By Tatiana Yulo
In 2018, Georgia native Claire Cottrill jump-started her career by recording her songs “Pretty Girl” and “Flaming Hot Cheetos” and uploading them to YouTube. The singles garnered the attention of multiple major music labels, which gave Cottrill the opportunity to release her first single, “Diary 001.” Fast forward to 2019, 2021, and 2024, and Cottrill’s albums “Immunity,” “Sling,” and “Charm” have achieved great success for the pop-indie singer now widely known as Clairo.
Clairo’s recent release, “Charm,” was paired with its own tour, allowing her fans to see her live worldwide. The tour began with a 10-day residency at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles and Webster Hall in New York City. Luckily, I was able to attend and experience her last show at Webster Hall. The venue was packed with fans over the age of 18, all enjoying their Thursday night listening to their favorite artist perform. It was overwhelming but ultimately enjoyable. I left the show feeling like my serotonin levels were through the roof. I also left with a new shirt and $40 less in my bank account, but the show was worth every penny and left me thinking about it for days.
The show, and my personal experience, were astonishing. The opening act, Frankie Cosmos, was an absolute gem. Her colorful outfits and short hair paired with her electric guitar made her set feel very “charming”—not to be too on the nose. As for Cottrill’s setlist, she transitioned from jazzy new songs that had the crowd swaying to us belting out “Bags” at the top of our lungs—one of my personal highlights of the night.
Cottrill consistently makes it to the top of my Spotify artists at the end of the year, and her songs are always on repeat in my playlists. The feeling, the serotonin, and the experience of seeing her live are things I will never forget. Below are some of my favorite Clairo tracks, in case this read inspires you to dive into her music:
- “Bags”
- “Blouse”
- “Amoeba”
- For a more jazzy vibe, check out “Charm.”