By Jane McDonald
Denver songstress Claire Heywood is new to the local music scene, which is surprising considering the ease at which she bears her soul in her thoughtful songwriting and cool stage presence. Aptly self-described as a “smoky and emotive” singer-songwriter, Claire is vulnerable and authentic in a way that is somehow soft, yet gritty.
The three songs performed at Head Room Sessions #33 are from her March 2019 debut, The Wind, It Blows, which tells a personal tale of heartbreak that illuminates unexpected corners of the listener’s heart with a sense of universality. Opening with The Great Pretender, she paints a picture of an emotionally reckless partner who is either “out of love or a great pretender,” while exhibiting the impressive depth and texture of her voice, from rich to raspy. In Old Souls Motel, Claire strays slightly from the intimate and plays with lyrical storytelling, evoking haunting imagery of the place where the despondently heartbroken can gather and self-soothe.
Photo By Caito Foster
Claire’s final track brings some closure to familiar trajectory of betrayal and loss relayed in her first two songs. Trails muses that the love lingering between ex lovers is actually a beautiful stream of light connecting them — a bittersweet and oddly comforting idea. Her performance style, like her music, is stripped down and honest, welcoming her audience in to her most personal experiences.
Claire Heywood’s success within the Denver music community will only continue to grow with her performance at the 2019 Underground Music Showcase, a staple stepping stone for the best of Denver’s musicians.