Clairo
Famous BisClaire Elizabeth Cottrill, known professionally as Clairo, is an American indie pop singer and songwriter.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Carlisle, Massachusetts, Clairo began recording covers on her laptop at age 13, starting with a Maroon 5 song. During high school, she got used to uploading covers, original songs, and rap DJ mixes to SoundCloud.
In 2014, she self-released her first EP Do U Wanna Fall in Love? after sharing several home recordings and continuing to gather a small online following. Her music career took off in late 2017 when the video she uploaded for her song “Pretty Girl” (2015) went viral on YouTube. The bedroom lo-fi pop anthem and charmingly self-produced music video resonated with millions.
The success of “Pretty Girl” led to interest from major labels, and Clairo signed with The FADER magazine’s associated record label. In 2018, she released her first studio EP, Diary 001, which allowed her to embark on her first North American tour and open for Dua Lipa on select dates. She performed at Lollapalooza in 2018 and the next year she performed for the first time at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Her debut album, Immunity (2019), was a commercial success, earning her several accolades. Apple Music named Clairo an Up Next artist, and she won the Pop Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year awards at the 2019 Boston Music Awards. Immunity showcased her talent blending dreamy pop melodies with deeply personal lyrics, consolidating her devoted fan base. With Immunity, Clairo began opening up about her queerness, subtly reflecting on her ongoing journey of self-discovery.
Sling (2021), her next full-length release, was praised for its artistic progression and thoughtful exploration of themes like future motherhood, domesticity, and caregiving. In 2024, her third album and first self-release, Charm, received widespread critical acclaim, with critics highlighting its jazz-inspired production, sophisticated songwriting, and Clairo’s overall musical growth. Charm earned Clairo’s first Grammy nomination under Best Alternative Music Album.
In 2018, Clairo came out as bi in a tweet featuring a wordplay on her song “B.O.M.D.” (Boy of My Dreams), saying it could also be “G.O.M.D.” (Girl of My Dreams).
In an interview with them magazine, she described how meeting openly LGBT friends in college gave her the confidence to embrace her sexuality. She recalled meeting her best friends by casually speaking about herself as if she’d already come out and how her journey toward self-acceptance has profoundly influenced her music:
Now that I’ve talked about my sexuality out loud, I’ve allowed myself to be myself instead of pushing it away. It has made me feel a lot more calm and at peace. I feel like my writing is better because I am coming from real experiences […] on my record, I have songs that are just completely unapologetically celebrating my sexuality.
Throughout her career, Clairo has used her platform to advocate for social justice, supporting causes like LGBT rights and reproductive freedom. She’s been vocal about the importance of creating safe spaces for young people exploring their identities:
All I want is to provide my fans, especially if they’re dealing with their sexuality or mental health, with a positive space: a place for them to feel like they can do anything […] I want to inspire my fans to really embrace who they are.
With her openness about her journey as a bi artist and her fearless approach to music, Clairo continues to inspire a generation seeking to embrace their true selves.