Creaming Soda is out now!
Image: Supplied.
Newcomer Forest Claudette has burst onto the scene with his killer debut single, Creaming Soda. We caught up with the musician to chat about the release, his artistry and so much more!
Introducing us to his dynamic fusion of RNB, pop, hip-hip and rap, the musician presents a mesmerising sonic palette that launches with atmospheric production before building to a textural chorus. Claudette's vocals meander through steady flows and soaring falsettos, as he navigates his own internal pressures and expectations.
Could you tell us a bit about your background in music and what led you to pursuing a career in music?
I mean I come from a very musical family, both of my parents have played classical music professionally. For me and my older brothers that meant learning stringed instruments growing up; so music has always been something I participated in and was drawn to at an early age. When I started seventh grade I was given permission to learn guitar and at the same time my middle brother had joined a band coming out of out of high school. Over the next few years I was slowly exposed to different parts of the contemporary music scene. By the time I was 16 I started getting a pretty strong feeling that music would be what I do.
Congratulations on the release of your debut single Creaming Soda! The song explores the internal expectations we place upon ourselves and the pressure that forms under that. What prompted this thematic exploration?
It’s really just what I was experiencing at the time. It’s funny that even now parts of the song really resonate with me. It was the beginning of my career in a lot of ways. I had gotten some interest from labels and conversations quickly became more serious, leaving me wondering whether or not I was cut out for it all.
How important was it for you to share this story within your music and create something authentic and relatable?
Very important I think. More often than not my music comes from a place of vulnerability, and my subjective truth on a matter. To see and hear people connect with ideas that I’ve been mulling over is pretty special, although I think that mindset holds me back sometimes. There have been moments where I felt the creativity in a room dissipate cause I got too bogged down in the idea that every little word has to be steeped with meaning and nuance.
The song effortlessly weaves together threads of RNB, hip-hip and rap infused sounds. How did you arrive at the sonic realm Creaming Soda exists within, and is this an avenue you’ll continue to build upon in your future releases?
I think the sonics in Creaming Soda are ones I’ve become quite comfortable with. Growing up I was around so many different types of music and was given time to fall in love with many of them. I’m attracted to the in-between spaces that artists before me have carved out. The fusions between Indie Pop, RnB, Hip Hop and Rap open endless possibilities. I love being able to hop between them all and there’s always new ways to combine them and room to sprinkle in other influences.
What’s one line from the song you find at times can be stuck in your head, or one that you’re most proud of?
The part that I find gets stuck in my head is the pre-chorus. I love how that part doesn’t rhyme. It’s just “lose” both times, though to me it never feels like it. My favourite line is in the second verse “I was freaking out because I seen it happening in my dreams, like what if I can’t complete”. It just sums up the turmoil so well, the idea of losing confidence or feeling worried about the fact that you feel confident. Haha, there’s no winning.
The song is accompanied by a stunning visual! How involved are you in terms of conceptualizing the visuals and how did the clip develop from its initial ideas to what we see today?
I’m so stoked with how the visuals have turned out. As far as my involvement, I was lucky enough to work closely with Jeremy (Grey Ghost) to create the major concepts and themes of the video. It was such an awesome experience deep diving into the song and my intent behind it and what we actually wanted people to take away from it. Pretty much from that initial meeting we had the rough scenes you see in the video.
How important is building a visual identity for your music to you?
I’d say it’s important to me on the level of self-expression and maybe touching on representation but I do like the idea that while I use visual associations and references when I’m writing, I really hope my music is able to adapt and is maybe somewhat versatile. Ideally I want it to be something that allows people their own experience even though sometimes what I’m talking about is quite specific.
When it comes to songwriting, do you have a particular process during sessions or does each song take on its own form?
To some extent every song is different and so I think it’s fair to say each session is the same. At this point I’ve definitely got some tactics, especially when it comes to co-writing. I try to bring in some lyrics and or half hooks that could be fleshed out. It’s very different when I’m writing by myself because it’s usually more spontaneous and so the process can be random.
What do you have in store for the rest of 2022?
Great question - I’m actually not sure what I’m allowed to say but definitely more music and if I’m lucky some performances.
Creaming Soda is out now!