Singer-songwriter Clara Waidley began her musical journey playing guitar and writing songs in her bedroom. Later, she would street perform in Michigan where she grew up. Clara and her sister traveled coast to coast during college living in their car. They funded their road trip by busking in towns and cities along the way. The Wilmington Island, Georgia resident still frequently performs on road trips with her guitar and has a TikTok following of 110.5k. Consequently, she has gained a global audience for her music that she describes as “storytelling with a bit of grit”.
Clara is not only a musician, but she’s been a surfer since high school. She says she loves how freeing surfing makes her feel. Clara has surfed on Lake Michigan in the fall and every day when she lived in California. Nowadays, she surfs on Tybee Island, Georgia or the Carolinas and Florida. Her favorite places to surf have been in Outer Banks, North Carolina, Avon By The Sea, New Jersey, and Malibu, California.
Making music videos is not only fun for Clara but completely DIY. For example, the video for her single “25” has Clara skateboarding in a grocery store and playing guitar at a friend’s house. Her sister filmed all of it on Clara’s phone. However, it’s the process that she says she enjoys. She recently bought a new camera and plans to direct, film, and edit her own music videos.
In March, Clara released her debut album summer 4 ever which has a ‘dreamy, acoustic, alternative, grunge’ vibe. She wrote the album during a very transitional time of her life. As a result, she says the songs are “little stories of my life, of the hope and hurt that growing brings…”; the comforting moments found in the highs and lows of life. Clara hopes these stories resonate with listeners.
Her projects for this year include two music videos and possibly touring with a band to promote summer 4 ever.
I recently interviewed Clara about her new album, songwriting process, surfing, therapeutic cooking, her biggest career challenge, Johnny Cash, her street performing road trips, and much more!
Congratulations, Clara, on the recent release of your new album, summer 4 ever. You mention in your latest TikTok video that the album’s songs are “…little stories of my life, of the hope and the hurt that growing brings and feeling so scared, so free and everything in between.” Can you elaborate on this?
Hi! Thank you so much for having me! 🙂
My latest project “summer 4 ever” was written throughout a very transitional part of my life. Within three years I have lived in four different states, in seven different locations. I feel like starting adulthood is really like being born all over again. The world is fresh and new – but this time around you’re left to figure it all out on your own. It’s such a special time. It’s filled with so much freedom and wonder that gives you the space to break and be put back together again.
What would you like for listeners to come away with after hearing your songs?
I hope my listeners come away feeling understood. The songs felt like so many little memories worked together to become what they are. Summer 4 Ever was largely inspired by simple moments that comforted me throughout the highs and lows of life, and I hope those feelings resonate with whoever listens.
Explain your songwriting process.
I wouldn’t say that I have a specific songwriting process. I am not someone that forces themselves to write every single day if I am not feeling it. I mainly just try to pay attention to feelings of inspiration.
Your music career began with traveling and street performing. How did you pick the places you traveled to? What did you learn from your travels and performances?
I first started street performing in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Saint Joseph, Michigan. During college my sister and I decided to take the summer to live out of our station wagon and travel across the country and street perform in the towns/ cities a long the way to find our trip. We created a brief outline of towns from the east coast to west coast and back where we thought would be big enough for street performing. We were really just guessing and hoping the places we chose to play would welcome us. There were definitely stops that didn’t work out, haha. But thankfully, we had great experiences in the majority of the towns we stopped in. We noticed that parts of the city that were designed to be walk able were the best for us.
I remember Asheville, NC, Charleston, SC, Boulder, CO, and Flagstaff, AZ being really fun to street perform in. We encountered so many wonderful people who we kind and gracious to us during our travels. Our trip taught me how lovely our differences are. I felt like I finally learned the importance of people loving people. I grew up believing in Jesus – but I didn’t feel like I understood what he was about until that trip. Being able to see the beauty in people changed my life in an incredible way.
You have a TikTok following of 110.5K and garnered a global audience. What was your strategy to achieve this? If you didn’t have one, how do you think you were able to accomplish it?
We live in such an interesting world now when it comes to social media and music. I saw how creating successful content really helped build fan bases for independent artists. I started my TikTok account with creating videos showing little clips of my life and music. I thought the name “barefootgurlz” was funny and on brand for me. I also started doing weekly acoustic livestreams which really grew my account and helped build a following that joined specifically for my music.
I’m so thankful for the people who have found me through TikTok and have been so supportive and encouraging when it comes to my music!
Explain how you made the music video for your song “25”, from idea to production.
I wanted the “25” music video to be fun and chaotic because that’s exactly how I felt life was at 25. I had always wanted to film a music video with skateboarding ina grocery store, and “25” was the perfect opportunity. I had my sister film everything on my phone. It was very DIY, haha. The “performance” portion was filmed at our friends house in Oceanside, CA. He was shaping a surfboard for me, and on the way to see the board we walked through his house. I thought it was the perfect place to film – although his roommates were a little confused.
How long have you been surfing and what is it about surfing that draws you to it? What are your favorite places to surf and why?
I started surfing in early high school. Growing up in Michigan, I surfed wind swell on Lake Michigan in the fall – or during a rare summer swell. I was too wimpy to surf during the winter. The second I could drive my sister and I would take our soft-tops down to Florida and New Jersey during the summer. When I lived in southern California I would surf almost every day. Living in Georgia now – I surf on Tybee Island or take trips to the Carolinas and Florida. I love how free surfing makes me feel. The simplicity and beauty of being in the ocean and just taking whatever it gives you. The water is such a gift.
As of right now my favorite days of surfing have been in Outer Banks, NC, Avon By The Sea, NJ, and Malibu, CA.
On your TikTok you show the beach shack that you recently moved into on Wilmington Island, Georgia. Tell us more about the island and why you chose it.
I chose Wilmington Island because it’s right in between Savannah and Tybee Island. I love the scenery throughout the low country. I think the palms and the moss by the marsh rivers create such an enchanting atmosphere. It’s a hidden gem.
What have been the biggest challenges so far in your music career, and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge for me is financial stability. We did not have money growing up – and the stress around having money for rent/food/gas has always lingered throughout my adult life as well. However – my choice to try and do music full time influences my financial situation a lot; I could get a normal job and have more security, but I feel like I still have the energy to put up with the struggle right now. I work hard at what I do, and I truly believe that a music career will work out for me. I know worrying about money is not helpful for my creativity, or thought processing in general, and I try my best to invite myself into a healthier state of mind. I learned that doing yoga, having a quiet time in the morning, and and journaling have all helped calm my financial anxiety.
What does it mean to you personally to be an indie music woman?
To me, being a woman who is an indie musician means that you have the freedom to create in whichever way you chose. It can be overwhelming having your entire career in your hands, but it’s exciting knowing that you can make your own creative decisions!
How do you think women can be better supported in the indie music industry?
I think women in music in general can be better supported! We can be better trusted. A lot of the time female musicians are treated as if we don’t know what we are talking about when it comes to our own creativity. Being trusted and being listened to are the most important ways to support a women in music in my opinion.
Why is Johnny Cash your all-time favorite musician?
My first two albums I ever owned were of Johnny Cash and Black Sabbath. It’s funny thinking about how those albums seem to hold some relevance when it comes to my musical style today; story-telling with a touch of grit. I was drawn to Jonny Cash for the honesty he shared within his music. The lyrics in his songs felt raw and real. I liked that his music encouraged me to think – whether about love, death, or the world in general.
Who is your favorite author and/or book and why?
The favorite book/author is a really hard question for me! My favorite book always seems to end up being the last good book that I have read. The last really good book I read was a memoir called “Freckled” by T. W. Neal. Neal recounts here childhood while growing up in Hawaii in the 60’s and 70’s. I think she did an incredible job telling her story. She had quite the tumultuous time growing up – and I think it’s quite amazing how she was able to become the woman she is today.
You mention that you like to cook. Tell us what you like about cooking and the best meal or food you make.
I really enjoy the therapeutic aspect of cooking – or putting a meal together. I love how cooking alone and cooking with friends/family are completely different experiences – both equally wonderful to me. When cooking alone I like putting on a record or a podcast and just going in to my own little world. I think the process helps me think. I’ve found out that I’m able to process better while doing some sort of movement – i.e. cooking/jogging/surfing. I also love going to my parents house and cooking with them. The atmosphere is warm and it’s exciting knowing that we all get to enjoy the meal. I think in general my favorite kind of meals to cook are breakfast foods, haha. I’m stoked on literally anything pertaining to breakfast. My favorite dinner meal to cook is coconut chicken curry. I used to love making fried coconut shrimp – but somehow I randomly became allergic to shrimp over the passed year. So sad! Ha.
Explain either your dream job in 1st grade of being a cowboy mermaid or your back-up plan of being a spy in the FBI. (You mentioned both in your Spotify bio).
To this day I still think being a cowboy mermaid sounds like an amazing life. I used to in-vision myself as a mermaid on the back of a mustang riding through the wild west. I wanted the best of both worlds. I truly cannot think of anything that sounds better, haha. I do think being a spy in the FBI sounds fun. I don’t know if I’m necessarily cut out for the intensity and secrecy; I know in my head I tend to over romanticize being a secret agent. Who knows though – maybe one day I’ll find out!
What projects do you have planned for this year?
I am hoping to be able to tour with a band this year! I am excited to promote “summer 4 ever” and continue to grow my audience throughout the summer. I have a couple music videos in the works that will be out soon! I recently decided to buy a nice camera and film, direct, and edit my music videos myself, which is a process I really enjoy. I’m stoked to see where this year takes me! Thank you so much for having me! Cheers!
Listen to the summer 4 ever album on Clara’s Spotify Artist Page.
You can follow Clara on TikTok (@barefootgurlz), Instagram Twitter
Website: www.clarawaidley.com
