If you’ve not yet heard of up-and-coming singer songwriter Clara
Bond, I’m making it my job to change just that. I caught up with the 23 year
old Devon native after her incredible few sets at Country 2 Country 2017 to
discuss playing to big crowds, John Mayer, new EPs and more!
Ciara’s Country (CC): First of all, could you introduce
yourself to us? A fun fact that no one knows about you would be an added bonus
too!
Clara Bond (CB): Hi everyone, my name
is Clara and I've failed my driving test 4 times. I think it's 4. It could be 5
and I've just lost count. Still going though!
CC: So this was your first year at C2C – how did you find
the festival?
CB: Ah it was just amazing. Obviously
performing was the best feeling ever, but on top of that, the whole atmosphere
was so great and everyone is so lovely. I mean it! Not just the audience but
the acts are so lovely too! No divas! Everyone who was working backstage was in
such a good mood too because all the acts were so nice to work with. I laughed
so much over that festival that I had smile creases in my makeup!
CC: I caught you playing to a massive crowd in the Town
Square and heard you pulled big audiences every time you were playing – what
was that like?
CB: It was pretty mind blowing. It's
just the best feeling to be welcomed by such a large amount of people that are
so committed to country music. I saw someone in the audience singing my songs
back to me and was so taken aback I nearly forgot the lyrics. I can't take all
the credit though, my band are phenomenal. It's an incredible thing to be able
to share that experience with 4 of your best friends.
CC: Being a big John Mayer fan, I loved your cover
of Love On The Weekend – how did you decide that that would be
a good song to countrify?
CB: Oh John. Sweet, sweet John. I heard
that song for the first time through my phone speakers at about 4am after a
drink or 3 and immediately picked up my guitar and started playing along to it.
Sometimes a song just hits you and you immediately love it after one listen. I
knew it would sound great countrified because it's quite guitar lead and is a
great story. At the end of the day, country music is all about telling stories
through great melodies and hooks.
CC: So you’re out supporting your Out of
Towners EP – can you tell me a bit about the creative process behind
your songwriting?
CB: I have these little Kate Spade
notebooks that I write my songs in. I usually have an idea running around my
head for a couple of days before I actually sit down to start turning it into a
song. I always start writing on a guitar and I just play with the melodies
until I get something strong enough that I still remember it when I get up to
make a cup of tea.
CC: Is there a song that’s been particularly interesting for
you to write?
CB: Love Can't Stay was the most
complex one I've ever written. I started writing it on the flight from Austin
to Seattle and it's about the guy I was visiting in Austin. I had so much to
say that I didn't want to waste a single word. I was always changing the
lyrics. I found it so hard to settle on it as I needed to use that song to
create my own closure as I never got any from him. I wanted that song to be the
only song I ever had to write about him. I rewrote the second verse in front of
the mic as we recorded it. Nothing like last minute eh?
CC: You’ve got a lot of gigs lined up over the next few
months – what’s touring life like for you?
CB: Actually it's the best part of my
job. I get to travel around the country with my best friends playing music I
love to amazing people. The only problem is that I'm the smallest one in the
band so I always get the middle seat and it sucks! But obviously, I can't do
the driving.
CC: In terms of the country music genre as a whole, is there
one artist out there who you think is currently underrepresented and deserves
more recognition?
CB: Maren Morris. I saw her at C2C and
was blown away. She's so great and she's definitely created her own sound that
is uniquely hers. That's what every artist ultimately wants to achieve.
CC: And finally, (don’t think too much!) what’s one question
you wish you were asked in interviews, but never have been?
CB: I can't actually think of one!
It's more of a general thing, but I like it when people ask me about the lyrics
themselves. Like the meaning behind them or what my favourite lyric is.
CC: Can you answer that for me?
CB: I think my favourite lyrics are the
chorus of Love Can't Stay. The line "Too much time and space drifts a love
the wrong way, till the distance decides that Love Can't Stay" is probably
my favourite.
CC: That’s all my questions for now, thank you for taking
the time to answer them! I look forward to seeing you on tour soon!
If you enjoyed this interview, make sure you check
out Clara on Twitter @ClaraBondSongs, and stay tuned for future interviews by
following me @CiarasCountry!
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