Album Reviews: Clairo – Immunity
Album Reviews: Clairo – Immunity
Post Author: Nick Breton
RECAP:
I decided to do a full album review since I had a hand in recording six out of the eleven records on Immunity. I listened to the whole album from top to bottom and did a live stream listening on the Truth Studios Instagram at Midnight.
1. Alewife – Written and recorded by Clairo here at Truth Studios, recorded by Recording Engineer Nick Breton (me ;) ). I watched this song come to life from a simple guitar loop Clairo write. She was playing around on the studio Telecaster and write the chord progression. I handed her a Shure SM57 microphone in the control room and turned all the lights off besides one candle. Clairo wrote the whole song out and recorded it from top to bottom in four or five live full song takes. It was extremely simple and very, VERY beautiful. The original demo has a completely different feel to it as it was just her singing to the guitar part she played.
It always takes time to adjust to new versions of songs, especially versions songs you listen to so many times after you’ve just made them (demos at different stages). I do this often with songs that come to the studio and these songs were exceptional right from the first cut.
The big drums, synth pads and fat low end all add a really beautiful soundscape opposing her dark and sad feeling performance. The heavy guitar at 2:35 really drives home a resonating feeling you can get lost in and the final soft synth at the end gives you another little piece of sweetness. The harmonics in the synth pad also give you an out of this world like resonance to zone out to. Beautiful sound design, sound selection and writing.
Powerful opening track!
2. Impossible – Created at another studio, no insight on the making of here.
3. Closer To You – Created at another studio, no insight on the making of here.
I always loved this song, she had a demo/early version of this song when we first met. I asked her for a copy of it because I was so in love with it. The chorus sounds fucking huge and magical to me. I’m a big fan of the vocoder-chord texture and it came out really pretty here. She writes very gorgeous chords with her harmony layers. I don’t know how it went for this song but with our recordings she generally had them just about instantly and recorded them in one or two takes.
4. North – Written and recorded by Clairo here at Truth Studios, recorded by Recording Engineer Nick Breton (me ;) ). Another one I watched come to life from the ether. Clairo, Peter Cottontale and I cracked this one off. I believe the huge distorted guitar at 2:43 is just mixed to feel more synth like. She also write a nice counter melody on guitar for that section. It sounds a bit different from the original demo (obviously) after having it mixed and mastered. Since I’m one of the few people that will ever hear it in other stages it’s hard to say why a comparison of them is necessary.
I really like this song, I get an emotional connection when I listen to it which shows I feel it on more than a surface level. Couldn’t be happier with how it turned out in the end!
5. Bags – Written and recorded by Clairo here at Truth Studios, recorded by Recording Engineer Nick Breton (me ;) ). This song felt really powerful from the first recording. Another one started on the Tele/Twin combo. I was messing around with the Amp as Clairo was playing and the initial sound for Bags was born. She played the guitar and we looped it for her to write to. As she was writing I started to put drums to the guitar loop. The original drums were the core of the production but in the final version they’ve been BEEFED up. They sound HUGE, I’m sure more drums were layed over mine but the pattern is still the same. Claro also played our upright piano that you hear starting at 2:30 on the song. It’s got a very 90s/early 2000s feel to it – overall simple but the pieces all complete a really beautiful puzzle. The guitars and extra layers on the end bring it into modern time along with all of Rostam/Clairo’s additional production.
Her writing is really strong- period. No fluff on these songs, they cut right to the chase and they’re cleverly written.
6. Softly – Created at another studio, we recorded the kids Choir at the end of this one here. Recording Engineer Nick Breton (me again ;) ). This song was also another favorite when she played it for me. I love the feelings from all the instruments as well as her melodies and lyrics. The kids choir at the end is impossible not to love. Hearing them brings me back to the day we recorded them – go back in the blog history for those sessions.. What a crazy time that was at the studio.
7. Sofia – Created at another studio, no insight on the making of here. It was a strong contender for the single as the album was coming together in early stages. I had a bias for Bags because we made it from scratch and there’s always an extra layer of connection there. It’s a great bop, the speed is a bit faster so it’s fun to dance and move around to it. I like the time signature and pace from the high hats. I get a bit lost in the heavy distortion around 1:50 but these guys are living in 2050. Just a difference of taste / preference on choices like that. Other than that this one is really great!
8. White Flag – Written and recorded by Clairo here at Truth Studios, recorded by Recording Engineer Nick Breton (me ;) ). Created in the same set of sessions we made Bags, Alewife & Sinking. I believe we had another 4 or 5 day block of sessions that created all of these songs from scratch. The tele/twin pair with an SM57 got the base of this guitar loop down. Writing to the guitar part Clairo recorded her full vocal takes (per usual) and we had the full song in a handful of recordings. We didn’t comp (I didn’t at least) so all of these were just the best takes out of the full recordings.
The additional production brings this song to life like you wouldn’t believe. I feel attached to the charm of the simple demo but hearing it at this stage really knocks you over. The different textures and tones that come into this song drive home another bed of music to zone out to.
9. Feel Something – Created at another studio, no insight on the making of here.
10. Sinking – Written and recorded by Clairo here at Truth Studios, recorded by Recording Engineer Nick Breton (me ;) ).
11. I wouldn’t Ask – Written and recorded by Clairo here at Truth Studios, recorded by Recording Engineer Nick Breton (me ;) ).
I’m sure there are a number of errors but it’s 1:40am and I’m spent! I have to wake up early but I’ll update for the last two songs because they’re really special!
TRUTH STUDIOS PROFILE:
Truth Studios is a boutique recording studio located in the Fairfax district of Hollywood, California. The studio started in the bedroom of studio owner Nick Breton’s apartment making music with local Los Angeles buzzing artists. We have since grown into a beautiful loft where the studio currently operates. Truth offers studio rental, recording, mixing and mastering services to independent and major label clients from every corner of the globe.
Truth Studios is affiliated with acts such as Chance The Rapper, James Blake, Vic Mensa, Joey Bada$$, Boi 1da, Macy Gray, Mr Hudson, Walk The Moon, Martin Garrix, Dom Kennedy, Asher Roth, Chuck Inglish, Alina Baraz, Anatii, Smino, Clairo and hundreds of other artists. This studio has become a landmark icon in Los Angeles and the music community worldwide.
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
I decided to do a full album review since I had a hand in recording six out of the eleven records on Immunity. I listened to the whole album from top to bottom and did a live stream listening on the Truth Studios Instagram at Midnight.