Claud Celebrates Stellar Sophomore LP ‘Supermodels’ with a Performance at The Blue Room Tonight, Sept. 8

Chicago born bedroom pop artist Claud Mintz, who makes music as Claud, started out self-releasing songs to SoundCloud and honing their dreamy, homegrown sound as an introverted teen. Upon arriving at Syracuse University, Claud (who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns) made a new best friend in Josh Mehling, forming the dream pop duo Toast and releasing an eponymous EP in 2018. Pursuing an opportunity to tour, which led to more and bigger treks with artists like Girl in Red, Claud opted to leave college behind and began releasing music under their own name, beginning with an EP, Sideline Star, in 2019. Though now based in New York, where their debut album, 2021’s Super Monster, was recorded, Claud spent the early part of 2020 holed up in their childhood bedroom in Chicago working on its songs, a clever, earnest, and introspective portrait of young, queer love. During that time, Claud also teamed up with Syracuse classmate and friend Clairo, as well as Mehling and Noa Getzug, to form a pandemic band called Shelly, who released two tracks and appeared on Super Monster closer “Falling with the Rain.” Near the end of that album’s recording, Claud became the first artist signed to Phoebe Bridgers’ Dead Oceans record label imprint, Saddest Factory, who made the LP their inaugural release in early 2021.

The couple of years since have been a whirlwind, as Claud has amassed critical acclaim, an ever-growing fanbase, and some notable prominent fans, like actor Paul Rudd, who met the singer by chance at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, then went on to appear in Claud’s recent music video for “A Good Thing.” For Claud’s sophomore album, this summer’s Supermodels, the artist once again took an indie, grassroots approach, recording in their apartment using only the instruments already present, and once again reflecting on the journey from their childhood bedroom to their current life in New York. Like Claud’s debut, Supermodels takes cues from dreamy, contemporary bedroom pop, late ’90s pop hooks, and ’00s indie, with some emo earnestness, retaining that resonant, confessional songwriting style with even more with even more refinement and cohesion. It’s no surprise that they’re cosigned by some of the best indie artists making music today, and it’s incredible to see Claud’s starpower only rising with each incredible new release.

After appearing last year at Mercy Lounge just before the beloved venue shuttered in its former state, and then wowing us with their debut at Bonnaroo 2022, Claud is set to return to Nashville tonight, Sept. 8 in support of Supermodels, for a very special performance at Third Man Records’ The Blue Room with alt-pop duo Boyish– a perfect spot to appreciate Claud’s soft, intimate indie pop stylings. Surprisingly, a handful of tickets are still available, so get them while they last right here.