Artist Spotlight: Clairo

"Charm" Album Art

Lilly Palmer | October 2025

In 2017, Claire Elizabeth Cottrill, more professionally known as Clairo, hit the scene with one of her most popular singles, “Flaming Hot Cheetos.” Immediately after, she took the storm on social media with her upbeat, bedroom pop-esque, bubbly sound, which appealed to the pre-pandemic soft bliss that has now melted into buttery nostalgia. 

Following this, she went on to release more buoyant singles that solidified her name in the music industry, such as “Pretty Girl” and “4EVER.” In 2018, Clairo released her first EP titled “diary 001,” which encapsulated the feeling of the melancholia surrounding growing up and insecurity. The EP itself casually explored such complex themes in a way that could be seen as relatable beneath its lo-fi indie-pop undertones. 

As a result of these successes, “Immunity” was released in 2019, the debut album that fans highly anticipated. This release correlated with self-discovery and the ideas of identity and sexuality, reinforcing her way of resonating with listeners. 

This album additionally showcased an evolution from her previous singles, as it presented itself with more maturity than we had seen before from Claire. Notably, this album features some of Clairo’s' fan-favourite tracks, such as “Bags,” which explores the angsty emotions of vulnerability and fear, yet masks the feeling behind such a catchy and recognisable sound, making it almost symbolic, as the album itself discusses bottling up such emotions. 

Of course, this album also has “Sofia” within its tracklist. “Sofia” is arguably one of the most identifiable Clairo songs to date, and it is reflective of her brand as it delves into the themes of overcoming love alongside crushes that immediately make you feel fifteen again in such a heartbreaking and deep-cutting way. 

“Sling” would be released in 2021, marking the departure and evolution from Clairo's early work, as this release attempts to navigate the innermost struggles of adulthood rather than adolescent fears. The album in itself seems more introspective, as it goes into vulnerable topics that we do not see many artists write about, but under a more folky light, which juxtaposes her early sound, being acclaimed as her “70s singer-songwriter album.” 

“Sling” is the most wounding album in Clairo’s discography, laced with heartaching melancholia in its softening guitar instrumentals. This album holds those tracks like “Bambi” and “Blouse,” which convey meticulous emotions which aren't usually embarked on, such as those of craving connection or the female struggles within the music industry that are often glorified. The overall mood of this album embodies an autumnal, solemn atmosphere, which is mirrored within its innovative, reflective lyricism. 

“Charm,” Clairo’s latest album, was released in 2024, heavily reinforcing the saying of ‘third time’s a charm.’ This album reinvented Clairo's sound away from her lo-fi beginnings and moved to a richer indie-pop beat that easily floated in a catchy style. 

Arguably, “Charm” is Clairo’s most romantic album as it explores the sweetness of platonic soulmates alongside the idea of lovers that always linger a little too close. Immediately, this album was a great success as tracks like “Juna” perfectly encapsulated the bliss of honey-sweetened infatuation and beautifully carried it with the use of piano and vintage-inspired instrumentation, making it an instant fan favourite held close in our hearts. 

This album has no limit to the praise you could give it, and it is no wonder that it gained such an expansive amount of attention from listeners across the globe. “Charm” is the softest, most inviting and warm album to date, with its signature hushed emotional insight.

On the whole, it is safe to say that Clairo is one of the indie-pop artists of the time as she has evolved in such a beautiful and delicate way in less than a decade, expanding her lyricism and stylistic choices to adapt to the raw emotion and feelings she delivers in every single line.