Clairo, born Claire Cottrill, emerged as a prominent figure in the bedroom pop scene of the late 2010s, originating from platforms like SoundCloud. She has since evolved into a sophisticated singer-songwriter, aligning with the contemporary sapphic sad girl aesthetic. Her collaborations include notable artists such as Jack Antonoff, Lorde, Phoebe Bridgers, and recently, Phoenix. With two studio albums and several EPs, Clairo has established a strong foundation in her career, yet her artistic journey continues to unfold with significant potential for growth.
From her beginnings in Atlanta and upbringing in Massachusetts, Clairo began her musical journey online at the age of 13. Under the aliases Clairo and DJ Baby Benz, she shared her music on Bandcamp. Her online presence expanded to SoundCloud, where she posted covers, original songs, and rap DJ mixes. She also cultivated a YouTube channel, showcasing covers and short films. Her breakthrough moment arrived in 2017 with the viral music video for “Pretty Girl,” catapulting her into the spotlight and leading to a record deal with Fader Label.
Despite her relative youth in the music industry, Clairo’s career is marked by distinct phases. The following 10 songs highlight both her early, formative tracks and her more recent, mature compositions. Settle in and explore our curated list of essential Clairo Songs.
10. Get With U
To fully appreciate “Get With U,” it’s best experienced during late-night listening sessions. This early single, crafted in Clairo’s SoundCloud era, eventually reached major streaming platforms in 2017. Despite being released early in her career, “Get With U” is a track that deserves greater recognition.
While the lyrics are simple and repetitive, they effectively convey a sense of longing – a desire to escape the mundane routine of staying home and to pursue a deeper connection with someone beyond friendship. The song evokes the aimless yet memorable college nights of young adulthood.
9. Better
Clairo venturing into romantic disco? Absolutely, and she does it masterfully in “Better,” a collaboration with British electronic artist SG Lewis. “Better” marked their first creative partnership, born from a spontaneous meeting where the song was conceived and recorded on the same day. The track delivers an iridescent, synth-pop vibe that is instantly captivating. Listening to “Better” might just make you feel like the bedroom pop equivalent of John Travolta, ready to hit the dance floor.
The music video for “Better” is a stylish nod to Hype Williams’ signature fish-eye lens aesthetic from the late 90s. It creates a nostalgic visual link to Williams’ iconic videos for artists like The Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, Mase, and Missy Elliott. If you need an instant mood lift, “Better” is your go-to track.
8. Hello?
“Hello?” is a uniquely inventive song that uses phone sounds and themes to narrate a love story. It serves as the opening track of Clairo’s debut EP diary 001 from 2018 and features a verse from Irish hip-hop artist Rejjie Snow.
The lyrics depict a passionate relationship strained by distance, both physical and emotional. Rejjie Snow’s verse adds a layer of reflection, reminiscing about the beginnings of the relationship. The self-produced instrumental is built around a basic two-chord synth loop and a bouncy drum beat, embodying the classic bedroom pop sound that defined Clairo’s early work. It’s an ideal introduction to her breakout EP.
7. Bubble Gum
A beloved ballad from Clairo’s early SoundCloud days, “Bubble Gum” holds special significance for the artist. “I think the first song I wrote that really meant a lot to me was ‘bubble gum.’ I wrote that when I was 15,” Clairo shared in a 2019 Beats 1 interview. “That was the first song of mine that actually ‘blew up’.”
“Bubble Gum” explores the feeling of regret. The line, “Cause I swallowed the bubble gum,” is a metaphor for the regret of unspoken words or unacted impulses. Swallowing gum, with the myth that it remains in your stomach, mirrors the lingering feeling of regret. Specifically, Clairo expresses regret for missed romantic opportunities. “Sorry I didn’t kiss you / But it’s obvious I wanted to,” she sings in the opening verse.
Initially a hit on SoundCloud, “bubble gum” is now part of Clairo’s originals collection. In 2019, “bubble gum” and “sis” were officially released on major streaming platforms, introducing these early tracks to a wider audience.
6. 4EVER
“4EVER” is a song that evokes nostalgic reflections on cherished moments with friends from high school and college. Clairo wrote this heartfelt, coming-of-age track while experiencing pre-college anxieties. It’s another standout from her diary 001 EP.
“I wrote this song the night before I left for college,” Clairo explained on Genius. “I don’t really know where the idea came from. I was about to go on this huge journey of going to school, and the song kind of talks about this existential, all the question I’m asking can be applied to not only a relationship, but life in general. I was having a moment with myself, and I was like “I don’t know what’s going on. Is it ever gonna change? Am I gonna feel this way forever?” I didn’t know if I liked the school. I didn’t know if that was the right fit for me, so the mood was kind of just me being really confused. I’m confused a lot of the time.”
The song features prominent, danceable synths and a funky bassline added by Deaton Chris Anthony, which elevates the track’s appeal. The music video for “4EVER,” self-shot by Clairo, captures endearing moments with her friends at Syracuse University, adding to the song’s heartwarming vibe.
5. Flaming Hot Cheetos
After her initial breakthrough, “Flaming Hot Cheetos” solidified Clairo’s position as more than a one-hit-wonder in the indie music scene. Released in 2017, it demonstrated her staying power and evolving sound.
This upbeat track, characterized by its charming melody and dreamy synths, reflects on a past relationship of Clairo’s. “The song was sort of a struggle between one side of me trying to ‘snap out of it,’ and the other side of me still wishing that things were how they used to be,” she mentioned in a Complex interview. The song’s title is playfully literal, inspired by Clairo snacking on Flaming Hot Cheetos while creating the track.
The “Flaming Hot Cheetos” music video is equally whimsical, featuring Clairo driving a stylish car and interacting with a troupe of dancers dressed as Flaming Hot Cheetos.
4. Amoeba
Many consider “Amoeba” the standout track from Clairo’s album Sling. In an album characterized by its mellow and introspective mood, “Amoeba” injects a surprising dose of groove. Despite its faster tempo, it retains Clairo’s signature emotional depth and soothing quality.
Clairo described the song’s theme in a Coup de Main interview: “It’s about prioritizing the wrong things. I’d go out on tour and forget to call my family and my friends, forget to eat, then come home and realize my hair’s falling out because I’m not taking care of myself.” The title “Amoeba,” referring to a single-celled organism, derived from the Greek word amoibe meaning “change” or “transformation,” perfectly encapsulates the song’s exploration of personal change and feelings of isolation, a central theme in Sling.
Jack Antonoff, known for his work with Bleachers, co-produced Sling, and his distinctive production style is evident in the riffs of “Amoeba.” Fans hope for future collaborations between Antonoff and Clairo.
3. Sofia
“Sofia,” a cheerful favorite from Immunity, is Clairo’s musical ode to her crushes on women named Sofia, specifically director Sofia Coppola and actress Sofia Vergara. This track delves into Clairo’s journey of exploring her sexuality.
Clairo described “Sofia” as an “empowering” song in a Coup de Main interview, emphasizing its celebratory nature: “It was important to me that “Sofia” was celebratory because it should be celebrated. At the end of the day it’s something that I’m really proud of and I’m really happy that I can look at the world that way – that I can find beauty in women.”
Intentionally incorporating somewhat cliché lyrics, as Clairo mentioned to Beats 1, “Sofia” still resonated widely, becoming her first song to break into the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2. Pretty Girl
“Pretty Girl” marked Clairo’s entry into mainstream recognition. Initially recorded on GarageBand for a limited-edition cassette compilation for The Le Sigh magazine, the song’s public release in 2017 sparked a rapid surge in popularity. The low-fi, webcam-style music video, created in just 30 minutes, quickly garnered over a million views.
The brilliance of “Pretty Girl” lies in its layered meaning. Superficially, it sounds like a lighthearted love song. However, closer attention to the lyrics and Clairo’s understated delivery of lines like, “I’ll lose myself in you,” reveals a deeper narrative about changing oneself to fit someone else’s ideal. As the song progresses, it shifts towards self-realization and independence.
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“Pretty Girl” was inspired by a personal experience in a flawed relationship. Clairo explained in the YouTube video description: “The song is about a relationship I had where I felt I needed to be the perfect girl for another person…whether that’s wearing makeup, doing my hair, wearing things they like, or even changing the way I speak/WHEN I speak. I felt that the only way I could make this video was to have a lot of fun looking disgusting and not caring at all! It’s okay to have flaws and it’s okay to embrace them and it’s okay to be silly and stupid. You all might already know this, but I’m happy that I know this now.”
1. Bags
“Bags” is the quintessential song to soundtrack a poignant movie scene. While “Sofia” enjoys widespread popularity from Immunity, “Bags” earns the top spot due to its sophisticated production, lyrical depth, and Clairo’s emotionally charged vocal performance.
“Bags” represented a pivotal moment in Clairo’s career. As the lead single from her debut studio album, it signaled a sonic evolution. Co-produced by Rostam Batmanglij, “Bags” moved away from Clairo’s signature lo-fi aesthetic, embracing a cleaner, more refined sound characterized by gentle guitar, ethereal synths, and delicate piano. It was her first track to exhibit a polished production quality, contrasting with her earlier GarageBand origins.
Furthermore, “Bags” is significant for its candid exploration of Clairo’s sexuality. The lyrics depict her first experience with a girl, portraying her internal struggle to express her feelings. The line, “I should probably keep it all to myself / Know you’d make fun of me,” captures the anxiety associated with coming out. (In reality, Clairo’s coming out to her family was met with acceptance.)
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Clairo told Genius that “Bags” is “just about being comfortable or becoming comfortable in between spaces. Whether that’s relationships or if you relate it to something bigger in your life. It’s definitely about me learning to be comfortable in a place of the unknown and kind of just letting something be, and being okay with not knowing the outcome of something.” Her performance of “Bags” with Phoebe Bridgers remains a memorable highlight. “Bags” was recognized by Pitchfork as one of “The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s,” underscoring Clairo’s growing influence as the 2020s unfold.
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