Setting the tone with elegant and melancholic keys, Claire Bigley opens Embodiment with an enigmatic energy and and emotive, transcendental performance.
The opus expands with a dimensional nature and speeds up in tempo, generating fluid moments which lend themselves to a sense of intrigue and rawness. The charismatic delivery of the piece is tangible.
Halfway though the piece, the composition takes on a minimalist energy which feels meditative and draws us in deeper than we imagined. We appreciate the the way that Embodiment breaks down, going full circle back to the original melancholic energy that we first experienced. We connect with the prowess with which Claire Bigley performs, and the passionate and dynamic undertones of her delivery.
Speaking on her artistry, Claire Bigley confesses, “This song was created with the intention of awakening the body. I wanted to ground, calm, and engage the listener. I also wanted to create space and connection. I used some of the hymn, Shall we gather at the River to invoke the feeling of community to this spaciousness.”
We learn that Claire Bigley plays the piano and keyboard on all of her music. She is classically trained, and now finds herself playing in a more improvisation-based manner. She quiets herself, sits at the piano and allows what she is experiencing to flow through her fingertips.
Claire cites Chopin, Debussy, Nils Frahm, and Olafur Arnalds as some of her influences, although it is clear that she is creating a sonic universe of her own.
She adds with intention, “I recorded this track at the end of June 2022 just after Roe vs. Wade was debunked. My community felt powerless and deeply hurt by this. During this time I couldn’t get the hymn, Shall we gather at the River, out of my head. Such a powerful reminder of how effective gathering in love can be.”
We appreciate the depth and authenticity with which Claire Bigley creates, and have added Embodiment to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we stream her wider discography including Solitude and Awaken the Deep.