuality for the first time. Instead, it takes on a more evolved approach, depicting her growth and self-development. Charm is an interior monologue expressing “fleeting moments” where she has “been charming” or has “been charmed”. Further, it expressed the many “fantasies” that arise as a consequence of subtle moments of intimacy. It was developed in collaboration with music producer Leon Michels, who is notable for his membership in the Band the “Dap Kings” and his contribution to ‘El Michael Affairs’. All 11 songs flow effortlessly into each other, creating a cohesive masterpiece that can be listened to for hours.

 Embracing her Sensuality

Her album’s first release, Sexy to Someone, has a spot on everyone’s summer playlist. As of now, it is one of Clairo’s most-played songs on Spotify. The fan-favourite depicts Clairo’s protagonist moment when she feels the excitement, curiosity, and “limerence” of developing feelings for someone new and wanting them to reciprocate. It also depicts a deeper desire to escape from ordinary life. Her mesmerising track, Juna, conveys the thrill of developing an emotional connection with someone new. When she sings, “You make me wanna/Go buy a new dress,” and “You make me wanna/Slip off a new dress,” she describes wanting to feel attractive to someone special and desiring to impress them by embracing her femininity.

“Through her soft rock and delicate vocal style, Clairo elegantly explores heartbreak.”

She subsequently hints at wanting a sexual encounter with them. In the song, Clairo also describes the relief of becoming comfortable with her new partner. She sings, “Why would I want to let you in? But then I think again”. In this line, she expresses her hesitancy in showing vulnerability. Later, she realises she is safe to be vulnerable because her partner understands and can read her. Moreover, in ‘Second Nature’, Clairo describes losing her “train of thought” when accompanied by the right person. Through her alluring grace and sophisticated lyrics, Clairo dives into her sensuality, a subject which she had explored less in previous albums.

Finding Acceptance in Heartbreak

Through the remaining songs, Clairo explores the vast array of feelings that arise after a breakup. In Thank You, Clairo acknowledges that her past relationship was not satisfying. She admits allowing “her” pride to keep her from making the wise decision to end it and ultimately decides to “thank” them for the time they had invested in her.   Furthermore, in Nomad, Clario longs for a deep romantic connection. She sings that she would “take a ship around the world” to find that person who fills her desire. Ultimately,   she realises that any attraction she feels to a new person fails to grant her the genuine connection she longs for and instead leads her to “think of” her previous love interest.

Add Up My Love explores how frustration and anger experienced after a breakup coexist with grace, acceptance, and forgiveness. The lyrics, “Add up my love. Was it ever Enough,” suggest that no effort will ever be enough for the wrong partner. The lyrics imply that she was happier letting her lover go and instead searching for a new potential partner rather than trying to hold on to a relationship where they could not meet each other’s needs.

“She draws from a combination of acoustic guitar, percussion, and psychedelic synths, evoking a restless, almost agitated mood.”

Lastly, in All Alone Upstate, the line, “pull on the string/That binds me to memories of/The way I loved you,” shows that music never fails to capture the memories of lost love. Through her soft rock and delicate vocal style, Clairo elegantly explores heartbreak. She does not shy away from taking a literal approach to her lyrics and, in doing so, remains deeply relatable to listeners.  

Enhancing her Unique Craftsmanship

Charm is the newest development in Clairo’s journey as an artist. It has its own sonic personality. Throughout the album, she features the piano as the focal instrument, combining it with other instruments. For instance, the resolution of Slow-down was polished with a honey-like blend of flute and clarinet. On the flip side, Echo had a sexier, more thrilling tone. She draws from a combination of acoustic guitar, percussion, and psychedelic synths, evoking a restless, almost agitated mood. She pieces this together with lyrics demonstrating her desire when she sings, “There is something I need from you//and you’re the only one that knows”.

Despite the album’s subtle magic, it has been met with criticism. It has been widely criticised for lacking the “experimentation” and spontaneity that was present in previous albums. Despite such criticisms, Charm is a memorable album. Through her hush vocals and adoption of elements of 60’s and 70’s genres, Clairo leaves listeners with a pleasant lightness and peculiar warmth. While the album is ideal for summer evenings, it will continue to be enjoyed and cherished all year long.

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Featured image courtesy of Brian Bruemmer on Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

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