Claire also know as Spill Tab is an Los Angeles Based French - Korean singer songwriter. Claire and I chat about how she started, what inspires her and more.
Hi Claire! Thanks so much for taking the time out to answer my questions, how are you?
Good! Just woke up, chugging coffee.
How did you know you wanted to be a singer?
My mom has told me stories from when I was 7 and used to coerce my cousins to perform self-choreographed routines to the likes of Nelly Fertado and Hilary Duff. I’ve always loved performing, and singing was another outlet that let me do that.
When did you first start writing songs?
I was about 12 I think? I knew three chords on the guitar and absolutely used them to the bone.
You go by the name spill tab, how did you think of that? What’s the story behind it?
My collaborator and homie David was friends with a bartender who had explained to him that when smashed customers spill drinks at a bar, bartenders re-up them for free but account for it on their spill tab - but more importantly, it’s used to get friends free drinks. I thought that was
amazing.
You have such a distinct sound, and you sing in French and English. Would you ever do a song in Korean?
I unfortunately missed the boat on learning Korean which is a true tragedy. Hopefully down the line I can spend some time in Korea with my mom.
Do you believe your background, and being based in Los Angeles has an impact on the way you
create music? And the way your music sounds?
For sure, I think I’ve been influenced by all the places I’ve been. I was surrounded by Thai traditional music for a year in Bangkok, and then French popular music in Paris, and I spent four years of high school in an intense show choir program in Burbank and that was absolutely huge in regards to performing, showmanship, stamina… Everything gets absorbed one way or another and it’s all come together to shape the way I understand music.
How did you go about finding your sound?
David (aka marinelli, key collaborator) and I love to try new things when we’re working. It’s all about having fun and experimenting.
What is your creative and writing process like?
Truly different every time. I’m still changing and growing and getting better at songwriting and producing.
You released “Santè” late last year, what was it like having your track be premiered on Zane Lowe?
Very fucking cool, to have tastemakers like Zane Lowe support the project is such a blessing.
What inspired “Santè”?
Reminiscing about underground, loud, sweaty european discothéques.
Do you prefer to write about everyday life, or personal relationships?
A little bit of both - personal relationships are so fun to complain about via song.
When creating and writing music, is there a certain audience you want to reach?
Not necessarily, I just want to create music that I would listen to.
What bands or artists inspired your music?
Moses Sumney, Bon Iver, Sylvan Esso, Solange, Crumb, ROSALÍA, Charlotte Day
Wilson, Fieh, Romeo Elvis, Stromae, so many more...
You went from being a Merch Manager for Gus Dapperton, to then creating your own music, what was that transition like? What inspired you to leave that, to go and create your own music?
2020 gave me the opportunity to purely make music and pause every other thing that was happening in my life. I think tour managing would have been so much fun, but being on the roadisn’t conducive to working on anything else. But that’s also part of the allure - being absolutely enveloped by traveling and new people and enjoying the journey as much as possible while getting your shit done. I love intensity and adventure. I do get really anxious if I’m not working on something, so being locked in the house was sort of the perfect situation to just sit in front of Ableton and go absolutely crazy. I’ve learned so much this past year. I’m so grateful for how everything has turned out, because realistically last year was ass for so many reasons, but I’ve been blessed with many beautiful developments in my life.
We’re all about discovering new music, who do you think we should be listening too right now?
These are some of my faves right now in no particular order: Remi Wolf, Q, Arlo Parks,
mazie, MyKey, SAULT, Rei Ami, marinelli, boylife, Empress Of, Amadelle, nobody nobody,
Baby Rose, and ELIZA.
Words by Melody
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