“The moment art loses its meaning is the moment the world as we know it ceases to exist.” This words perfectly shows Claire Brooks’ artistic vision—her work is a wonderful mix of sound, emotion, and self-expression. In a world that grows ever faster and more intricate in all its facets, art becomes a refuge—a way to make sense of chaos, to channel emotion, to escape the noise, and to rediscover the quiet truths within ourselves. Born in Los Angeles to a family of artists, Claire’s upbringing was steeped in creativity. From a young age, she was exposed to storytelling, painting, and design, sparking her lifelong fascination with patterns, colors, and the relationship between art and numbers. Her journey from sewing her own outfits as a child to earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford showcases her ability to seamlessly blend logic and artistry.
Her new EP, I Will Outlive You, is a strong reflection of her experiences finding her way throughher 20s. And in every track, her raw, emotive voice unfolds like a story, carrying listeners through moments of chaos and calm. As Claire explains, “This EP has been my anchor amid all of this uncertainty. Making these songs has reminded me of who I am—Incredibly happy, incredibly sad, the deepest laugh, a big suffocating bear hug… the perfect peach. The moon spilling onto the ocean.”
In our interview, we talk about Claire’s creative process, the inspiration behind her new EP, and how she navigates the challenges and joys of adulthood.
photography by Lukas Dong
Claire, let’s start with your new album. I have to say, I love it! You have an incredible voice and so much talent. How does it feel to share this work with the world?
Thank you so so much. I’m so happy you loved it. I feel like I’ve been sitting on these songs and this whole idea for so long that finally getting it out into the world is such a relief. I feel like I’m giving birth. (laughs)
You mentioned in relation to your EP, “Growing up, I never understood why everyone warned me so much about my 20s.” I’m curious—what did people say about your 20s that stuck with you? (smiles)
Oh, you know only the “these are the hardest, most confusing years of your life” from every older person I’ve talked to, (weirdly enough, I talk to a lot of old people). Everyone says that your twenties is so damn scary but also so damn exciting. “This is the time in your life to try everything.” I’ve been throwing so much shit at the walls the last four years and I finally just feel like I am discovering who I am as an adult.
The title “I Will Outlive You” is intriguing. What does it mean to you?
The title is a message to my younger, anxious self, that can’t stop retracing insignificant little thought loops (this is the neurotic jew in me). As I get older I am starting to understand my place in the world a bit better, but I still have to remind myself to live in the moment. Side note, I Will Outlive You is also such a good insult. Try saying that to someone next time you’re in an argument and watch them accept defeat. You can’t argue with science, baby.
“The moment art loses its meaning is the moment the world as we know it ceases to exist.”
I believe every stage of life has its joys and challenges. So, what’s your favorite memory from your teenage years?
Oh, falling in love for the first time—Jesus Christ, it’s still so vivid. I was 15, and the person I liked surprised me outside my house on Valentine’s Day with red roses hidden behind his back. It was a misty evening in Santa Monica, and we walked around together for a while. Then he went home because it was a school night and I didn’t want my parents to know he’d been there. After he left, I remember feeling this overwhelming rush of joy. I danced around my block for what felt like an hour blasting Can’t Feel My Face by The Weeknd on repeat. I don’t even listen to The Weeknd like that, but in that moment, the energy of the song just vibrated through my entire body. I was so high on the idea of love—it was incredible.
In a past interview, you said, “I was thinking about how much I missed having silly fun at college parties when nothing mattered except having the best time.” I totally get that! As we get older, responsibilities seem to increase, and that carefree fun becomes rarer. How do you hold onto that sense of fun?
Oh god, honestly I’m still figuring it out. I kind of have no chill these days. Because I don’t have 9-5, there is always something I could be working on, so I have a lot of difficulty switching my brain into carefree mode. I recently spent a bit of time in New York and gave myself some social homework to learn how to have fun again. That was pretty good for me. I’ve also been going on runs without my phone which has allowed my mind to loosen up a bit. Tldr I’m working on it.
“As I get older, I am starting to understand my place in the world a bit better, but I still have to remind myself to live in the moment.”
Who is the most important person in your life right now?
My immediate family are all tied for that spot right now. Everything else in my life is very in flux. I feel so lucky that I have a good relationship with my family and no matter we will always be there for each other.
You were born in Los Angeles into a family of artists, so art has always been a part of your life. Do you think art still holds a meaningful place in society today?
Oh absolutely. I believe the ability to create and appreciate art has been fundamental to our species’ evolution and the unique position we hold today. The moment art loses its meaning is the moment the world as we know it ceases to exist.
Congratulations also on earning a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford! Was it always your goal to study Mechanical Engineering, and do you plan to continue in this field?
Thank you so much! In high school, I was an EMT and started at Stanford as a premed student—but let’s just say two weeks of chemistry class humbled me out of it. Luckily, I discovered Product Design through my freshman RA’s, and I immediately fell in love with its focus on the “why” behind engineering. Growing up, I was always drawn to design and constantly questioning how things worked, so this major felt like a natural fit. Now, I bring that same engineering mindset to all my artistic projects, applying constraints and problem-solving principles. (Plus in my secret double life I still dabble in hardware design).
The most important thing in life is?
To never stop looking for the answer.
Follow Claire Brooks for more:
www.instagram.com/clixr
