Finding the Full Picture in the Chaos: An Interview with Megan Claire

Nor-Cal based artist Megan Claire released her first single “I-5” nearly a year ago. That year had been filled with live shows, a brief stint in Los Angeles, the finding of a full band, and overall growth as both an artist and person. Megan’s music first appeared to me on TikTok Live, and I can’t say I’ve found many other artists that way. I jumped at the opportunity to interview her, not just because I wanted to speak to another Northern Californian, but because I wanted to explore a bit about what it’s like being a new artist in the age of something like TikTok live. Below is our conversation from February 10th, 2025.

Luke (B-Side): Just to start, could you introduce yourself, and what you do?

Megan Claire: My name is Megan, and I am, for the purposes of this interview, an independent artist doing music stuff!

Luke: I wanted to first congratulate you as we’re approaching a year since you’ve released your first single, graduated from university, and taken the full plunge into pursuing music. I’d love for you to walk me through what ultimately made you take that plunge.

Megan: Well I really didn’t have anything better to do [Laugh]

Luke: Really? [Laugh]

Megan: I thought about going to grad school and then I was like, I don’t even know what I’d apply for. And then I was like, well I really don’t want to move back in with my parents, and I don’t know what I want to do with my life for the next 5 years, but this music thing has become fun to do in college. So I guess I’ll just keep doing that and make it work by finding other ways to pay rent.

Luke: I’ve run into a lot of people who are maybe afraid to make that full transition to calling themselves an artist. What would you say to someone who’s maybe teetering on that edge of wanting to pursue music. It seems like you just said I’ll go for it – but that’s a worrying and tough decision to make.

Megan: I mean yeah for me the decision felt like an accident, like other people made it for me [Laugh]
On TikTok people would be like “Oh you’re an artist!” and I’m like no I’m just a fucker in my bedroom. But at some point I was just like shit, I’m not losing anything by trying this.

Luke: I’m interested in the “therapeutic” aspects of writing a song about a personal moment. For you, does writing a song help you process the experiences you’re writing about, or is it moreso a place to vent about the feelings from those experiences?

Megan: Well shit I started writing music because I wasn’t in therapy and I needed to be. I guess in a way it is therapeutic, in the way that it just gets it out of my mind and my body. Otherwise stuff builds up and it feels like so much. When I started writing there was just a lot going on in my life and I was like, I don’t have any other way to process this. So I guess yeah it is therapeutic, but I also kind of look at it like a puzzle. It’s very satisfying, more than just an emotional release. It’s fine-tuning and finding the most effective, concise way to put a thought and experience into a concept.

Luke: That perfectly leads into what I was going to ask you next, because I often hear you say “oh what does that want to be” and “I feel it’s almost something.” In those moments, are you searching for the right words and notes? Or is it more personified? I heard you describe it like a puzzle, but sometimes you describe almost like there’s something you’re reaching out and trying to catch.

Megan: Totally, I feel like when I’m writing a song I’m not coming up with it. Like when I say those things it means I’m locked the fuck in. It means I’ve grasped onto something where I’m like wait this is a seed what will this grow into. Otherwise I’ll just scrap the idea – there’s so much bad shit that will never see the light of day. But if I’m locked in on an idea where I’m like wait hold on this is something, I’ve found this little thing in the chaos and I need to figure out what the full picture is.

Luke: You come from a theater background, has that influenced your artistry in any way?

Megan: Oh absolutely yeah. I noticed it especially when I went down and lived in LA, I was able to really easily jump into songwriting sessions with people. My friends down there were like woah you’re able to be in groups collaboratively really quickly – it usually takes people longer to warm up to that. And I’m like well I have a background in theater where that’s kind of your whole thing, learning how to work together. Especially since I’m more on the directing, creative team side of things, where the whole thing is learning how to navigate collaborative, creative conversations.

Luke: I’d say your vocals are a big draw to your sound. You’ve gotten comparisons to the voices of Dolores O’Riordan and Tracy Chapman, and did I read correctly that you even traveled to Italy to sing at The Vatican?

Megan: [Laugh] Yes? What did you do, it’s like those Nardwuar interviews? Yes, when I was about 16-17.

Luke: I did some research [Laugh]. That was leading up to me asking, what has your personal relationship with your singing voice been like?

Megan: Oh my God it’s totally changed. When I was in choir, I like really hated my voice. There was a recurring pattern of my voice being “too unique”. I remember in middle school reading about how Shakira’s choir teacher hated her and I was like oh my god that’s me! My choir teacher would always be like “Megan you need to make your voice fit the ensemble” and I was a 14-year-old being like “My voice is just happening!”
I was doing musical theater and classical music, these specific, stylistic things that I was having to adapt my voice to fit. So I didn’t always like it, but I’ve gotten to, through songwriting, find what my actual voice was and how I want it to sound.

Luke: I, and I assume a solid amount of people found you through social media, particularly through TikTok Live. What drew you to live streaming as a way to share your music?

Megan: Well it was during one winter break and I was bored as shit [Laughs] It was like Fall 2022, and I had just transferred to UC Davis so I kinda had some friends and kinda didn’t. I was also in the throes of my first situationship with a man. But I was like oh what’s this new thing TikTok says I can do? Live streaming? What’s that? Oh, it’s the same as if I’m playing in my bedroom but people can watch? Well I was going to play in my bedroom anyways, might as well let people watch. It wasn’t until 6 months into doing it that I realized those little cartoon things that show up on the screen aren’t just funny little stickers to make me look silly – that was money. Live streaming has paid for so much of my music getting produced. So as soon as I found out that that was happening, I was like shit I’ll do that literally as much as I can.

Luke: Forgive me, I want to read a bit of a longer quote from you here – but I think it’s a really good one. You’ve described the ‘male gaze’ as “a feeling of being watched. It’s a feeling of being seen that you are not in control of, and that you can’t turn off. It feels like, not only an objectification, but a commodification of your presence in a space. It’s a lack of being understood. It’s knowing that in your eyes my existence and identity is here to serve some purpose for you. Whether they are consciously aware of that purpose or not.” That quote feels particularly apt for live streaming music; how has your experience been on TikTok live when it comes to navigating the ‘male gaze’?

Megan: Oh my god it’s crazy. It’s crazy to know that like, obviously talent is a really big thing, but especially with success in online spaces, it’s like so much of that is due to the fact that if I’m on somebody’s for you page, they click on me because they think I’m pretty. It’s interesting to know that I have more success in that world than some of my friends who are just as talented, but I am the little Clairo indie musician that fits in a box on a screen on TikTok. So it’s a weird thing to balance of like, yes I’m being objectified every time I do this thing, but it’s also like shit if I can use that to my advantage like I will.

Luke: Does the ‘male gaze’ differ between a live show and a live stream?

Megan: Yeah, people say a lot more unhinged shit online than they ever would in person. Which I love calling out. I can just block them, because the benefit of the online space is it’s my world I can do whatever I want with it. Versus at a live show, I have to put up with a lot more things that I’m not really comfortable with a lot of the time. But it’s in person. Sometimes at a show, especially when there’s alcohol involved, I’ll get men specifically walking up to me after the show who are like “oh you did so good!” like giving you compliments and then they put their hand somewhere where you’re like “I want you to take that off and I’m going to walk away now.” But I can’t be as like calling it out as I get to online because it’s putting me into an unsafe position when a lot of the time I’m going to these shows by myself. I can’t piss off a man when I’m going to be walking to my car alone after the show. So I have to deal with it, smile and grin and bear it. But that’s the reality.

Luke: You’re also coming into music at an interesting time, where promotion is about finding the right way into algorithms on social media and streaming services. What has your experience been like when it comes to promotion and trying to game algorithms the right way?

Megan: Well fuck if I know I’ve never had a viral video [Laugh] It feels so stupid to be like “these are my statistics and numbers”

Luke: But you’re at a time where it feels like you have to.

Megan: Literally. And when I get people reaching out to me, like if anyone’s reaching out to me with an opportunity, it’s because they saw those numbers. But I still haven’t figured it out. I also don’t care enough to? I’m like none of this is real and I actually don’t care that much. It’s an app. I’m not going to let the amount of likes that I have be weighing me down.

Luke: Tell me about working with a full band!

Megan: It’s really fun! It’s so cool, and they’re also like the most talented musicians. I didn’t have to find them. My guitarist, Michael, came up to me after a show that I played back in October and was like “Do you have a full band?” and I was like “No” and he was like “Do you want one?” [Laugh] I’ve been enjoying playing with this more indie rock, indie pop world to help get some bills out there because I really want to just be playing shows in front of people. And I’m grateful that I have a team that lets me do that right now. There’s definitely different show opportunities out there for if you’re an acoustic singer-songwriter versus when people see you and are like “oh she has a full band”. It felt like a really important next step for me, so I’m glad it got to happen.

Luke: What’s 2025 look like for Megan Claire?

Megan: Dude I have so much music. I’m waiting for masters on what I think is going to be my next single like literally tonight or tomorrow. And I’ve been working with a producer in San Bruno and we’re making like Indie Pop shit like MUNA meets Japanese House, Chappell Roan type of vibe

Luke: You’ve got me SO hooked

Megan: We were up until like 2am just last night, where she’d send me a minute loop so I could like write something over it, and we were in this super super cool back and forth process. So I’m really excited to be working with her. But that’s 2025, a lot of shows, a lot of music. And I am just excited for the stuff to finally be out, because even the songs I have out right now, those were some of the first things I’ve ever made. I-5 and Somebody Else were written in like Fall 2022. But the music that I’m writing now, I can see my growth as a songwriter. I’m very excited to show like this is where I’m at now.

Luke: I have just like one other last question, what’s the title of your Spotify Daylist right now?

Megan: Soul-Crushing, Earthy, Monday Evening [Laugh]

Luke: Soul-Crushing, perfect [Laugh]