Unraveling the Intimacy in Clairo's Musical World
Lead Single - "Sexy to Someone": The Romcom Underbelly
"Clairo sighs on 'Sexy to Someone,' expressing a deep longing. The song's musical backdrop of ditzy Mellotron and wide-eyed flute creates an atmosphere that feels like it's straight out of a romcom. As the singer-songwriter, Claire Cottrill, pours her heart out, we see the pain and the drive behind her words. 'I need a reason to get out of the house,' she admits, followed by the metaphor of a casting call, 'Ask if I’m in a movie, no, I didn’t get the part.' This shows the vulnerability and the hope that lies within her.The song isn't just about the surface-level emotions; it delves deep into the core of what it means to want and be wanted. It's a reminder that even in the midst of flirtation, there's a painful longing that often goes unspoken.
Giddy Songs like "Second Nature": The Magnetic Forcefield
"Second Nature" is a giddy song with a heartbeat pulse of piano and Cottrill's nervous laughter. It exists in that magnetic forcefield between two people inexplicably drawn together. The musicality of this song captures the essence of attraction, making the listener feel the pull between them. It's a testament to Clairo's ability to create music that evokes emotions and transports us to a different place.But with Clairo's typical incisiveness, her third album also explores what happens when the spell wears off. On "Add Up My Love," she asks, 'Do you miss my hands hanging on the back of your neck?' before playfully shrugging it off. This shows the ebb and flow of relationships and the need to maintain a certain distance.
Lush Instrumentation: Inspirations from the 60s and 70s
"Charm" is filled with lush 60s and 70s-inspired instrumentation. It draws on the casual strangeness of musicians like the Beach Boys, Blossom Dearie, and Harry Nilsson. Terrapin, in particular, conjures a low-lit jazz bar, with its sparkling piano pushing Cottrill towards a tentative new confidence. Her voice, velvety and smooth, adds another layer to the music.The vintage Wurlitzers, flurries of brass, and breathy woodwind recorded straight to tape give the album a unique sound. It's a testament to Clairo's artistic vision and her ability to blend different musical styles to create something truly special.
Co-production with Leon Michels: Fleshing Out the World
Co-produced with soul revivalist and bandleader Leon Michels, "Charm's" world is brought to life. The vintage instruments and the raw recordings add to the intimacy of the album. Clairo and Michels understand that to be charming requires an effortlessness that brings out the intimacy in her writing.After the success of her debut album "Immunity" in 2019, a desire for privacy led her to consider quitting music. This thought process is evident on her guarded second album "Sling" and its dissection of an industry that fetishises youth and vulnerability. But on "Charm," she steps away from the intimacy of lo-fi production and embraces a bolder sound.
Leaving Things Unsaid: The Intimacy of "Charm"
There's something tantalising about leaving things unsaid on "Charm." Intimacy is about the "sugar on the rim" of a lover's drink or feeling as liquid as "sap from a cedar." When performing "Juna" on "The Tonight Show," Cottrill's performance was filled with a sense of fantasy and pure imagination. The retro green conversation pit and her band added to the atmosphere, making it seem as if the whole song were a dream.Even in the closing track "Pier 4," with its haunting acoustic sound, Clairo remains cynical and walled off. But the album's cyclicality suggests that the price of being loved is a price she'll always pay, no matter how reluctant she may be.