Clairo - Immunity
Clairo is one of many newer artists that have benefited from the internet becoming the main platform that musicians can gain popularity from. The first instance of this was with her breakout hit Pretty Girl, gaining a large amount of views on YouTube. This led to other songs of hers also gaining more traction and ultimately got the attention of larger labels, where she would sign with Fader for her first full length record. Up to this point, Clairo had been a part of the new bedroom pop wave, which was headed by other contemporaries such as Alex G, Soccer Mommy, and Jay Som, and her first LP Immunity sticks true to those roots while also expanding her sound into the more mainstream indie sphere.
The most popular song that Clairo has made, Sofia, is a definitive display on how to transform the lo-fi bedroom pop genre into a catchy hit. The track opens with lo-fi riffs and drums reminiscent of The Strokes, then merges with Clairo’s vocals with the chorus about a potential relationship that Clairo wants. After the second chorus, the song uses a trademark of bedroom pop with lo-fi distortion, leading into the second verse which talks about the struggles with it because of the negative societal pressures on same sex relationships. This foil of lo-fi to hi-fi is a highlight of the record and feels like a clash of feelings that Clairo is experiencing within the moment. An earlier track in the record, Bags, also dives into the bedroom pop sound, making it much akin to a Jay Som or Alex G song. Bags is highlighted by the guitar and pianos that compliment each other throughout the song, with the piano acting as a contrast to Clairo’s vocals. Again, this contrast of sound along with the vocals being mixed at the same volume as the instrumental leads to a perspective of how I imagine Clairo must have felt when writing the song. The closing track on the record, I Wouldn’t Ask You, is by far the longest song on the record and almost caps out at seven minutes, but is a display of Clairo maturing as an artist. The first half of the track features just Clairo’s vocals at first, then evolving into many layered vocals on top of each other all singing the chorus. About half way through the track Clairo employs a very Lorde-esque beat switch, while still continuing with the layered vocals that are the staple of the track. The vocals eventually fade, leaving just the instrumental on the track for a solid minute. This then also fades into the distinct vinyl record crackling and thus marks the end of the record.
This record as a whole feels like I’m walking into a comfortable, yet a bit uncertain haze that is welcoming to anyone. It doesn’t necessarily take any large risks, but that’s okay as it’s still one of the best bedroom pop albums to date. I would highly recommend it if you already like similar artists in the bedroom pop genre or would like to explore Clairo outside of her greatest hits.
