On The Rise: Clarissa Connelly
A soul-cleansing exploration of beauty through music.
Scottish-born, Copenhagen-based producer, composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Clarissa Connelly draws from her love and personal experience of Nordic culture after relocating to Denmark as a child. Signing to Warp in late 2023 following two self-released records, the experimental folk artist looks to century-spanning references (from 20th-century French philosophers to the poetry of William Blake) with which to amalgamate her particular practises, compositions and musical styles.
"Man has come to know the exterior world [of work], but he remains ignorant of his own nature. [Yet] if he had not first awoken to awareness through work, he would know nothing at all."
L'érotisme, Georges Bataille
Connelly's debut album on Warp, World of Work, is a great celestial adventure that guides us across an expanse of well-wrought instrumentals, textures and song that are both intimate and grandiose in nature. Her tender vocals and layered arrangements meld to form a body of work that is contemplative and ultimately restorative, her music a vessel for the wisdom of our forebearers.
Listening to Clarissa Connelly is like a large drink of cool spring water, the purest around, every sip a shot of vitality and a reminder of the life within and around us.
For fans of: Jenny Hval, Erika de Casier, Cate Le Bon
We're excited to announce Clarissa Connelly as part of Rough Trade On The Rise, our dedicated curation putting a spotlight on the emerging music we are the most excited for you to hear, to follow and become a fan of. Read on to discover more about the artist in her own words and don't miss new album World of Work on Warp.
Five by Five
5 Qs, 5 As
Describe your album in 5 words.
Bells, work, the profane, shadows, questioning.
5 records you listened to prior to making your album?
Arvo Pärt - Frates (I Fiamminghi, Rudolf Werthen)
Valkyrien Allstars - Slutte og Byne
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - I Speak Fula
Joni Michell - Hejira
Lyle Mays - Lyle Mays
Top 5 career moments since forming?
Performing with Laurie Anderson in 2022, practicing and performing her words with different voice techniques together with her. Learnt so much from that.
Singing my canons-project with some of my best friends in this big and very old (1100 AD) Cathedral in Denmark. Listening to our voices together, dancing and singing. Filled me with love!
Being a part of Meredith Monk’s School in NYC last year, meditating with her in the mornings, and using our voices and bodies every day, being present in the moment, in sound and music.
Going on tour with Jenny Hval around Europe...really moving to be a part of that. I’ve always loved her work.
You host a pre-release listening party for the album. Who are your 5 VIP guests (dead or alive)?
I guess Meredith Monk, would love her to come. She is one of the most profound artists of our time.
My friends I’ve met through music here in Copenhagen, Erika de Casier, Fine Glindvad, Henriette, Motzfeldt, Astrid Sonne, Rebecca Molina, Francesca Burattelli (they can count as two lol).
Hildegaard of Bingen, she would have something interesting to say I think.
My Niece Maymunah, she’s 8. She has a musical ear and a temper like my own and I would like to show her the whole world. She would very honestly tell me the peaks of the album, but also when the music was boring haha.
Top 5 essential tour snacks?
Earl grey tea with oat milk (not a snack but a must)
Scottish oatcakes
Dark chocolate with whole hazelnuts
Ginger candy
Carrots