sa国际传媒官网网页入口

Featured

Homegrown talent: ABQ native clarq. is ready to shake up the music scene

Published Modified

'Cowboy Killer Returns to ABQ'

鈥楥owboy Killer Returns to ABQ鈥

With Savings, Sun Sounds, Sweet Roll, Willajay and Clarq.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2

WHERE: Launchpad, 618 Central Ave. SW

HOW MUCH: $10, plus fees, at holdmyticket.com; $15 at the door. This is an age 21 and older show.

Local sa国际传媒官网网页入口 musician Danni Golden, also known in the music community as clarq., is ready to shake up the music scene.

As a child, clarq. (pronounced as Clark) grew up singing anywhere she could. From church to talent shows and singing the national anthem at football games, clarq. could never get enough of the joy singing brought her. She decided to go to the Public Academy of Performing Arts in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 to sharpen her skills.

Homegrown talent: ABQ native Clarq. is ready to shake up the music scene

鈥淚 was there singing and dancing and doing theater and becoming me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 had no idea what my trajectory would be but I still ended up using it.鈥

clarq. was writing and singing, ready to share music with the world when a close friend told her not to pursue music.

20241025-venue-v05clarq
clarq., right, and creative director and producer Marcus Scott, who works under the name mscottloveslife.
20241025-venue-v05clarq
clarq. will perform as part of the 鈥淐owboy Killer Returns to ABQ鈥 show on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Launchpad.
20241025-venue-v05clarq
clarq. will perform as part of the 鈥淐owboy Killer Returns to ABQ鈥 show on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Launchpad.

鈥淚t broke my heart because I had it in my mind that I was going to be a singer and songwriter,鈥 said clarq. 鈥淚 took a step away and lived my life, and I came out of that and my life wasn鈥檛 fulfilled without music in it.鈥

When clarq. reconnected with sa国际传媒官网网页入口-based creative director and producer Marcus Scott, who works under the name mscottloveslife and has worked with K-pop group SuperM and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., and everything changed. clarq. decided to take a leap of faith and dust off her vocal cords to get back in the music industry.

鈥淲hen Scott and I reconnected, he was in the midst of this creative hub,鈥 said clarq. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I knew this was what my life was missing and seeing him move so authentically in his craft and making music his life, I was like, 鈥極h, that鈥檚 what I want.鈥欌

鈥淔or me, it was like, how do I take something brand new to everybody else make it seem like it鈥檚 been seasoned,鈥 Scott said. 鈥淚t was already there, people just didn鈥檛 know it.鈥

Since then, the creative duo has given their all into music, crafting the clarq. sound and identity.

鈥淎 lot of conversations between us were about what clarq. is and more so what clarq. isn鈥檛,鈥 said clarq. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not a whole lot of separation but she鈥檚 just that part of me that鈥檚 so sure and that comes from doing something that鈥檚 your purpose.鈥

clarq. describes her sound as multifaceted, inspired by female musicians like Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton, Selena, Destiny鈥檚 Child and more who were on replay in her household growing up.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pop with 鈥90s R&B, alternative R&B, some neo soul influence and classic hip-hop, which I was so proud to put on display on my most recent album, 鈥楥Q,鈥欌 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very multifaceted but rooted in my influences.鈥

The work has paid off for clarq. Since her formal debut in 2021, she has opened up for notable performers like rap artists B.o.B., D Smoke and Talib Kweli, and clarq. is ready to keep putting on more shows for music lovers of all genres.

鈥淚f you ask any venue owner, they will probably have really positive things to say, not only just working with us personally, but I think the unique feedback that they would give is that the people that come to our events, and what we attract is so positive, and it鈥檚 so filled with just like love and good vibes,鈥 said clarq. 鈥淎nyone who believes in good music and having good vibes and a positive experience should come if that鈥檚 what resonates with you.鈥

clarq. will continue the trend of performing locally with her show 鈥淐owboy Killer Returns to ABQ鈥 on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Launchpad. She will be performing with artists Savings, Sun Sounds, Sweet Roll and Willajay.

The sa国际传媒官网网页入口 community has been supportive and clarq. hopes that continues.

鈥淭he only difference between a local artist and one that you鈥檝e heard of that is big is your support,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so thankful to be at every show and I鈥檓 overflowing with gratitude. I just want to be like the person people put on when they鈥檙e like 鈥業 want like, comfort, and I want to feel good, and I want to feel swaggy, and I want to maybe shed a tear or two.鈥欌