Claire London Talks Songwriting and Championing Mamas in Music

Before she became a mother in 2020, Claire London’s music embraced darker pop themes, between the soaring mania of “Diary of a Mad Woman” to the tech-fueled “Hit the Switch.”  

But having a baby flipped another kind of switch, and suddenly London craved a return to her true, raw, and most authentic self. Her new EP ‘Stardust’ — which came out July 11 — embraces this change, putting her soulful voice front and center.

“Having my daughter has not only influenced my music, but actually changed my music, and it’s been a wildly profound transformation, both personally and artistically,” London tells Rockmommy. “For a while, I had been feeling the pull to move away from the darker, electronic elements and simplify, to go back to the kind of music I fell in love with as a kid, which was blues and soul music.”

But the transformation isn’t just finding its way into songs. Over the last few years, London’s gained a bit of notoriety for her involvement with the Mamas in Music non-profit organization, and as the creator and host of the Mamas in Music podcast.

We recently caught up with London to talk about all the things — from being a girl mom to embracing voice memos.

Rockmommy: Hi Claire! I’m so happy to talk to you for Rockmommy. Let’s start at the beginning. Who were your musical influences growing up? When did you discover your “voice” so to speak?

Claire London: The moment I opened my mouth to sing at age 4 or 5, I realized I had a bigger voice than my body and a natural gift for music, and I was immediately drawn to all things soulful and bluesy. Growing up, I was inspired by artists like Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox, Fiona Apple, Portishead, Lauryn Hill, and so many more. Even at a young age, I knew music was going to be something I would do and I was singing in chorus groups and show choirs all throughout my childhood and teenage years.

Rockmommy: Your earliest music – for example, 2011’s “Diary of a Madwoman” is musically, a bit darker than your current EP. Can you tell us about the start of your career, and the forces that shaped your artistry?

Claire London: At 22, I moved to NYC to pursue my music dreams after recording a solo pop project in Orlando, FL that never saw the light of day. I sang in girl groups and cover bands, went on auditions, and was really trying to figure out who I was as an artist.

A few years later, I began working with some amazing musicians and mentors at the famed Cutting Room Studios who gave me the space and encouragement to develop my ideas, and that’s when my artist journey as Claire London really began. “Diary of a Madwoman” was actually the first song I wrote for that album and I was definitely in a different place then, experimenting with some darker elements and influences, and developing my artist voice. Each project since then has been an evolution and it’s wild to look back at the journey!

Rockmommy: Stardust reportedly captures the rejuvenation you experienced on your journey of self-improvement. Could you tell us more about this journey and what sparked it? What were the fears of change that you grappled with?

Claire London: Stardust is really about embracing the one precious life we have and going for it. It also grapples with the push and pull I often feel between being ambitious and slowing down and being present to the fragility of life. Becoming a mother certainly contributes to that, as well as the changes within myself I’ve felt over the last few years.

Rockmommy: I also love some of the sexier, bluesy stuff – like “Black Leather”! What is your songwriting process like? Do you get hit with an idea, and then record a voice memo? Or do you jam out with one or two friends?

Claire London: I am definitely a voice memo gal. It usually starts with me hearing some kind of riff or beat that inspires a melody in my head. With “Black Leather,” it started as a guitar riff that my husband was playing around with, which immediately sparked a melody and lyric idea.

Rockmommy: At rockmommy, we’re all about the moms, all the time. When did you become a mother and how did that influence your music?

Claire London: I became a mother in 2020 during the pandemic, and it was quite a time. Having my daughter has not only influenced my music, but actually changed my music, and it’s been a wildly profound transformation, both personally and artistically.

For a while, I had been feeling the pull to move away from the darker, electronic elements and simplify, to go back to the kind of music I fell in love with as a kid, which was blues and soul music. Becoming a mother only strengthened that desire to really lean into something that felt more raw and authentic, and that’s what this new EP represents. I like to say I’m back to my soul-singing roots, which feels like being home.

Rockmommy: Can you tell us about how you help other mothers in music, for example through your involvement in Mamas in Music and your podcast?

Claire London: Yes! I’m really proud to champion mothers in the music industry through my involvement with the Mamas in Music non-profit organization, and as the creator and host of the Mamas in Music podcast. Through the podcast, I get to highlight the voices and stories of mothers across all spectrums of the music industry. The organization as a whole aims to provide essential resources that empower Mothers to advance their musical careers by creating a shared network, generating opportunities, and offering financial and emotional support initiatives. (And yes, you should 100% join!!)

Rockmommy: What are the unique challenges mothers in music face? What challenges have you personally faced?

Claire London: There are many challenges that come up for mothers in the industry, and I’d argue they even start before the baby is born. We begin to question how having a child will affect our career. Will it hold us back? Will I be able to keep doing this? Will someone else get the opportunity over me? And then it’s working through all the various challenges once you have your child, like having enough time, self-doubt, body image, figuring out a new rhythm, priorities shifting, and the never-ending search for balance.

Rockmommy: Can you tell us about a few mothers you’ve encountered in the music industry and how they inspire you?

I feel so fortunate because I get to talk to incredible mothers in the music industry all the time as host of the Mamas in Music Podcast. From artists to business executives to therapists, I’m inspired by each and every one of them in different ways, and it’s a great reminder that we are all facing many of the same challenges, and that we can work together to help each other thrive.

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.