Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Claire King. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Claire, thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?
2 months into my freshman year of college at the University of California, Davis, Donald Trump got elected. Being from a privileged upper class family, the beginning of my college experience was eye-opening. The socio-political climate during those years made it painfully apparent how much I was unaware of and I quickly began to become politically active in my community.
Eventually, I made the decision to pursue a career in social service. Simply put- I learned about many globally pervasive social inequalities during my undergrad and made the choice that I wanted to use my privilege to help. I took upper division classes including Human Rights, Genocide, Memory of the Holocaust, Sociology of Human Immigration, and more. I earned a degree in Psychology with Minors in Human Rights and Professional Writing in 2019.
I have spent my career raising millions of dollars working for deserving non-profits. This often entails working more hours than the average 9-5, sacrificing my earning capacity due to underfunding, and connecting myself emotionally to my work in a way that makes me incredibly vulnerable to burnout. The line I walk is often razor thin. In order to be authentically motivated, I have to allow myself to become personally connected to individuals, families, and communities who are struggling.
Truly it is something I still actively navigate, but have developed strategies to ensure that I protect my own well-being. Taking a break when I’m feeling emotionally overwhelmed, being mindful of how much of myself I share with people, and practicing softness with myself, just to name a few. If I don’t ensure that I protect and support my own emotional well-being, I won’t have the capacity I need to help others.
I am also a survivor of psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse. I often find myself drawn to helping others as a means of self-empowerment.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Alright, let’s get down to it….my “brand” as they say. I’m a singer-songwriter, based in San Diego. Officially, I perform under the artist name Claire King. Unofficially, I’m known as Nobody Claires. Several years before I started songwriting in 2023, I innocently changed my Instagram username to @nobody_claires. It’s currently, for better or for worse, the best way to find me.
Listeners have described my sound as ethereal and mesmerizing. My music intertwines rich imagery, haunting melodies, and a comforting sense of familiarity. Songs reflect influences of jazz, indie pop, and folk of the 60s with an acoustic lens. I’m a mostly self-taught guitarist and pianist. As such, I’ve struggled throughout my life with imposter syndrome. I was always downplaying my talent or for lack of a better way to say it, “letting the haters get me down”. I write my music for me. I write about what inspires me. Architecture, Nature, and the Divine Feminine, mainly. Of course, I also pull from personal experiences and what keeps me up at night. I’ve overcome a lot to be as empowered as I am today, and part of my brand is being raw and vulnerable about it.
I’m looking forward to recording and releasing my first single, “San Simeon” later this year. Although, I’ve been a little preoccupied with officially launching my music career online, because I’ve been working really hard on my upcoming benefit concert, “Give Us Your Folkin’ Money”. This concert is an act of love from me, and my friends, family, and donors to the Najjar family, who are desperately trying to escape the war zone in Gaza.
My goal in hosting this concert is not only to raise funds for the Najjar family at the event on August 23rd, but to hopefully reach a wide audience through the promotion of filmed content. It’s my vision, but the artists involved are incredibly successful locally and internationally. I want to interrupt the doom-scrolling while connecting emotionally overwhelmed social media users with a direct way to make them feel like they’re making a difference in real time. The Najjars only need about 20,000 EU more to safely evacuate and begin their new lives. Khalil, one of 5 siblings in his family unit, has been doing an incredible job advocating for his family on socials. They’ve already raised about 70,000 EU on their own/with the help of individuals. Anyone reading this- you could help us save an innocent family.”
For more information about GUYFM you can visit the link in my instagram bio or go to www.sites.google.com/view/guyfm. Otherwise, tune into nobody_claires for now!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
While I’m still early on in my “music career” my musical journey started when I was a kid. Looking at how much incredible opportunity I have on my plate today, I literally wouldn’t have believed you if you told me this would be my life now, even just last year. I’ve written over 20 original songs, have already headlined professionally at local independent music events, and am now hosting my own concert. Claire from February 2023 hadn’t even started writing music yet!
My recent success is partially coming about because I’ve finally overcome a lot of my imposter syndrome and have leaned in when folks tell me they like my music. I’ve begun actively choosing to believe in my music and consciously making decisions that affirm my dreams of creative success. No one ever got anywhere in a vacuum and that is 100% applicable here.
Connecting with the local music scene here in San Diego has been critical to my growth. Back in November 2023 I started going to an originals only, open-mic event called “Writer’s Round” that meets every Monday night. This community welcomed me with open arms and incubated me in a supportive creative bubble. The more I give to my community and the more I allow myself to be seen, the more I get back. That’s how I got the opportunity to connect with the team here at Bold Journey Magazine! It’s also given me incredibly valuable connections to studios, venues, and other creatives to collaborate with.
The last quality I’d say that has made the most impact, is becoming more grounded and in tune with my own emotions. I think part of the reason it took me so long to start writing music, was because I didn’t really process my emotions. I suppressed a lot. I denied myself the right to feel, and in doing so, robbed myself of the ability to lead a fulfilling life that inspired me creatively. I have built a life so enriching that I pretty much never run out of inspiration for songs. Or at least not for long!
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I disconnect. Every year, I take at least one week to go disappear into a national park; solo hiking, photographing wildlife and landscapes, and sightseeing local cultural heritage landmarks. Last year I wrote “San Simeon” on this trip, this year I wrote another song!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: nobody_claires
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claire.king.182
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-king-290747171/
Image Credits
Elisabeth Eaves Photography South County Photo Club
