Clairo’s Syracuse year was a time of mutual inspiration
Clairo's year at SU inspired creativity
For a 2021 Rolling Stone profile, music and culture editor Angie Martoccio spent time with Claire Cottrill, 23, professionally known as Clairo. That summer, Clairo had just bought property in Massachusetts and was on the brink of releasing her album Sling. The past four years have been a whirlwind for the Atlanta-born singer-songwriter. She first gained fame from a viral YouTube video, becoming an innovator of bedroom pop. Now, after releasing music and touring the country, she collaborates with artists like Lorde and Jack Antonoff. This spring, Clairo’s Sling sees her crossing the United States. And this summer, she’ll kick off another tour that includes major musical events such as the Governors Ball in New York City and Glastonbury Festival in England.
But how did she get there? One stepping stone in Clairo’s journey was her time in the Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries at Syracuse University, under the direction of program director Bill Werde. Arriving at school in 2017, just after the release of her viral video, “Pretty Girl,” Clairo spent her freshman year at Syracuse before leaving to focus on her music full time. Nevertheless, many of her early songs and videos reference SU and its special music community.