Forest Claudette on Blending Genres and His Debut Album ‘The Year of February’
Eye-catching and unforgettable, Forest Claudette (Kobe) unifies warm and stylish arrangements with their sophistication and wit. A stellar musician powering through both Australia and the United States, this singer-songwriter is honing their craft one track at a time by mingling characteristics of woozy R&B, rhythmic pop, and their unmissable sense of flow. After one listen, you can’t help but catch the sound resemblance of Frank Ocean, Solange and noname – all musicians fitting for a playlist with Forest Claudette rightfully situated next in queue. It’s no wonder they've scaled a devoted following from friends, family and out into the wider music industry.
Alike to the thoughtfulness behind their music their name follows the same avenue. Bringing forth the nuances of the Black experience, Forest shares the journey of their adolescence while adopting the identity of their background. “I’ve had a few names and in 2020 in the height of ‘Black Lives Matter’, I felt like it was important to allow myself the opportunity to talk about black rights and I suppose blackness as a whole, because it’s something that I have had to come to terms with a lot over the years, especially since I’m a mixed kid. Pretty much, Claudette comes from Claudette Colvin, who’s an incredible black figure and I grew up in the Forest”.
The heart, mind and soul personified; Forest Claudette finds relevance in everyone’s life. Their songs not only express their most intimate and intrusive contemplations but also pools together a sense of childlike behaviours and playfulness. Their light-hearted track "Congratulations" is just that.
While being in the midst of their career, their highly anticipated 2022 debut EP The Year of February, marks a step forward in their trek, while simultaneously solidifying their place in the game. "Hologram" is a perfect example of their act, sporting genre-blurring beats, cool-composed tones, and dulcet lyricism. “This song is a piece of work that I’m incredibly proud of. I feel like it’s one of the more interesting blends and mashes of genres that I’ve made so far. The more that I listen to it and perform it I’ve come to realise the song for me is pretty heartbreaking since it’s most of my self-doubts and feeling like the things I had achieved didn’t really mean anything. It’s interesting”.
If you’re a genre explorer, their tracks are definitely one to add to the mix. Intentionally blending as many genres as possible, they make it difficult to get bored and find fault in a release. With years upon years of creation up their sleeve, Forest Claudette is spearheading straight into the new year as a contender ready to make their name known to the world.
Get familiar with their latest tunes by listening to their debut EP here.
