Review: "Diva" - Tess Clare
- Madison Spies
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
Spring into an eccentric tale of self-exploration and freedom with “Diva” from artist Tess Clare. With a deep, soul-stirring voice crossed with infectious pop energy and personal lyrics, Clare has created a beautiful blend between genres and time. “Diva” tells the story of Clare’s journey regarding confidence and change, evaluating herself at every age and connecting it all to who she is today. The song utilizes both the pain & beauty that comes with losing touch with who you are and/or one’s sense of confidence, and showcases the connection through a balance in sound. With an infectious, dance-instigating sound alongside lyrics that are both personal and speak for many others, “Diva” authentically & instinctually goes above & beyond in drawing you in. Struggling with the ebb & flow of time in conjunction with aging and changes in the world, Clare lays it all out on the table through “Diva”. Clare wonderfully explores the aspects of coming of age stories and draws inspiration from her own life in “Diva”.
Clare embeds visually striking details in her lyrics – a camera in hands, clothes on the floor, lips on glass – cluing the audience in on both changes in time and within herself. These details, while on the surface may be small pieces to the entire puzzle of “Diva”, are simply representative of Clare’s, at times, struggling within the song and who she truly is. Although age is a concern shown in this song, it is not representative of who she is. Clare works both for and against herself in “Diva”, as a lot of people can relate to, but ultimately uses the time that has passed to reassure herself that she always has been – and always will be – a diva. Although, while this may be true, she shows the audience that in the future, her life may look different. She views herself, and “Diva”, from all angles – but never loses sight of her spirit. Through this song, she passionately & authentically navigates her identity and wishes for her future while never abandoning herself.
Tess Clare is an independent artist based in Los Angeles, California. In her hometown, north of Chicago, Clare began writing and recording music as early as age thirteen. After attending a fine arts boarding school in Michigan, Clare earned a degree in songwriting from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. One of her recent single releases, “Never Be a Boy” has been featured as #1 in the Grammy’s 2024 Pride Month Playlist in addition to the Apple Music editorial playlist, “New in Alternative”. Her first EP – “All I’m Used To” – as well as her recent releases, have gained the attention of numerous Spotify editorial playlists and was selected by Ones to Watch, under Live Nation, to play her first festival alongside artists such as The 1975 and Billie Eilish. While she has been steadily releasing new music, Clare is currently brewing her biggest project to date.
Written By Madison Spies
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