British artist and producer Clara La San’s moody, ethereal R&B resonates with the swaths of Gen Z kids who obsessively tag every aesthetic with a “-core” signifier, commanding attention on TikTok and garnering hundreds of millions of streams. She’s a far cry from a typical virality recipient, though. After wiping her 2017 mixtape Good Mourning from streaming services, the artist, whose first single dropped in 2014, re-released a newly recorded version in 2024, following her true first album, Made Mistakes, earlier that year. Her rich sonic world was forged over the past decade, and still sounds decidedly fresh despite sharing earworm tendencies with throwback slow jams. We sent La San some questions about her creative process and what comes after, whether it’s the incessant social media attention or her sold-out live dates. Read her answers below.  

You produce your own work—how do you find collaborators you trust enough to let them into that process? What makes you feel understood in the studio?

Clara La San: I need to feel like they resonate with my sound and I can figure that out pretty quick. If I have to think about feeling understood in the studio then it’s probably not the best collaboration.

How do you know when a song is done? How did you know that the original Good Mourning tracks weren’t?

I felt a disconnect to the original mixes. I knew I needed to re-record the vocals to restore the intimacy that was lost. I rented a house in North London for inspiration and spent weeks meticulously re-recording my vocals. I learned many things from that experience and the main one was to sit with the music. Don’t rush the process. See if you still feel the same way about a song weeks later.

What’s the best part about going viral? What’s the worst?

The best part is being able to make a living doing what I love. I’m incredibly grateful for that. I’m yet to experience the worst.

Do the songs that resonate most with your listeners always align with your personal favorites? 

Not always. I didn’t expect so many fans to resonate with Feel Good so that was a nice surprise. 

What influences your melodic choices? 

The art of vocal control has always inspired me. Naturally I have a quiet speaking voice and so when that translates to singing my vocals are more delicate. I take a similar approach to production too i.e. my love for warm synth pads and atmospheric sounds. 

You made your return to the stage a little over a year ago—have you changed as a performer since then?

I feel less afraid to express myself because I feel more comfortable in my own skin. Maybe that comes with age.

You're often referred to as a mysterious figure. What’s the biggest misconception people have about you based on your online presence? 

I’m not sure what people’s misconceptions about me might be. I will say that my online presence is resemblant of my personal life. I like to imagine my own reality and the more time I spend around people, the less I’m able to do that. I find that silence brings inspiration. 

What excites you about 2026?

Touring and authentic collaborations.

(Photo Credit: Louis F Cota)