Exclusive Video Premiere: ‘Games (One Mic, One Take),’ Claire

ABOVE: CLAIRE. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTOPH SCHALLER

Generally after listening to the band Claire, we find ourselves in a swinging, upbeat mood—you know, the mood you always seem to be in when listening to electro- and synth- pop. But after listening to their One Mic, One Take raw recording of “Games,” we found ourselves hitting repeat for entirely different reasons. This exclusive studio version engenders an entirely different response. It is placid, harmonious, and calming, yet invigorating and catchy without trying. Here we are pleased to debut the recording that left us slowly weaving our heads back and forth while singing along as if our voices harmonized perfectly.

Munich-based musicians Josie Claire Bürkle (vocals), Florian Kiermaier (guitar), Fidolin Achten (drums), Matthias Hauck (synths), and Nepomuk Heller (synths) originally joined together for a one-track collaboration in early 2012. However, producing that track, which was for a friend’s film project, quickly led to months of studio sessions and the formation of Claire. By summer 2013, Claire released an EP, and in September, the five-piece released its debut LP, Broken Promise Land.

The One Mic, One Take video is a simple studio recording that conveys a deep sense of emotion. It’s as though you’re standing in the studio, glimpsing into Bürkle’s mind as she sings “I’m just a ghost in your eyes, like I’m never really there.” The band’s genuine passion radiates through their meditative statures, rhythm, and interaction. They sit statically in a semi-circle, but the energy is synergetic, bouncing from one member to another as they build a musical tension that dissolves into a single guitar strum. If you happened to miss Claire last fall at CMJ, be on the lookout for upcoming shows in places like London, Potsdam, Düsseldorf, and Munich.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CLAIRE, PLEASE VISIT THE BAND’S WEBSITE.