Clare Twiddy is an independent recording artist and producer who made her solo professional recording debut in 2021 with the single “New Devastation”. Prior to going solo, the Canadian musician made a name for herself as the lead singer of the popular indie band Raincity. During her tenure on the mic, the band toured throughout North America and shared the stage with acts like Our Lady Peace, Bif Naked, Too Many Zooz, Five Alarm Funk and many more.
Since going solo, Clare Twiddy’s star continues to rise. She has released a string of successful singles, received a two-year sync placement with Volkswagen China, and was a semifinalist in a Song of the Year contest judged by the likes of Dave Grohl, Gwen Stefani, and Alicia Keys. She is a dancer, painter, and videographer who uses her art as a platform for her advocacy of mental health, self love, and the freedom of expression.
NOPE is the debut full-length album from Clare Twiddy, released worldwide via all major streaming services on September 29, 2023. The nine-song collection features all of the singer’s previously released singles, as well as three new tracks. Throughout the set, the singer takes listeners on a raw, soulful, and genre-bending ride.
The record opens with the deep sawtooth bass and dark pop ambience of “Poison”, a bluesy tale of a toxic lover. Clare Twiddy dives deeper into that marriage of soul and electronics on tracks like “New Devastation” and the wobbly-bass dubstep-infused “Insincere”. She stirs a bit of hip-hop into the sauce on “Business”, with its rhythmic verses, old-school beat, and boss attitude.
“My Kind of W3Ird” is a fun groove that brings to mind some classic P-Funk weirdness. “Like Water” continues the funk experimentation, with a chilled syncopated groove and a hint of Prince-style Minneapolis keys.
The album closes on a trio of downtempo psychological meditations. From the haunting vocal and trip-hop vibes of “Tethered Down”, to the creeping electro-soul of “The Enemy”, Clare Twiddy sets an ominous tone. Through these genre-explorations, Clare Twiddy weaves soulful leads and angelic harmonies with the cerebral pop sensibilities of groundbreaking modern artists like Christine and the Queens, and the blues-infused soul of fellow Canadian Alannah Myles.
Check out the video for “The Enemy” below. You can also hear the song on the Deep Dive : Pop & Rock playlist, or listen to the entire album on your favorite streaming service. Follow the links below to connect with Clare Twiddy.
“The Enemy is about facing my inner demons and surrounding them with love. I learned a lot throughout the process of writing, recording, and releasing this song. I went from feeling like “the enemy” was outside of me and outside of my control, to then it feeling like it was an inner enemy or something I could work at slowly. These days I feel like there aren’t any inner demons, just loving teachers. I’m grateful for my inner demons and the lessons they give me. They aren’t so loud when I listen.”
– Clare Twiddy