What are your influences? Clara: My musical influences come from any artist who can tell a story with their work. Johnny Cash will always be one of my favorite artists because of the rawness of his lyricism. I am also heavily influenced by scenery; whether natural or industrial.
What are your musical inspirations? C: I’m influenced and inspired by scenery when it comes to making music. I also find the lives of the people around me to be inspiring. I love observing people just being people; I find life’s nuances to be particularly endearing.
If given the chance, what musician(s) would you like to collaborate with? Rather this is to either write a song or be featured on a track. C: I would love to collaborate with Conor Oberst or Lana Del Rey. It would be an honor to write and create a song with them.
What is your new album about? C: My album is titled, summer 4 ever. Last year, I moved to a little beach town with no plans in particular. I wanted to write, explore, and just be. This project is full of little lives that I chose to reside in for awhile. It felt okay to be happy and sad at the same time; I realized I loved the space in-between. I took the hope, heartbreak, and wonder that I have felt throughout these passed few years and put it into stories that created this album.
What’s something you hope people take away from the new songs on the record? C: I hope people are able to find comfort and a sense of nostalgia when listening to summer 4 ever. I hope the songs feel like summer road-trips, slow mornings, bare-feet in backyards, and freckles after a day in the sun. When people listen to this project I hope that they feel the freedom to allow themselves to wonder and dream along with me.
Which songs on the upcoming project were the most fun to write, and which were the most challenging to write? C: I would say that “high on my hopes” was the most fun song to write. I wanted that song to be as specific as possible, and it was fun creating a song that was one-hundred percent autobiographical for a situation I was in at the time. The most challenging song for me to write was “radio angel.” I spent the longest amount of time piecing that song together. I had strong feelings about the concept, and I just wanted to make sure the lyricism was good enough to support my vision.
Do you have any favourites off the album? C: The songs “down for whatever” and “summer forever” will always be a couple of my favorites.
Do you have any favourite songs to perform live? Could be your own music or even a
cover. Any reason why? C: I really enjoy playing “sail away song” live with a band. Having a band with me on this song elevates it in such a great way. The song is written about being on the open sea, and the band makes the song feel like waves in the ocean.
If you could perform a show this very second anywhere in the world, where would it be? Is there any particular venue(s) or city/cities that comes to mind?
C: If I could play a show anywhere in the world, it would be at whatever stadium Taylor Swift is playing at for her Eras Tour [Laughs]. It would be a dream to share a stage with her.
What do you currently have planned for the remainder of the year? C: I am working on playing shows with my band, surfing, decorating my new townhouse, hanging out with my friends, and writing and creating new music.
Thanks for the time today, Clara. Is there anything else you may want to add before you go? C: Thank you so much for having me! If anyone wants to follow me on social medias, my IG is @clarawaidley and my TikTok is @barefootgurlz. Thanks again!