Unlocking the Magic of Clairo’s Charm
design: Revati Mahurkar
An album that lives up to its name.
by NEVIN MAHONEY ★ JULY 28, 2024
Charm, Clairo’s third studio album, was released on July 12. From the 4EVER music video, documenting her time at Syracuse University, to being pulled on stage to sing Pretty Girl during Declan McKenna’s concert, Clairo has always been Syracuse’s sweetheart. Over the years, Clairo has cemented herself in the music scene as one of today’s most fascinating and unique artists. Now she’s back, choosing to gravitate away from bedroom pop and towards a softer rock sound reminiscent of the seventies. After all, the third time’s the charm.
The first single, “Sexy to Someone,” is about longing to be seen as attractive. This is a song I can totally see playing in the background of a romcom when two strangers’ eyes meet at a bar. Clairo’s wanting to be seen as “sexy to somebody” as a way to escape her boring daily routine is so relatable it hurts.
The album’s opener, “Nomad,” is an exploration of the struggle to find a balance between seeking a connection with someone and avoiding emotional pain. It sets the tone for the album, inviting listeners to dive into the journey Clairo has created.
“Add Up My Love” is one of my favorites off the album; the song captures a sense of longing and unanswered questions that come with the ending of a relationship. Clairo explains to The New Yorker that there is an “energy that you’re constantly pumping out and experiencing through each person you date…[and] it completely takes over.” It is a perfect metaphor for what it’s like to date in your twenties and addresses the complexities of questioning if you were ever enough for someone.
“Juna” is a fan favorite and has birthed a TikTok trend that shows to be loved is to be known.
The song captures the new, exciting feelings of a blossoming relationship — “I don't have to think / With you, there’s no pretending.” The groovy beat and giddy vocals make it sound like a dream, and make it easy to fall in love. Of course, who wouldn’t want to hear Clairo’s rendition of the mouth trumpet?
Charm is proof that Clairo is here to stay and is the perfect album for walking around campus on a snowy day. This album sounds like having a heart-to-heart with your best friend and is ideal for late-night car rides, quiet moments alone, and journaling. I’ll be listening to this album for the rest of the summer, and probably the rest of my teenage years.