Claire Cottrill

Claire Elizabeth Cottrill, known professionally as Clairo, is an American singer-songwriter who gained international prominence as a pioneer of bedroom pop before expanding into indie rock, soft rock, and jazz-influenced alternative music. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Carlisle, Massachusetts, she began sharing music online as a teenager and captured viral attention in 2017 with her lo-fi single "Pretty Girl." She has since established herself as a critically acclaimed recording artist and live performer with multiple studio albums and major award nominations.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Cottrill grew up in Massachusetts, where she began recording cover songs and original acoustic compositions on her phone at age thirteen. She regularly posted her early music and Bandcamp releases under various pseudonyms before adopting the moniker Clairo. In 2017, while studying at Syracuse University, she uploaded a self-produced music video for "Pretty Girl" recorded on her laptop webcam. The video became a viral hit on YouTube, attracting millions of views and leading to a recording deal with Fader Label. She released her debut extended play, Diary 001, in 2018, which featured popular tracks such as "4EVER" and "Flaming Hot Cheetos."

Musical Albums and Evolution

In 2019, Clairo released her debut studio album, Immunity, co-produced with Rostam Batmanglij. The album received wide critical praise and produced hit singles like "Bags" and "Sofia," the latter becoming her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her second studio album, Sling, arrived in 2021, featuring co-production from Jack Antonoff and showcasing a shift toward folk and 1970s soft rock aesthetics. In July 2024, she independently released her third studio album, Charm, which highlighted cozy, vintage jazz-pop arrangements. The album earned widespread acclaim, including a nomination for Best Alternative Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.

Online Presence and Personal Life

In addition to her recording career, Clairo maintains a strong presence across social media and digital streaming platforms, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of her creative process, live performances, and tour updates. She came out publicly as bisexual in 2018 and has frequently incorporated themes of identity, mental health, and personal growth into her songwriting. Outside of music, Cottrill resides in the United States and continues to tour internationally while managing her independent music releases.