
Feature Photo: Justin Higuchi, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Clairo’s rise to prominence reflects a generation that redefined how independent musicians could reach the world. Born Claire Elizabeth Cottrill on August 18, 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia, she grew up in Carlisle, Massachusetts, where she developed a passion for music at a young age. She began recording songs in her bedroom while still in high school, uploading them to Bandcamp and YouTube. Her early material revealed a love for intimate, low-fidelity pop that blended dreamy vocals with self-reflective lyrics. This homemade approach to music production became her hallmark and helped her connect with listeners who were drawn to her authenticity and understated emotional style.
Her breakthrough came in 2017 with the viral success of “Pretty Girl,” a song she wrote and recorded in her bedroom while attending Syracuse University. The track’s accompanying video, shot casually on her webcam, went viral on YouTube, amassing millions of views in a short time. Its sudden popularity thrust Clairo into the spotlight and made her an early symbol of the “bedroom pop” movement. While the song’s simplicity captured the attention of fans around the world, it also demonstrated her natural melodic instincts and understated confidence. The unexpected success of “Pretty Girl” led to management and label offers, eventually bringing her to work with Fader Label for her debut releases.
In 2018, Clairo released her debut EP, Diary 001, which included songs like “Flaming Hot Cheetos” and “4EVER.” The EP solidified her growing fan base and showed her ability to craft catchy yet emotionally resonant tracks. Her sound combined lo-fi pop with R&B and indie influences, while her lyrics explored vulnerability, youth, and self-discovery. Critics praised her for her honesty and relatability, and her early success positioned her as one of the defining new voices of the late 2010s indie scene. During this period, she also began performing live, expanding from her bedroom recordings to stages around the world, where her reserved yet magnetic stage presence continued to earn admiration.
Her debut full-length album, Immunity, arrived in 2019 and marked a major step forward in both production and songwriting. Produced in collaboration with Rostam Batmanglij, formerly of Vampire Weekend, the album presented a more refined sound, blending indie pop and soft rock elements. Immunity featured the singles “Bags” and “Sofia,” both of which became critical and commercial successes. “Sofia” achieved platinum certification in several countries and charted internationally, while “Bags” was recognized by multiple publications as one of the best songs of the year. The album received widespread acclaim for its maturity, emotional honesty, and subtle experimentation, establishing Clairo as a respected songwriter beyond her viral beginnings.
Her second studio album, Sling, released in 2021, marked a stylistic evolution. Produced with Jack Antonoff, the record took inspiration from 1970s folk and soft rock, drawing comparisons to the introspective tones of artists like Joni Mitchell and Carole King. Recorded at Allaire Studios in New York, Sling explored themes of domestic life, womanhood, and the search for personal peace. It debuted at number seventeen on the Billboard 200 and earned critical acclaim for its warmth, lyrical sophistication, and sonic restraint. Songs such as “Blouse” and “Amoeba” highlighted her growing maturity as both a lyricist and musician, balancing vulnerability with confidence. The album appeared on several year-end lists and was praised as one of the most thoughtful pop records of the decade.
Throughout her career, Clairo has been recognized for her ability to merge personal storytelling with understated production, creating songs that resonate deeply with listeners. She has received multiple nominations for awards including the Libera Awards and the UK Music Video Awards, reflecting both her critical and artistic achievements. Her music has also been featured in film and television, further extending her reach beyond the indie community. Clairo’s connection with fans stems from her openness about mental health, chronic illness, and sexuality, which she has discussed candidly in interviews. Her willingness to share her struggles has made her an advocate for self-acceptance and emotional honesty, particularly among younger audiences.
Outside of music, Clairo has been involved in activism and philanthropy. She has used her platform to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ rights, chronic illness advocacy, and environmental causes. Her inclusive outlook and social awareness have made her a respected figure among her peers. Despite her relatively short career span so far, her evolution from bedroom pop pioneer to sophisticated songwriter reflects a remarkable artistic growth and a dedication to authenticity that continues to inspire both fans and critics alike.
Complete List Of Clairo Songs From A to Z
- 2 Hold U – Non-album single – 2017
- 4Ever – Diary 001 – 2018
- Add Up My Love – Charm – 2024
- After Midnight (Phoenix featuring Clairo) – Non-album single – 2023
- Alewife – Immunity – 2019
- Alma Matter (Bleachers, Lana Del Rey, Clairo) – Bleachers – 2024
- Amoeba – Sling – 2021
- Are You Bored Yet? (Wallows featuring Clairo) – Nothing Happens – 2019
- Bags – Immunity – 2019
- Bambi – Sling – 2021
- Better (with SG Lewis) – Non-album single – 2018
- Blue Angel (Danny L Harle featuring Clairo) – PC Music Volume 3 – 2018
- Blouse – Sling – 2021
- Bubble Gum – Non-album single – 2019
- Closer to You – Immunity – 2019
- Conducta (Osquello featuring Nofunbuster and Clairo) – Non-album single – 2018
- Drown (with Cuco) – Non-album single – 2018
- Echo – Charm – 2024
- Fallen Fruit (Lorde, Clairo) – Solar Power – 2021
- February 2017 (Charli XCX featuring Clairo and Yaeji) – Charli – 2019
- Feel Something – Immunity – 2019
- Flaming Hot Cheetos – Diary 001 – 2017
- For Now – Non-album single – 2023
- Froyo (.hans. featuring Clairo) – Non-album single – 2017
- Get with U – Non-album single – 2017
- Girl (Brennan Henderson featuring Clairo) – Never Been Cool – 2017
- Glory of the Snow – Charm – 2024
- Glue Song (Beabadoobee featuring Clairo) – Non-album single – 2023
- Green Eyes (Arlo Parks, Clairo) – Collapsed in Sunbeams – 2021
- Harbor – Sling – 2021
- Heaven – Skate Kitchen OST – 2018
- Hello? (featuring Rejjie Snow) – Diary 001 – 2018
- How – Diary 001 – 2018
- How Was Your Day? (Mellow Fellow featuring Clairo) – Jazzie Robinson – 2017
- I Wouldn’t Ask You – Immunity – 2019
- Impossible – Immunity – 2019
- In Love with a Memory (Sasami featuring Clairo) – Blood on the Silver Screen – 2025
- Joanie – Sling – 2021
- Juna – Charm – 2024
- Just for Today – Sling – 2021
- Lavender – Non-album single – 2023
- Leader of a New Regime (Lorde, Clairo) – Solar Power – 2021
- Little Changes – Sling – 2021
- Love Songs (Margo Guryan cover) – Like Someone I Know: A Celebration of Margo Guryan – 2024
- Management – Sling – 2021
- Many Ways (Clarity, Clairo) – Transa – 2024
- Midnight (Maxwell Young featuring Clairo) – Daydreamer – 2018
- Mood Ring (Lorde, Clairo) – Solar Power – 2021
- Nomad – Charm – 2024
- North – Immunity – 2019
- Partridge – Sling – 2021
- Pier 4 – Charm – 2024
- Pretty Girl – Diary 001 – 2017
- Queen (PHF featuring Clairo) – 9MM – 2016
- Racecar (Deaton Chris Anthony featuring Clairo and Coco & Clair Clair) – BO Y – 2019
- Reaper – Sling – 2021
- Second Nature – Charm – 2024
- Sexy to Someone – Charm – 2024
- Sinking – Immunity – 2019
- Sis – Non-album single – 2019
- Slow Dance – Charm – 2024
- So Low (Synthia, Clairo) – Non-album single – 2023
- Sofia – Immunity – 2019
- Softly – Immunity – 2019
- Solar Power (Lorde, Clairo) – Solar Power – 2021
- Stoned at the Nail Salon (Lorde, Clairo) – Solar Power – 2021
- Sum1 Else (forgetmenot featuring Clairo) – Non-album single – 2018
- Terrapin – Charm – 2024
- Thank You – Charm – 2024
- The Path (Lorde, Clairo) – Solar Power – 2021
- Thinking Abt U (Noah Burke featuring Claire Cottrill) – Non-album single – 2015
- Throwaway (with SG Lewis) – Dawn EP – 2019
- Wade – Sling – 2021
- Where Do We Go from Here? (Matt & Kim featuring Clairo, Kevin Morby and Fletcher C. Johnson) – Almost Everyday – 2018
- White Flag – Immunity – 2019
- You Might Be Sleeping (Jakob featuring Clairo) – Bedroom Tapes – 2017
- Zinnias – Sling – 2021
Albums
Immunity (2019): 11 songs
Sling (2021): 12 songs
Charm (2024): 11 songs
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