Six Of The Best: That Clare

Teesside’s That Clare blends stripped-back electronics, acoustic ambience and raw lyricism to explore identity, protest and personal truth. A songwriter, producer and performer, she crafts much of her work at home, drawing influence from Laura Jane Grace, Blondie and Depeche Mode. Her debut album SOCIAL KONSTRUKT lands in February 2026, with new single Get Away offering an early glimpse.

The track features a poppy, synth-laced groove, a catchy piano riff, and a delicately delivered vocal that occasionally and emotively ups the ante. It’s a lo-fi, textured synthwave offering that nods to ’90s dance while evoking the quiet melancholy of ’80s post-punk.

Here, That Clare tells us about her influences across the board with a Six Of The Best…

What makes you what you are, hah well I dunno, I guess there’s an inevitability to a lot of your life choices but here’s a few important bits that tell you a lot about me…

Thing – Thomas Playmate Color-Glo Electric Organ
My dad has been such a catalyst in my love for music. When I was very young, one day I came home to find a very special instrument. It was the 1970s and no-one I knew had one of these, an electric organ. Not just any, this was a Thomas Playmate Color-Glo Organ complete with two keyboards, pedals, a built-in rhythm section with autochords and a button that lit up the keys to show you what you were playing. I loved it, I played it all the time, I mean ALL the time. Classic drum machines like the Roland CR78 used by Blondie, Ultravox, even Radiohead used the same tech and sounds, but that wasn’t on my radar back then. A strange and vivid scene plays out in my head as I copied my dad with House Of The Rising Sun and Ode To Joy whilst our Love Bird, Polly sat on the black notes as a perch.

Food = Love
Food is love so they say. I can’t argue. If I had a last meal what would it be. A vosht & egg sandwich on knotted poppy seed bread. Or maybe something spicy. I made the choice to walk home every day at school lunchtime and cook for myself whilst mam and dad were at work. Self-taught but I have watched and read and practiced everything to do with food since then and it’s a creative place where I still find solace to this day, and share my love with my wife, kids and friends.

Music – Depeche Mode
Whilst I would describe my musical tastes as eclectic, there has been one band that have chartered my life since I was a teenager. The evocative lyrics describing life, politics, sex, faith penned by Martin Gore, and the electronic sounds particularly through the tortuous period that were laid down by Alan Wilder when they made my favourite album of all time Songs of Faith & Devotion. Seeing them on that tour back in 1993 at Crystal Palace is still as present today for me as back then. They’re a band that stayed under the radar in the UK for so many years but have influenced so much that you hear in post-punk rock including the likes of Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Lady Gaga and many more. I have to admit to taking a huge dollop of inspiration in my own music too.

Film – Cabaret (Liza Minelli, Joel Grey, Michael York 1972)
Life is a cabaret old chum, come to the cabaret. Who could fail to be captivated by Liza as Sally Bowles. Cabaret is quirky and sexy, set against a backdrop of the rise of the Nazi’s in Weimar era Berlin you have missed something historic and outstanding if you haven’t seen this musical to end all musicals. 1930s Berlin was polarised, the film is set during a time that Magnus Hirschfeld’s institute so instrumental into support & research for transgender and gay people, but being the site of the famous book burning by the Nazis. In parallel Berlin was a place to explore yourself symbolised by the film’s Kit Kat Club – some contrast. It’s a really fun and thought-provoking ride, and the songs are so catchy you will sing them all week after every viewing. Fabulous.

Podcast/Radio – Alexei Sayle’s Imaginary Sandwich Bar
Until 1979 comedy was largely right-wing misogyny and prejudice, but then the first Comedy Store opened in SOHO and master of ceremonies was one Alexei Sayle. Anarchic, left wing, anti-establishment, progressive, sometimes scary and mostly ridiculous he was one of the founders of the comedy revolution that kicked off with programmes like The Young Ones. He’s had a long and illustrious career in film and TV, but Alexei Sayle’s Imaginary Sandwich Bar is my favourite and I’ve listened to all 5 series on BBC Sounds probably 30 or 40 times over. It’s everything that Alexei stands for and I never tire of it. I’ve even been to a live recording at Television Centre!

Place/Community – Leeds LFF
You could call it my birthplace, though I’m originally from the Boro. The place where Clare came to life was Leeds. Leeds First Friday to be more precise. A special place, a special event. One that continues to support and provide a safe space to trans and non-binary folks, and those figuring out their own journey. My community are part of my family. Bouncing between The Cosmo, The Bridge, The New Penny and Blayd’s Yard amongst several other places, varying in glitter and squaller but all of them accepting. I balanced on my first heels and found my feet. I love this place.