Claire Rousay

Claire Rousay
Claire Rousay in 2023
Background information
BornWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Genres
Labels
Websiteclairerousay.com Edit this at Wikidata

Claire Rousay (styled as claire rousay[1][2]) is a Canadian-American experimental musician and composer based in Los Angeles.[3] Rousay, who is currently signed with Thrill Jockey, is known for using field recordings to create musique concrète pieces.

Early life

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Rousay was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and moved to San Antonio, Texas, with her family when she was ten years old.[4] Rousay's interest in music began at the age of three when she began piano lessons with her mother, a professional pianist.[5] Rousay grew up in an Evangelical Christian household and played drums during church events until she distanced herself from Christianity. She dropped out of high school at the age of 15 and became a solo percussionist.[6]

Career

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In 2020, Rousay released the album It Was Always Worth It via Longform Editions.[7]

In 2021, she released A Softer Focus via American Dreams.[8] The album was a collaboration with San Antonio-based visual artist Dani Toral, who first met Rousay in middle school.[6]

Rousay has also collaborated with her best friend and fellow Texas-based experimental musician Mari Maurice, who performs under the name More Eaze.[9][10] They have released two collaborative albums together, An Afternoon Whine in 2021 and Never Stop Texting Me in 2022.[11][12]

In 2023, Rousay signed with American record label Thrill Jockey and released the album Sentiment in April 2024.[13][14]

Musical style

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Rousay uses a Zoom H5 Handy Recorder to record everyday sounds and uses them to create musique concrète pieces. Her music has been described as experimental and "emo ambient".[6][15]

Personal life

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Rousay, who moved from San Antonio to Los Angeles in 2022, still maintains her Canadian citizenship.[3][16] She hosts a weekly online show on NTS Radio.[17]

In 2019, Rousay came out as a trans woman.[4] The proceeds of her 2022 album Wouldn't Have to Hurt were donated to The Trevor Project.[18] She also has a dog named Banana.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Hanratty, Aidan (April 8, 2021). "Interview: claire rousay". Truants. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "claire rousay on the power of creating sounds every day". Spitfire Audio. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Sauers, Camille (August 12, 2022). "San Antonio 'emo-ambient artist' reflects on new EP, car accident". MySA. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Power, Ed (April 18, 2022). "Claire Rousay: 'Touring as a woman, if you don't protect yourself no one will'". The Irish Times. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  5. ^ Parker, Bryan (September 7, 2021). "Claire Rousay and Mari Maurice's Experimental Pop Is Sublimely Chaotic". Austin Monthly. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d Pelly, Jenn (May 3, 2021). "From Claire Rousay, Field Recordings for a Modern World". The New York Times Style Magazine. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  7. ^ Williger, Jonathan (January 5, 2021). "claire rousay: it was always worth it". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Arcand, Rob (April 21, 2021). "claire rousay: a softer focus". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  9. ^ Williger, Jonathan (April 21, 2022). "claire rousay transforms the mundane into sonic abundance". NPR. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  10. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (March 1, 2022). "claire rousay and more eaze: On Friendship". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  11. ^ Bromfield, Daniel (July 27, 2021). "claire rousay / more eaze: an afternoon whine". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Zhang, Cat (February 11, 2022). "claire rousay / more eaze: never stop texting me". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  13. ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (October 18, 2023). "Claire Rousay Signs to Thrill Jockey, Announces Fall Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Deville, Chris (November 3, 2023). "Claire Rousay Shares "i no longer have that glowing thing inside of me": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  15. ^ Amin, Tayyab (April 22, 2022). "Claire Rousay: Everything Perfect Is Already Here review – everyday sounds that tug at the heartstrings". The Guardian. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  16. ^ Rose, Brad (November 22, 2021). "claire rousay is not a bad person". Foxy Digitalis. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  17. ^ "Mended Dreams w/ Claire Rousay". NTS.com. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  18. ^ Moreland, Quinn (September 15, 2022). "Claire Rousay Releases New Album to Benefit the Trevor Project". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
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