"The Queen You Become" is the lead single by indie singer/songwriter Clara Thompson from her upcoming album also called "The Queen You Become". Only 19, Thompson burst onto the music scene last year with an EP called "Colors" which was mildly successful and spawned the single "Take Take Take". The EP was largely about Clara's love life except the title track which focused more on personal dreams and aspirations. With a very colorful personality as always, Thompson seems to be going in a new direction both lyrically and sonically. The acoustic guitar is absent from the single, and the single itself is a rejection of traditional relationships and gender roles rather than a lament about the toils of young love.

INTERVIEW



Where did the inspiration for this song come from?
This song really just came from my experiences and my outlook on life. I have known lots of women who are in abusive relationships or who just date guys who are assholes. I've done it as well. I just decided I was tired of feeling defined by the men I knew and I wanted to be defined by myself. I wanted other women to also have a song in their lives that inspired this. So I guess the inspiration just came from within me.

So would you call yourself a feminist?
Oh definitely. I always have agreed with feminist ideals, but I guess it wasn't until this past year that I really became passionate about them to the point where I personally took action and began writing songs about inequality or double standards.

So are there a lot of songs on your album about inequality and double standards? Or is it mostly this one?
Not every song is about broad like this single is, though there are certainly several songs explicitly about similar social issues. Some are more personal though about my struggles whether about being taken seriously for who I am, or being in relationships that didn't function. But yes a fair amount of the songs are about that. There aren't many traditional love songs or even breakup songs.

So what kind of album would you describe this as, lyrically first.
I'd say it is a coming of age album. It is about coming in to your own in many different ways. Maybe thats coming into your own in a relationship where you certainly love the person youre with but you dont define yourself through them. Or maybe its realizing where you belong in the world and just what makes you happy. Or maybe its coming of age in the sense that you realize you aren't happy the way you are and you have to change that.

So then The Queen You Become is essentially saying that you are coming of age to become a queen? Or am I way off on interpreting your title?
No, you're essentially right. The title means that everyone can become royalty in their own way. The queen for me is someone who rules herself who doesn't let anyone male or female or even anything like greed or the opinions of others rule her. I think the coming of age is realizing this and then becoming a queen. And also to be clear men can totally rule themselves too, its just that I am a woman and I really want to speak to women on this album. Thats why I say queen and not royalty. Also I think "the Royalty You Become" doesn't sing as well. Haha.

Moving on. Musically this single has a very indie-pop almost dance feel to it. So I guess all your fans are wondering what happened to the acoustic guitar?
Haha. Oh its still there. Its on the album absolutely just not in this song.

So is the album still very alternative sounding like the EP or is it more pop?
there is more pop sounding tracks on the album, but with that said its not like I'm making a Suzie album. I dont have the tits or the ass for that anyway. The album has some more contemporary sounding songs but it is still very me. I guess people say I'm 'quirky and different' and I guess they could be right so this album stays true to that. And there are certainly some more acoustic and alternative songs.

When will the album be out?
No official date yet, unfortunately. But before the end of March. Hopefully soon.

Avil Hartman produced this album. What is it like working with him? And are there any other producers on the album?
He's honestly brilliant. He is great at what he does and he produced every kind of song I wanted. He actually co-wrote a few of the songs. We kind of just locked ourselves in the studio for a week with just a bunch of food and some of our favorite albums for inspiration and thats when most of this album was recorded. hes the only producer for the album.

Can we expect to see you on tour this year?
Yes of course. I'd love to do The No Venues Tour. Hint hint wink wink. I also will be supporting Riot! in the Boulevard on their tour. Maybe if people actually go out and buy my album I could do a headlining tour this year, but right now were working on just releasing the album.




//Lyrics\\
The lyrics for "The Queen You Become" are about being tired. Tired of being abused or suppressed or tired of being used or depressed. Clara is definitely talking about being tired of dysfunctional relationships at times, but hey verses can apply to the poor, depressed, or any group that feels discriminated against. Her purpose is certainly to inspire hope and joy as she encourages her audience to "Bring your tired eyes/Bring your worn out smiles/To the sun with me". Beyond this she is speaking very specifically to women who are tired of feeling as if they need a man or that men never treat them well as she rhymes "And the men we've known will never bring us down" with "And the queen you become will have hew own crown".

Hoo-oo oh oh oh
Hoo-oo oh oh oh
Hoo-oo oh oh oh
Hoo-oo oh oh oh

Bring your tired eyes
Bring your worn out smiles
To the sun with me
Where we can glow-wow-wow
This wont come as a surprise
But you've traveled for miles
Through a troubling sea
But now you know-wow-wow

Sing this song with me
And we can be united forever
And the men we've known will never bring us down
Don't be afraid; learn to be free
It'll make you feel better
And the queen you become will have hew own crown

Forget the nights you've cried
Forget the things you're told
Sure you carry pain
But let it go-wow-wow
Because you've tried and tried
To fit the world's mold
One that can't explain
Why progress is so slow-wow-wow

Sing this song with me
And we can be united forever
And the men we've known will never bring us down
Don't be afraid; learn to be free
It'll make you feel better
And the queen you become will have hew own crown

In your home for life (oh oh)
Where you never want to be (oh oh)
You just want to be free (oh oh)
You want to know-wow-wow
Why your heart wont mend (oh oh)
Why your love is gone (oh oh)
But you can sing with me. (oh oh)
And we can glow-wow-wow

Sing this song with me
And we can be united forever
And the men we've known will never bring us down
Don't be afraid; learn to be free
It'll make you feel better
And the queen you become will have hew own crown

Hoo-oo oh oh oh
Hoo-oo oh oh oh
Hoo-oo oh oh oh
Hoo-oo oh oh oh

//Music\\
Echoy and ambient, Clara's high voice sings the hoo-oo oh intro of the song over a soft synth pad backdrop. Clap clap clap clap; the percussion claps its way in to the song as the smooth synth builds up to a mild volume. This is when the bass slides its way in synchronized with sweet sounding tom drums and generous bass drum as the clapping relents. A cooly distorted version of the "oh" plays lighly in the atmosphere. Chipper 1980s sounding synth chords bounce in time with an addicting snare and danceable bass drum as Clara begins the verse singing with poise in a clear voice. Smiling lead pads spring in and out of the atmosphere. The first verse slides up in a quick run on the drums and pads. The lead synthesizer pads echo in and out as the chorus starts while soft chords play under them. A fun mid tempo beat, the kind perfect for a long car ride or a dance where you can either slow dance or go crazy, plays as well. Clara's voice is at its cleanest as she sings an uplifting melody in the middle of her vocal range. For the next verse a mildly hypnotic tremolo lead synth joins in, but no other variations are made before the second addicting chorus. For the bridge, the noise fades down to soft chords again. Some ambient noise chos coly in and out over quiet "Oh" sounds, but Clara's calm voice is highlighted. A clap here and there. tss tss of the hi-hat. But it is all temporary before the sing along chorus and loud danceable outro as the "Hoo-oo oh oh oh" returns over an orchestra of synthesized glory.