Claire Rousay (styled as claire rousay) is a Canadian-American experimental musician and composer based in Los Angeles. Rousay, who is currently signed with Thrill Jockey, is known for using field recordings to create musique concrète pieces.
Early life Rousay was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and moved to San Antonio, Texas, with her family when she was ten years old. Rousay's interest in music began at the age of three when she began piano lessons with her mother, a professional pianist. Rousay grew up in an Evangelical Christian household and played drums during church events until she distanced herself from Christianity. She dropped out of high school at the age of 15 and became a solo percussionist.
Career In 2020, Rousay released the album It Was Always Worth It via Longform Editions.
In 2021, she released A Softer Focus via American Dreams. The album was a collaboration with San Antonio-based visual artist Dani Toral, who first met Rousay in middle school. She also released Everything Perfect Is Already Here (2022).
Rousay has also collaborated with her best friend and fellow Texas-based experimental musician Mari Maurice, who performs under the name More Eaze. They have released numerous collaborative albums together.
In 2023, Rousay signed with American record label Thrill Jockey and released the album Sentiment in April 2024.
Musical style
Rousay uses a Zoom H5 Handy Recorder to record everyday sounds and uses them to create musique concrète pieces. Her music has been described as experimental and "emo ambient".
Personal life Rousay, who moved from San Antonio to Los Angeles in 2022, still maintains her Canadian citizenship. She hosts a weekly online show on NTS Radio.
In 2019, Rousay came out as a trans woman. The proceeds of her 2022 album Wouldn't Have to Hurt were donated to The Trevor Project. She also has a dog named Banana.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Blip Released: April 13, 2017 Label: Mended Dreams Formats: Digital download, streaming Several Erasures Released: April 19, 2019 Label: Already Dead Formats: Digital download, streaming Aerophobia Released: June 21, 2019 Label: Astral Spirits Formats: Digital download, streaming T4t Released: October 22, 2019 Label: No Rent Formats: Digital download, streaming Friends Released: November 17, 2019 Label: Mended Dreams, Never Anything Formats: Cassette, digital download, streaming If I Don't Let Myself Be Happy Now Then When? Released: March 13, 2020 Label: Mondoj Formats: LP, cassette, digital download, streaming Specifically the Water Released: April 17, 2020 Label: Monofonus Press, Astral Spirits Formats: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming A Heavenly Touch Released: April 17, 2020 Label: Already Dead, Mended Dreams Formats: LP, cassette, digital download, streaming I'll Give You All of My Love Released: May 1, 2020 Label: Mended Dreams Formats: Digital download, streaming Both Released: August 28, 2020 Label: Second Editions Formats: LP, digital download, streaming A Softer Focus Released: April 9, 2021 Label: American Dreams Formats: LP, digital download, streaming An Afternoon Whine Released: July 23, 2021 Label: Ecstatic Recordings Formats: LP, digital download, streaming Never Stop Texting Me Released: February 11, 2022 Label: Orange Milk Formats: LP, cassette, digital download, streaming Everything Perfect Is Already Here Released: April 22, 2022 Label: Shelter Press Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming Wouldn't Have to Hurt Released: September 14, 2022 Label: Mended Dreams Formats: Cassette, digital download, streaming A Very Busy Social Life Released: December 16, 2022 Label: Mended Dreams Formats: Cassette, digital download, streaming Anything You Can Do... Released: December 16, 2022 Label: Mended Dreams Formats: Digital download, streaming Sentiment Released: April 19, 2024 Label: Thrill Jockey Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming The Bloody Lady Released: November 8, 2024 Label: Thrill Jockey Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming No Floor Released: March 21, 2025 Label: Thrill Jockey Formats: LP, digital download, streaming A Little Death Released: October 31, 2025 Label: Thrill Jockey Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming Hotel Room Released: September 25, 2026 Label: Unsound Formats: LP, digital download, streaming
EPs Title EP details Divide Released: April 20, 2018 Label: Mended Dreams Neuter Released: November 2, 2018 Label: Mended Dreams It Is Just So Much More Difficult Released: April 15, 2019 Label: Falt, Mended Dreams A Moment in St Louis and a Moment at the Beach Released: July 17, 2019 Label: Mended Dreams Live at Elastic Arts Released: July 3, 2020 Label: Astral Editions </3 Released: July 17, 2020 Label: New Computer Girls It Was Always Worth It Released: October 14, 2020 Label: Longform Editions Split Released: November 16, 2020 Label: Full Spectrum Live Released: July 2, 2021 Label: American Dreams A Crying Poem Released: August 5, 2022 Label: Orange Milk 17 Roles (All Mapped Out) Released: September 29, 2022 Label: Shelter Press Distance Therapy Released: October 12, 2022 Label: Longform Editions Claire Rousay (Audiotree Live) Released: September 12, 2024 Label: Audiotree
Singles Title Year Album "Tuufuhhoowaah / Bday Shots" 2020 "Kyle" Never Stop Texting Me "Peak Chroma" 2021 A Softer Focus "Discrete (The Market)" "Same" 2022 Never Stop Texting Me "Hands" "Stairs" "Overcoast" A Crying Poem "Deceiver" 2023 rowspan=2 "Sigh In My Ear" "Head" 2024 Sentiment "Ily2" "It Could Be Anything" "Lover's Spit Plays in the Background" "III" The Bloody Lady "VIII" "How Sweet I Roamed" Transa "Limelight, Illegally" No Floor "Kinda Tropical" 2025 "Lowcountry"
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