Bonnaroo 2022 Artist Spotlight: Claud

Like we’ve been doing for many years now, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with many of our favorite acts from Bonnaroo‘s 2022 lineup. And, for the first time in three years, we finally feel confident that there definitely will be a Bonnaroo this year, after a postponement then cancelation in 2020 due to Covid, and an unfortunate rainout of last year’s would-be September event. Returned to its traditional timeframe of June 16-19, this marks Bonnaroo’s 21st summer and 19th installment, and features a largely new lineup for the festival’s much-anticipated return!

As we dig through the entire schedule, we’ll highlight a spread of performers spanning across genres and stages, big and small, new and old, to bring you some of the most interesting, lesser-known, and most highly-recommended among this year’s crop of artists. And as our time at ‘Roo approaches, we’ll also be bringing you some special features and full list-style daily lineup guides, to help you plan your weekend ahead of the fest. While these previews won’t span every artist, and might omit some more obvious must-see acts, we hope they’ll serve as a way to help you navigate Bonnaroo’s gargantuan lineup, and to make the most of your busy weekend on the farm!

Grab your tickets right here if you haven’t already, and read on for our Bonnaroo Artist Spotlight!

LEARN

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 groups like Girlpool and 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 debut album, last year’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 Claud’s album closer “Falling with the Rain.” Near the end of Super Monster‘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. Taking cues from dreamy, contemporary bedroom pop, late ’90s pop hooks, and ’00s indie, with some emo earnestness, Claud’s debut is one of our favorite records in recent memory, and it’s no surprise that they’re cosigned by some of the best indie artists making music today. There could not be a more exciting time to see them at Bonnaroo!

WATCH | “Soft Spot” (Official Music Video)