Claudia: Finding her voice | Emerging artist claudia opens up about growth and finding her voice through her debut single ‘think twice’.
Releasing your first single and putting your music out into the world can be a daunting step. From knowing where to start, to finding the right people to collaborate with, building an image, and managing everything in between – it’s a lot to take on. But the moment people begin listening, and something you’ve worked on finally lands, it makes it all worthwhile. It’s a feeling many emerging artists experience when releasing their first record.
claudia is an emerging indie-folk pop singer-songwriter from Italy and Belgium, who grew up in London. She released her debut single ‘think twice’ in April – a warm, intimate track carried by soft instrumentation and honest vocals. It’s basically about thinking twice before you do something, because you never know what can hurt someone. Actions can be hurtful and you don’t even realise.”
The single has been a long time in the making, shaped by trial and persistence. She says: “I think I’ve had about five different people produce it; everyone’s super creative and they all come back with something completely different. But it’s just not what I’m envisioning at all.”
She found the right collaborator in Harvey Clarke, a multi-instrumentalist and producer whose approach aligned with her vision. Together, they reworked the track from a simple piano piece into a fuller band arrangement.
“I was looking for someone I could write with as well, because I appreciate their input. I think it’s always better to get someone else’s ideas – it makes it even better,” she says.
Like many artists starting out, claudia has taken on much of the process herself. From writing and recording to promotion and visuals. She explains: “I’ve been doing everything, from writing the song to contacting people and making a music video. I’m doing it all myself. It’s quite a lot of pressure, but it’s really satisfying when it goes well.”
Alongside that comes the challenge of confidence, especially when surrounded by other talented musicians: “I had really high expectations for my first release. I was too intimidated to actually release anything… because everyone is so incredible.”
Releasing ‘think twice’ has been as much about building confidence as it has been about the music itself. “It’s shown me that I can do it,” she says. After spending so long refining and second-guessing the track, taking that first step has made the idea of future releases feel more achievable.
“The next one is going to be a lot easier,” she adds. That shift is something she encourages other emerging artists to embrace too. “Stop overthinking so much about your art because it’s going to be subjective to every person out there … just start releasing.”
She also credits her time studying music for helping her reach this point. “BIMM has really helped me. I wouldn’t be where I am without being able to fully study it and write with other people. All those experiences are what make me an artist today.”
claudia is still at the start of her career, but one thing is clear – she wants her music to connect. Instead of spelling everything out, she writes in a way that leaves space for listeners to find their own meaning, hoping people can see themselves in the songs. “I just want people to relate,” she says. “Sometimes some of my songs can be quite specific, but a lot of my songs I also try to make quite open because then people can interpret them as they want. I just want to be someone they can relate to.”
That same feeling is what she hopes to bring into her first live show on 1 May. “I’m terrified… but I’m very, very excited,” she says. An intimate set is planned for her performance at The Folklore Rooms, which includes artists that inspire her such as Sarah Gower and Luke Balderstone.
As claudia takes this exciting first step, it reflects something wider, reinforcing that there’s always room for new artists to find their place in Brighton’s ever-growing music scene.
Socials: @itsclaudiaw
Email: itsclaudiaw@gmail.com
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