With seven singles, one debut project, and over 17 million streams on Spotify, LA-based alt-pop artist CLAY considers her sophomore EP, Breathing Into Bloom, the most intimate and open-hearted music she’s ever released.
“Breathing into Bloom is about accepting that healing is a process, one that has many phases and breaths, ups and downs, and learning how to love yourself through the journey,” says CLAY, who spends the EP practicing what she calls “radical vulnerability.”
On Breathing into Bloom, CLAY is joined by indie-pop artist Alessia Cara for the single “WTSGD,” an alt-pop ballad with R&B influences that the pair co-produced themselves. Since being released in March 2022, the single has received over 1.8M streams on Spotify. Below, catch the full EP—including “WTSGD”—below, and keep reading for CLAY’s take on the Youth Questionnaire.
Question 02: What will your greatest impact be on this earth?
Being a healer; healing others through healing myself.
Question 03: Where are you most free?
When I am unplugged from virtual reality and plugged into the heartbeat of the earth.
Question 04: When were you recently perfectly content?
The night before I wrote this, I left my phone at home and took myself out to dinner. I sat there eating a pizza and giggling hysterically at my book.
Question 05: What do you dream of?
Creating a safe space for people to be who they are, on a global scale. Providing and cultivating the love, understanding, and protection I did not have in my darkest hours.
Question 09: What is your favorite memory in nature?
I must have been 14 or 15 and I was on a school river rafting trip. My very charismatic and adventurous teacher said he wanted to show us something really special, and if we wanted to join, to follow him across the river. After awkwardly swimming under rocks and fighting against our floating life vests, we came out into an unbelievable clearing. A grotto with waterfalls, tall rocks to jump off, and deep water to jump into. It was the closest I’ve felt to being a real life mermaid.
Question 11: What is your favorite flower or tree, and why?
A sunflower because they follow the sun throughout the day and they simply take my breath away…
Question 15: What is your personal goal for this year, month, or day?
To be led by energies/frequencies like gratitude, love, compassion (for self and for others) rather than fear.
Question 19: If your energy were visible to others, what would it look like?
A floating translucent orb of light reflecting colors in such a way that you can’t quite put your finger on what color you’re seeing, each person seeing and experiencing their own fractal of colors.
Question 26: What does it mean to live your truth?
To constantly be learning and growing. To being open and receptive and allowing your inner voice and intuition to guide you.
Question 28: How does Youth express itself in you?
Playfulness. Something I often forget about in my adult life is the importance of play. I love catching myself having a “childlike” reaction of awe or wonder or pure laughter, it always brightens my day.
