Clare Maguire
Smoky, cinematic pop led by a powerhouse contralto. It is the sound of late-night heartbreak wrapped in lush strings and piano. Perfect for brooding in the dark.
Smoky, cinematic pop led by a powerhouse contralto. It is the sound of late-night heartbreak wrapped in lush strings and piano. Perfect for brooding in the dark.
Clare Maguire possesses a voice that feels like it belongs to another era, a rich and heavy contralto that carries the weight of classic torch singers. Her music occupies a space between grand, cinematic pop and intimate, piano-led confessionals. It is deeply atmospheric, often feeling like the soundtrack to a modern film noir where the protagonist is lost in a city of shadows.
What sets her apart is the sheer texture of her vocal delivery. She moves from a hushed, smoky whisper to a resonant, floor-shaking belt with a vibrato that recalls the greats like Stevie Nicks or Annie Lennox. Her later work stripped away the glossy production of her debut, leaning into a raw, dusty aesthetic that highlights her songwriting's bruised honesty and classical soul influences.
Start with 'Stranger Things Have Happened' for her most authentic, stripped-back self, or 'Light After Dark' if you want to hear her voice soaring over massive, synth-driven orchestral arrangements. She is the ultimate companion for those moments when you need to sit with your own melancholy and find the beauty in it.
Clare Rita Mary Maguire (born 15 September 1988) is an English singer-songwriter. She was signed to Universal Music Group, Polydor Records in 2009. She was rated in fifth place in the BBC Sound of 2011 list of the top 15 most promising new artists. Maguire was also singled out as one of MTV's Brand New: For 2011 Acts. Her voice has been compared to Stevie Nicks and Annie Lennox. Maguire's debut album, Light After Dark, was released on 25 February 2011 peaking at number seven in the Official UK Top 40, and achieving the BPI Silver Sales Award in the UK. In 2016, she announced the forthcoming release of her second album Stranger Things Have Happened on 27 May with the song "Elizabeth Taylor". The album was released on Virgin Records.
Shares melancholic, brooding, vulnerable (moods); late night, rainy day, urban night (atmosphere)
Shares melancholic, brooding, vulnerable (moods); orchestral arrangement, studio polished, reverb heavy (production style)
Shares melancholic, brooding, bittersweet (moods); orchestral arrangement, studio polished, reverb heavy (production style)
Shares melancholic, brooding, vulnerable (moods); late night, rainy day, urban night (atmosphere)
Shares chamber pop, soul, art pop (subgenres); melancholic, brooding, vulnerable (moods)
Shares chamber pop, soul, art pop (subgenres); melancholic, vulnerable, bittersweet (moods)
Shares alto, cinematic string swells, chamber pop, soul (signature)
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