I’m Clare, a composer, singer, accordionist and keen gardener.
I first met Kaz (Seed SistA) back in the 90’s as an activist, attempting to protect the British countryside from being torn up by road building. I lived in my van, the dashboard usually cluttered with drying racks (elder, nettles, coltsfoot, wild lettuce…), while outside sage and thyme fought for space amongst the tomatoes and lettuces in the pots.
My Saturn Return took me to Catalunya in the search of music and a community where I could cultivate. I found both immediately – Can Masdeu, in the forest on the outskirts of Barcelona, and Gadjo, the band that I fronted for nearly 20 years. I wrote songs about veg gardens, (Charlotte’s Plot), squatting (Our Gaff) and of course, love (Fish).
Next stop: maturity
Cut to almost 20 years later, the perimenopause, and < Boom! > all change!
I moved to a tiny village, got myself an allotment and found two musicians to accompany me on my new musical journey – Clare and the NoisE. (“nois” means boys in Catalan).
My music became more personal and introspective. Most of these songs came to me on the long track going down to the garden, (Ram Dam), walking in nature, (Get High) or being by the sea (Learning to Float). Through them I processed my stuff. The rage was transformed and the broken heart was held.
Songwriting is incredibly cathartic and quite a magical process. The songs come to me when I open up a channel and literally ‘tune in’, and connect to mySelf and my environment. I provide the pen and paper, and the tune and words come through.(Something that unfortunately doesn’t happen when I need to write ABOUT the songs!)
However, starting a new project as a female musician at 45 years in a music business that’s only interested in image, sex appeal and Instagram followers isn’t easy. I battled with the voices of fear telling me, “You’re too old for this sort of thing, it’s about time you settled down etc…” Soon my creativity was pushed into a dark corner, and I felt lost and disempowered. In fact, I was on the point of giving up music altogether.
The turnaround came with the song Young Witch Pleasure Party.
It was the impulse to reinvent myself and to challenge the mental and social constraints that filled me with insecurities. It’s an invocation to my inner Goddesses of poetry, witchcraft, sex and love to liberate themselves and celebrate their power and creativity, and it’s a dedication to all the Goddesses out there to do the same.
As an unsigned, independent musician it’s very difficult to get airplay or paid gigs. Big corporations have taken over the music industry and the festivals, and they book the bands that they manage. It’s all stitched up. It’s a constant struggle to get the music out there, which is why I was so grateful (and honoured!) when Karen suggested I write something for the blog. I’m a big fan of the Seed SistAs and I think this type of collaboration is a wonderful idea.
Thank you SistAs for your good work and generosity, and thank you all for reading!
How to Support an Independent Musician
– Buy their album! (the physical copy or through Bandcamp)
– Share their music with your circles of friends and family
– Put their music on your Spotify playlists
– Follow them on social media
Music and Muses Links
So here it is! Enjoy!!
Bandcamp:
https://clareandthenoise.bandcamp.com/
Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/clare-and-the-noise
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/artist/1Xr5DIufnxy1rxB4hTLxch?si=TYHHz6ZNSsWZuIDqPFJSnQ
Videos:
https://www.instagram.com/clare_and_the_noise/
https://www.facebook.com/ClareandtheNoisE/
Clare Baker has been an activist, actress, circus performer, choir leader, community garden coordinator, busker, touring musician, and teacher. She is currently living in Catalonia, and will soon be studying for a Masters in Music Therapy.
