Clea Anaïs’ compositions center on two things: a multifaceted artistic sensibility, and an emotional intelligence as sharp as bright-coloured crystal. Raised in Canada by a Mauritian dancer and British painter, Clea is a multi-ethnic artist, creating shimmer-pop dreamscapes.
2022 saw the release of Clea’s debut solo album, “Circle Zero”, which recalls the genre defying production and inimitable vocals of Lana del Rey, grounded in the nostalgic groove and lush pop stylings of Beach House and Japanese Breakfast. Accolades include the single, “Stars Still Dying”, winning Best Music Video Cinematography at the Canadian Cinematography Awards and European Cinematography Awards (2022), and a nomination for best single in the 2022 YYC awards. With singles hitting CBC Radio 3’s top 10 playlist, features on CBC’s Saturday Night Jazz, the Key of A, “Circle Zero” reached #1 on the CJSW (Calgary) charts. In support of this debut record, in 2022 Clea toured in Canada, Japan and performed at Tallinn Music Week in Estonia, The Calgary Folk Music Festival, Sled Island, Alberta Days, Alberta Focus, and Big Winter Classic.
Clea works with all kinds of interesting contemporaries in interesting places, this has included a mixed media cross-border commission in 2021 by the Canadian Consulate titled “Connecting Perspectives”, collaborative Banff Center Residencies, and sharing the stage with Jodi Proznick, Reuben and the Dark, Broken Social Scene, Dan Mangan, Cold Specks, and Alex Cameron to name a few.
Clea creates art that moves in interesting ways, and through this there are moments where she is vulnerable, those moments move you because they are some special combo of evoking memory while feeling new.
PRESS QUOTES
“ ‘Stars Still Dying’ is certainly a poignant song, but it is far more than one-note; beyond the stinging loss, there lies a meaningful, potent celebration of life and all the wonderful unspoken things Anaïs was able to glean from her father’s life. She finds, through stirring poetry and radiant musical work, a means of lamenting and commemorating life’s fragility all at once. A truly breathtaking reverie, “Stars Still Dying” is worth three listens: One for the words, another for the music, and a third for that perfect coalescence, with everything in its right place.” ~ Mitch Mosk, for Atwood Magazine
“Filled with allegories, ‘Under the Blue of the Moon’ imagines youthful freedom on the other side of global doom, beyond the conventions of dissolved human structures. This message is beautifully conveyed through Clea Anaïs’s gorgeous vocals which are backed by a groovy production featuring lush guitar riffs that are seamlessly intertwined with steady drum patterns that create an overall feel-good, laid-back atmosphere.” ~ Caesar Live N Loud
“Opening slinky as hell before pivoting into dreamy, skittering indie pop territory, ‘Powerful Women’ is a shifting, slippery number held together by the Clea Anaïs’ clear as a bell vocals of Anaïs. Lyrically the song acts as a bit of a “you got this” and recognition of the lineage of women persevering throughout time, but does so without drifting into cliche or one dimensional sloganeering. Anthems are rarely this mercurial, and that’s what makes this one stand out.” ~ Postcard Elba “We Never Asked For This”
"Striking a perfect balance between genre-defying production and nostalgic grooves, “Stars Still Dying” is a perfect preview of Clea Anaïs’ sound. Melodically, the track boasts pop-leaning melodies, but lyrically, the song is a love letter to her father after he passed away." ~ Indie 88
“‘Hazy Days’ has a romantic and day dream feel about it, almost hypnotizing you into a trance state.” ~ POP SINS
