Claire Cottrill, also known as Clairo, enchanted her audience like never before with her third album Charm. Her family’s musical history had a major influence on her early musical explorations when she first started her career. Clairo first gained attention in 2017 with her bedroom pop hit “Pretty Girl,’ a casual unpolished song that many people found to be very vulnerable and relatable. Her authenticity only caused her to grow from there when she released her first studio album Immunity in 2019, and her second studio album Sling in 2021. The release of Charm shows a new blend of her past, with a brand new whimsical twist.

A defining characteristic of Clairo’s songwriting is her ability to subtly and delicately express such

complicated emotions. Charm starts with the song “Nomad,” a dedication to the confusing emotional uncertainty that comes with a relationship. This song has a sense of fragility due to Clairo’s melancholy whisper-like approach to her singing.

The fifth track “Thank You” depicts the difficulty in moving on from someone when despite the challenges, helped shape the person formed today. In this song she thanked them for their time in a bittersweet understanding that they’ve both accepted to move forward from the past.

Getting influence from many famous artists and bands like the Beach Boys and Harry Nilsson, this album has a perfect balance of being bubbly yet serious. One song that greatly shows this influence is the most popular off the album, “Juna.” This song takes indie pop to the next level, incorporating hints of folk, soft rock, and electronic elements. With a Carole King-like melody, “Juna” provides a soothing, earthy quality that juxtaposes with the more modern production elements.

Finishing the album with “Pier 4,” Clairo found herself at the pier reminiscing tiny experiences she loathed upon capturing the entirety of her attention. This song is a perfect goodbye letter to Clairo’s cheesy adolescent self that Immunity captured so well. She painted the album's finale by portraying the desperate desire to be loved, but as a person so scared of being vulnerable.

What I love about Charm is how each one of the songs is another step in a journey of honesty, love, self-discovery, and growth. The vulnerability in her soft spoken voice really shines through, creating a deep emotional connection to the listener. This album is sure to captivate both longtime fans and new listeners from her intimate captivating lyrics, and ‘charming’ melodies.