Clare Cordell

Who is Clare Cordell? Where are you from, how long have you been playing music etc

Clare cordell is me, i am her and we are a giant complex mixture of sass, self deprecation, empowerment and strong vocals.

I’ve been singing my own music for maybe 8 years now, but i’ve been a singer since i was 8 years old.

If you had to describe your sound using just five words, what would they be?

Soulful

Emotive

Smooth

Empowering

Easy listening (that’s two words but i’ve made a loophole!)

Who are your biggest influences musically?

Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Brandi Carlile, Shoshana Bean, Carole King…

What’s your songwriting process?

My songwriting process is different every time i write a song! Sometimes i hear a tune in my head and build around that, sometimes the lyrics come out of my brain like a poem then i translate it into music and sometimes i have a subject in my head that i want to write about and thats my starting block.

I think with songwriting its such a personal thing so my process varies but the main consistency is trying to be as authentic as possible!

When you were younger, what was the first album that blew you away and you remember putting on repeat non-stop?

Ohhh I had Carole King’s album Tapestry on a tape and I played it so much over and over again that it literally caught fire in my old walkman!

As a performer, what’s your biggest claim to fame so far?

I don’t know about claim to fame because I feel famous everytime i get to perform because i still can’t believe people want to sit and listen to me, BUT the thing i tell most people about is the fact that i am mentioned on my old schools Wikipedia page under ‘notable alumni’ alongside George Michael and Andrew Ridgley!!!!

If you could go on tour with any current band or artist, who would it be and why?

That is such a hard question because at this point in time if anyone asked me to go on tour with them i would jump for joy, but i think if i could tour with one act it would be someone like Dolly Parton because i think she would bring the party wherever we went!!!

If you could put your dream team band together consisting of any musicians from the past or present who would the band members be?

Freddie Mercury, Amy Winehouse, Whitney, Aretha Franklin, Prince and Janis Joplin!!! My dream team would be such a cocktail of egos but it would be fabulous!

How would you describe your live show to someone who has never seen you perform before?

Please be prepared to listen to bad jokes, swear words and soulful music. Also will happily accept handfuls of cash to sing requests 🙂

Do any of you have any pre-gig or post gig rituals? If so, what and why?

I really don’t have any specific rituals other than steaming my voice before i sing and having a gin and tonic when i’m finished!

What would your ultimate rider be if you could have anything without being accused of being a diva?

I honestly think my rider would be an extra hour to get ready so i could have a nap!!! How lame does that make me sound!

If we were to browse your music library what is the most embarrassing song we might find? Or who is your guilty pleasure artist?

See, i don’t easily get embarrassed and i fully embrace my insane music taste but i think that says more about me than it does about anyone else! If i put my music on shuffle it can be anything from musical theatre, rock, soul, country to russian pop music and grime!

Tell us one thing your fans would be really shocked or surprised to hear or learn about you

I think i’m a pretty open book, but people may be surprised to find out that I co host a podcast with my friend called ‘Download Your Thoughts’ where we talk about anything from weird crushes to tarot readings and horoscopes!

If people want to check you out online where is the best place to go?

I am usually lurking on instagram or twitter (@clarecordell) and in both of my bio’s is a master link to all my stuff including links to my music on spotify/ apple etc

Finally, What does the future hold for you as an artist?

HOPEFULLY something that doesn’t involve having to livestream a concert from my bedroom!!

I would love to get out on tour, and i plan to do a bunch of festivals and pride gigs over the summer (providing we are allowed!)

I’ve also got a new single out on Friday 12th February 2021 so i will be promoting that for the foreseeable future!!!