Diandra Interviews Claire McKeown: Chamber Pop To Save Your Soul!

I always say, In someone else’s story, we can toss between the roles of heroines and villains. The true struggle is when we recognize such roles, and see that, despite their interpretation, we either played a negative or positive part in their life. Claire McKeown has had many failures, triumphs, and times when she was good and bad to others. Yet, as an opera singer and leader of chamber pop choir, Honey Child, she had founded an opportunity to fight her inner demons with her angelic talent.

Diandra: What was the exact moment when you decided to form Honey Child? Why do you, alternatively, call it the Heroine Folk Project?

Claire: Honey Child was conceived as a ray of light to aide me as I felt the doom of ending two other music projects, Dirt Bird and Afternoons. It was the like a child conceived to get your shit together. At the time it was forming together I was going through a break up all wrapped up in a huge scandal in my personal life. I was not being a good person and found myself in shitty situations because of this. Honey Child was an about face and a place to express this heart- break.

I call it Heroine Folk because I think the term heroine is under used. We call men and women heroes and I have started to call them both heroines instead. Language is very important on how we see the world so this is me trying to make a change. It is also a tip of the hat to my opera roots since I have played many leading heroines on the stage.

Diandra: How does each member shine, creatively, during the process of making songs? Why do you think each one of you united for this group/ project?

Claire: I write all the songs and arrangements for Honey Child but when we are constructing the live sound I am always willing to let my ladies make decisions to show off their musicianship. I am so lucky to be surrounded by so many highly skilled musicians in this group and being open to their interpretation as well as balancing it with my vision.

I think that we all unite because most of us have a classical background and a deep love for harmony and theatrics. This project is about blend and unity which requires musicians willing to put their egos to the side to create a cohesive sound.

Diandra: What do you find to be the importance of chamber pop in impacting listeners compared to say, “bubblegum pop”, “electro-pop”, or other pop fusions?

Claire: Its importance, to me, is in all the voices involved in the polyphonic texture of chamber pop music. Is there anything more powerful than a group of humans singing in harmony? It is so uplifting and grand. Some of my favorite bands indulge in it. The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The BeeGee’s, The Mamas and the Papas, The Zombies… This is the type of music that is falling out of me right now. I love bubblegum pop and some electro pop and it can be just as affective to a listener. Genres are just a way to find your audience but it is all music at the end of the day.

Diandra: Your music thrives on feeling epic and dramatic, in part, because it is choral. What is one chorus’ song that deeply impacted you to the power of a choir?

Claire: Mozart’s Requiem Mass. I was obsessed with it as a teenager. Mozart’s true genius, to me, is his ability to compose for the human voice. His operas are some of my favorite, but this choral piece particularly made a huge impact on me. His voice leadings and plays between the four choral parts is an absolute revelation. His play on dark thick massive and light ethereal heavenly sounds drive me wild. It is music worth dying for.

Diandra: What are the core messages you hope listeners’ receive from your music and about your artistry?

Claire: Hope for them to interact with my music in an authentic way and take away any interpretation they happen to receive. I know what this music means to me, I know what I mean to express, but would never try to dictate to someone else what they are supposed to get from it. This is the true beauty of sharing your art to the world. Not getting to decide how others react or feel about it.

Diandra: Being a group from different places, experiences, and ideologies, what was one shared thought and emotional experience that you feel united you all?

Claire: Honey Child was created to deal with heart break and the realization that this emotion is both so personal and universal at the same time. Having an opera singer backed by a choir is this being represented musically. I think ‘Standing in the Shadows’ represents this best. It has a beautiful play between the individual and the collective. The choir is literally lifting me up. Without them, I would fall into an emotional dark hole.

Diandra: You have said past traumas and struggles, particularly addiction, influenced the writing of your debut. What the wisdom and strength music brought you when confronting your past? How can you now define yourself, differently, as a person thanks to your art?

Claire: Addiction is a funny beast. It jumps and shifts into other dependancies if you don’t deal with the root of it. My first major addiction was heroin (as a teenager), then i had a little speed problem, food, alcohol, men.

A few years ago during a Vipassana 10 day silent mediation retreat I put my finger on the truth behind my addictions. I was using, ultimately, because of self hate and the desire to get away from bad feelings not knowing that there is no such thing as bad feelings. They are just feelings and all feelings change. Nothing remains the same, all things pass. This revolutionized my life and has taught me to love myself just as I am.

Our first album is based on stories from my shadow self days. Falling in love with the wrong (toxic) people and shitting where I ate. I am a far different person than the one on this album which I am grateful for because I can now sleep at night without shame. I worked out my lofty abandonment issues with this album. Each song ultimately is dealing with this. My take away is that nothing last for ever and I have learned to let people come and go organically instead of trying to control them.

This album will act as a nice reminder to me to not return to this world of self made pain, and I hope it helps anyone else going through anything similar. I am kinder, i am more thoughtful, I have stronger friendships, I am full, and I am hopeful and positive about the now.

For More Information Honey Child And Claire McKeown Click Here.