Country : United States Label : Independant Genres and styles : Bedroom Pop / Dream Pop / Indie / Indie Pop Year : 2024

Clairo – Charm

· by Helena Palmer

Claire Cottrill, better known as indie songwriter Clairo, is a long-standing figure in the dreamy world of bedroom pop. While her most recent album Charm does differ from her early, more lo-fi releases such as Immunity and “Flaming Hot Cheetos,” the album does not feel like a major progression from her last release, but rather an ever so slightly matured, more intricate continuation of her sophomore album Sling. While Sling felt cool and modern, a product of Jack Antonoff’s sharp production style, Charm has a certain depth to it that creates a more intimate listening experience. Produced by Cottrill and Leon Michels, the album’s soundscape is made up of vintage instruments: mellotrons, vibraphones, woodwinds, saxophones, etc., and leans into a warm, retro sound similar to that of an Andy Shauf record. The analog band gives the record a soft rock, early ‘70s feel, but it’s Cottrill’s soft and understated vocals that are the most necessary component in creating th iconic Clairo sound. As if she were singing to herself around the house, Cottrill hums non-lyrical melodies, such as the intro to “Second Nature,” the hook of “Echo,” or the outro of “Juna.” It’s this aloofness, reminiscent of Vashti Bunyan’s dreamy singing style, that allows the album to maintain a glowy bedroom feel. 

Charm supposedly represents a new confidence from Cottrill. She discusses themes she has not previously touched on, such as sexuality and romantic intimacy; also, Cottrill looks directly at the camera in the album cover, compared to her downward gaze on every one of her other covers. The first single from the record, “Sexy to Someone,” is a fun, feel-good pop song that suggests that Cottrill will embrace her own voice throughout the entirety of the record, in contrast to her previous work. However, this is not necessarily true.
  

I think the music video for “Juna” best sums up the overall energy of the album, which is a subtle, withdrawn indifference from Cottrill. The video shows Cottrill attending a bright, busy wrestling event, where she sits to the side averting her gaze, looking bored. At times the album feels as if the beautiful instrumental arrangements are at the forefront, while Cottrill’s distant singing is an afterthought; as if everyone were putting effort into their performance except for her. Then again, maybe this is the charm of her music – pun intended. Maybe it is her soft and withdrawn singing style that draws the audience in for a more intentional listen to what she has to say.

Latest 360 Content

Nuits d’Afrique | Shatta Initiation with Blaiz Fayah

Nuits d’Afrique | Shatta Initiation with Blaiz Fayah

Nuits d’Afrique | La Chiva Gantiva Launches the Festival with a Bang

Nuits d’Afrique | La Chiva Gantiva Launches the Festival with a Bang

Festival de Lanaudière | Live tour de force by Christian Tetzlaff: the JS Bach Complete Sonatas and Partitas

Festival de Lanaudière | Live tour de force by Christian Tetzlaff: the JS Bach Complete Sonatas and Partitas

Sextile – yes, please.

Sextile – yes, please.

Nuits d’Afrique | KillaBeatMaker, Afro Columbian Electronic Groove

Nuits d’Afrique | KillaBeatMaker, Afro Columbian Electronic Groove

Puffer – Street Hassle

Puffer – Street Hassle

Nuits d’Afrique 2025: ALL About The Program

Nuits d’Afrique 2025: ALL About The Program

Festival de Lanaudière | Collectif9 : contemporary music through groove and folk

Festival de Lanaudière | Collectif9 : contemporary music through groove and folk

Sam Dickinson – Gemini Duets

Sam Dickinson – Gemini Duets

Monkey House – Crashbox

Monkey House – Crashbox

Mark Molnar – EXO

Mark Molnar – EXO

Nuits d’Afrique | SARĀB, Syrian-Lebanese Songs Sizzled With Metal and Jazz-Rock

Nuits d’Afrique | SARĀB, Syrian-Lebanese Songs Sizzled With Metal and Jazz-Rock

Tyr Jami – Morphic Subduction

Tyr Jami – Morphic Subduction

Arve Henriksen, Trygve Seim, Anders Jormin, Markku Ounaskari – Arcanum

Arve Henriksen, Trygve Seim, Anders Jormin, Markku Ounaskari – Arcanum

Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet – Impact

Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet – Impact

Isabelle Faust/Les Siècles; François-Xavier Roth – Ligeti : Concertos

Isabelle Faust/Les Siècles; François-Xavier Roth – Ligeti : Concertos

Blackwater Holylight – If You Only Knew

Blackwater Holylight – If You Only Knew

M83 – A Necessary Escape (Dakar Chronicles Original Soundtrack)

M83 – A Necessary Escape (Dakar Chronicles Original Soundtrack)

Festival de Lanaudière | The Coronation of Poppea, the triumph of Octavia and the mastery of Alarcon

Festival de Lanaudière | The Coronation of Poppea, the triumph of Octavia and the mastery of Alarcon

FIJM | Sun Ra Arkestra Still in the Physical World But…

FIJM | Sun Ra Arkestra Still in the Physical World But…

FIJM | Esperanza Spalding Between Two Chairs on the Place des Festivals

FIJM | Esperanza Spalding Between Two Chairs on the Place des Festivals

FIJM | Saxophonist and vocalist Camille Thurman, New Montreal Hidden Treasure

FIJM | Saxophonist and vocalist Camille Thurman, New Montreal Hidden Treasure

Festival de Lanaudière | Bruckner and Payare: Cathedral builders

Festival de Lanaudière | Bruckner and Payare: Cathedral builders

Subscribe to our newsletter