SWX, BristolClaire Cottrill’s sparse, low-key approach is no obstacle to building a powerful emotional connection with her rapt following
The contrast between the deafening scream that greets DIY pop star Clairo’s arrival on stage, and what comes next, is telling. If the Massachusetts singer-songwriter – real name Claire Cottrill – is fazed by the adulation, then she doesn’t let it show. From its opening note, her set appears precision-engineered to avoid undue fuss – more mood exercise than vehicle for grandstanding.
The 21-year-old’s stage setup is sparse: disconnected imagery – rolling clouds, raindrops on glass, worms – flashes across a blank backdrop, and she performs the songs from her debut, Immunity (which she co-produced with former Vampire Weekend member Rostam), beneath just a bare white bulb. It’s daring, but they flourish under such scrutiny.