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Born in Georgia and raised in Massachusetts

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Claire Cottrill aka - Clairo, blew up after releasing her song on Youtube, featuring her dancing to her “Pretty girl” in a video she recorded on her laptop, the song which she herself said she had produced using GarageBand! I discovered Claire’s music very young, and have been following her career as she's gotten recognition over the years. Her approach to songwriting has always inspired me, the dreamy chords she uses, and how she writes about experiences. She uses the Cmaj7 chord a lot, which is the perfect sound for the vibe of her music, and is always my go to chord when playing around or writing a new song. Her songs feel like riddles sometimes, and have always been able to capture and hold my attention while still having simple, lo-fi sounds, and I got my first guitar shortly after discovering who she was.

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Nemah Hasan, known as Nemahsis, is an artist I discovered back in 2021. As a Palestinian woman in the music industry, and she uses her music to talk about the struggles of coming from an immigrant family, trying to make it as an artist, and merely existing as a Palestinian while also being someone who chooses to wear the hijab. The vulnerability she offers in her lyrics has opened my eyes to the invisible boxes I place myself in everyday as an artist myself, without even noticing sometimes. The chords in her music offer a nostalgic presence. Upon first listen her lyrics can be related to an array of canon experiences many people go through, but also have a double meaning relating to how culture, politics and location has impacted her art.

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The Cocteau twins are a Scottish rock band, Claire mentions that she was introduced to the Cocteau twins by her mother growing up (Wu, 2020). Alternative, dreamy and ethereal are words I’d use to describe the Cocteau twins having heard quite a bit of their music, and qualities I definitely hear in Clairo’s music as well. It’s even been said that this band has “completely reshaped the idea of music” (Jancosko, 2024). Their music also reminds me of Kate Bush and Mazzy star. "I’ve always found it incredible a band as beautiful as Cocteau Twins came from somewhere so unpleasant." (Cocteau Twins: What to Listen from the Hypnotic Dream Pop-Pioneers, 2020) This line I stumbled upon during my research that resonated with me. When I was younger I never felt fully connected to the place I grew up in, "The world was suddenly a bigger, more mysterious, and more exciting place—all because I’d stumbled onto some recording" Byrne, D. (2012).

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Albert Greene, the legendary soul singer, songwriter and record producer. Claire mentions having had her dad introduce soul music to her through Al Green. (Wu, 2020) Kicked out of his home by his very religious father after being caught listening to Jackie Wilson, who is also known as "Mr.Excitement". In a 2017 interview, Greene says "Free music to me is music without boundaries." (Cutrone, 2017) A statement like this shows me why this man has influenced so many artists, and has shaped music today. His flowing melodies can be heard in his hit songs "let's stay together" and "love and happiness". "The profound impact of these albums is evident in the artistic output of numerous musicians who have emulated Green's trailblazing path. Green's musical efforts have left a lasting impression on the current R&B landscape." (Shatter the Standards, 2023) I also agree that Al Greens influence can be heard in Frank Oceans music, as stated in this article.

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The Trashcan Sinatras are a Scottish rock band. Their music has a distinctive indie-pop feel to it. This indie vibe is exactly what pulled me into clairo the second I found out who she was. In this interview, she mentions her mum introducing her to alternative bands, one of them being Trashcan Sinatras. She says she falls somewhere in between all of these bands her parents showed her. (Wu, 2020) The combination of their guitar playing and dreamy synths make me feel like I am back in high school. The music provides a soft, comforting quality, and carries hints of melancholy and longing. This is something I heard in Claire's music very early on, I appreciate how Claire and the Trashcan Sinatras both put so much emphasis on their lyrics and melodies. This is something that has seeped into my own musical techniques as well. Consisting of 5 band members, their music blends elements of pop, alternative rock and influences of folk. The guitar sounding jangly and having chiming tones adds to the melodic sound, with their lyrics offering a poetic and introspective sound.

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Amy Winehouse was a British singer songwriter. Her powerful and soulful voice along with her wide range and expressive vocals. Her gorgeous deep voice was the first thing I thought of when Nemah mentioned her as an influence. In an interview, Nemah recalls singing in the hallway at school and being pulled aside by a teacher, who then introduced her to Amy Winehouse. She goes on to tell how her homework was to then go home and practice "Back to Black" by Amy, which she then performed at her schools talent show two days later! (Nemahsis Interview, 2021) Amy's heartfelt performances no doubt left a lasting impression on anybody who saw her music live. They both are able to hit low notes with such graceful ease, and the raspiness gives an extra emotional feel to them. Her vulnerable lyrics about her own experiences is something I immediately heard in Nemah's music. Nemah says that performing back to black made her feel like that was the first time her voice was heard the way it was meant to be. (Nemahsis Interview, 2021), and I can't help but think that the vulnerability of the song imprinted on her musical techniques just a little. The Grammys described "Back to black", released in 2006, as a "sonic revelation". (How Amy Winehouse’s “back to Black” Changed Pop Music Forever | GRAMMY.com, 2024). “Amy changed pop music forever,” Lady Gaga tweeted in 2011. In an interview, Amy mentions that Sarah Vaughan is one of her favourite singers of all time, and that she had learned to sing from Dinah Washington. She claims to have learnt from everything. (Guardian staff reporter, 2012).

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Sufjan Stevens is an American singer songwriter, born and raised inDetroit, Michigan. I heard his music for the first time when I watched the movie "Call me by your name". The playful melodies sounded bright and beautiful and hopeful, fitting the set of the movie so perfectly. In an interview Stevens says about the director of this film, "He was entranced from the very beginning with the idea of using that song. I think it’s just serendipity that the nature and content of the material fits so well into the film." (Utichi, 2017). His song "Will anybody ever love me?" was described as "the kind of dramatic, earnest yearning that works on people like my friend and me: queer, raised Christian, and unlucky in love at practically every turn." (Craker, 2023). Feeling like you have something about your identity you need to hide is something that pours out into music, this similarity between Stevens and Nemahsis is something I notice in my own music too, as I often express and understand myself through it. This reminds me of the lyrics in Nemahsis songs that often have double meanings about her ethnic background and her struggle. While promoting her song online, Nemah told her audience, "If you like musicians like..." including both Sufjan Stevens AND Clairo to my surprise! (TikTok - Make Your Day, 2024) And it's true, as a songwriter having an "earnest yearning" is like a requirement. No matter what exactly you are "yearning" for, it is such a raw emotion in music. Like Nemahsis in her lyrics; yearning for understanding and eyes with no judgement, with underlying hints towards unfairness in todays society.

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Robin Rihanna Fenty, born in Saint Michael, Barbados; Started an all-girls singing group in high school, and has had a significant impact both music and the beauty scene. We've seen her fuse elements of trap, rock, EDM and dubstep into her music. In this interview, Nemahsis mentions Rihannas name as one of her artistic influences, and labels her "a classic. (Tanjura R, 2022). As a successful black woman in a white and male dominated industry, she has challenged several stereotypes. When writing about serious topics such as domestic violence, her powerful lyrics along with her confidence, versatile vocals helped create songs that are now considered feminist anthems, such as "Diamonds" and "Hard". Rihanna has used her platform to empower and uplift black voices and communities. Well known as a music icon, she is "one of the most streamed musicians of all time" (Deal, 2019). All art is intertwined. Rihanna mentions that Madonna had been a great inspiration to her, admiring the way she reinvented her fashion and music with success each time. (Deal, 2019).