Her overnight success might not come as a surprise to all, as Rosinkranz has been writing songs since she was 8. Filling notebooks and iPads with lyrics, turns of phrase, and poems, the homeschooled artist would spend hours writing lyrics to songs that didn’t exist yet. Sometimes, she’d help her musician father, Ragnar, with melodies and lyrics for songs he’d been tasked to compose for TV shows and ad jingles.
Claire describes her style as alternative blues-pop, equally as inspired by early influences (like The Beatles’ Help!, Frank Ocean, and the Jack Johnson songs the family would listen to around the house) as it is by the singer-songwriter’s contemporaries, like Benee, Bruno Major, and Still Woozy.
Claire traffics in lo-fi songs with intricate yet totally relatable lyrics about friendship, crushes, family, and feelings. They plumb the depths of the human condition in very short bursts, exposing the songwriter’s remarkable emotional maturity and strong, singular grasp on her sound. Narratively, tracks like “Tough Guy” and “Seriouslaaay” follow Claire’s stories from start to finish while Ragnar’s clean, crisp production buoys his daughter’s crystal-clear vocals. “He totally captures my vision and if I don’t like something, I’m not afraid to say it,” Claire says of her dad. “Because we’re able to communicate so well, the process happens so quickly.”
The “star of the show,” Claire says of her catalogue, is “Backyard Boy,” the final song she wrote for the EP and one that grew legs of its own shortly after release, achieving massive viral success all on its own. “I was getting DMs from people telling me that ‘Backyard Boy’ was doing really well on TikTok,” she remembers. “Then, friends started texting me. Then more people were texting me. So I opened TikTok and I had 300,000 videos under the song and realized, “Oh, this is a thing!”
Signing to slowplay/Republic Records in 2020, Claire realized the work and dedication she’d been putting into music for half her life was coming to fruition. In August, she shot the “Backyard Boy” music video but kept things close to the family, as she’s done for years (it’s directed by her uncle, the first AD is her cousin, and close family friends star alongside her onscreen). “I think people are connecting to that song because it’s about a feeling you long for, especially during this time,” she says. “Everyone wants to have this experience but it’s something we can’t have right now because of COVID. But ‘Backyard Boy’ makes you feel like you can.”
Claire has spent a few years drilling down on her craft by refining her songwriting and learning to play instruments like the ukulele, the piano, and the jazz electric guitar (“that’s the one I absolutely enjoy the most,” she says), which have helped her turn her lyrics into fully imagined soundscapes. “I consider myself a writer first and foremost,” she’s quick to note. “I’m super fortunate to be able to sing all my songs, and I want to sing them, but writing is my favorite part of the entire process.”
Real Life
Claire Rosinkranz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hit the snooze on my alarm, let's do it again
Roll out of bed around 1:30, check who I am
'Cause honestly, I don't remember
My sanity got stuck in December
And my boyfriend still exists
I'm in my hoodie and some sweatpants watching Netflix
Not gonna lie, don't wanna go ask for the time
I'd like a box of breadsticks, eh
It's gonna be alright
Welcome to actual real life
It's gonna be alright
Da-da-da-da
Scrolling through my phone all day
Looking at all these perfect people
You're gorgeous, stop
Oh, my God, bae
And I wonder what would they say if I did nothing to impress them
Would they still be obsessed then?
And my schedule fell through the cracks
Sometimes I get my shit together, but others, I take three or four naps
There's no system, maybe I should get a cool tat
Having dumb conversations with the evil house cat
Yeah, yeah, yeah
It's gonna be alright
Welcome to actual real life
It's gonna be alright
I don't think that you would think that I could really be a pop star
But when I'm in my room, I'm really feeling like a rock star
Everybody does it, Sara-Sue still said she wasn't
Probably busy looking pretty for her special long lost cousin
What you gonna go when you're 'round like 82
And you're not looking at the past like, "Damn, this life goes really fast"
And all that you can remember's you were trying to be better
All these temporary pleasures, no real memories to treasure
Yeah, yeah, yeah
It's gonna be alright
Welcome to actual real life
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
Welcome to actual real life
It's gonna be alright
Da-da-da-da
The lyrics of Claire Rosinkranz's song "Real Life" give us an insight into the daily life of a young person who is struggling to find their place in the world. The song begins with the singer waking up at noon and hitting the snooze on their alarm, not wanting to face the day. They feel disconnected from themselves, unable to remember who they are or what they want, and stuck in a state of limbo that started in December. The singer's boyfriend still exists, but their relationship seems to lack excitement as they spend their time watching Netflix in comfortable clothes.
The next verse delves into a common issue faced by many young people today - the pressure to appear perfect on social media. The singer spends their time scrolling through their phone, comparing themselves to others and wondering if they would still be accepted if they did nothing to impress people. They feel like their schedule is falling apart and struggle to find a routine that works for them, often taking multiple naps throughout the day. Despite this, they seem content having "dumb conversations" with their pet cat.
Overall, "Real Life" conveys the message that it's okay to not have everything figured out and that temporary pleasures should not be prioritized over making real memories. The song is a relatable portrayal of the struggles faced by many young people today.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleep 'til 12:00 p.m.
I hit the snooze on my alarm, let's do it again
Roll out of bed around 1:30, check who I am
'Cause honestly, I don't remember
My sanity got stuck in December
I'm feeling stuck and can't seem to shake this funk I've been in since last year
And my boyfriend still exists
I'm still in a relationship even though I can barely manage my own life right now
I'm in my hoodie and some sweatpants watching Netflix
I'm not trying to impress anyone, just enjoying my comfy clothes and some easy entertainment
Call it romantic with a little bit of a twist
Sometimes, the most romantic thing is just being cozy and comfortable with your partner
Not gonna lie, don't wanna go ask for the time
I'm not really worried about keeping to a schedule, just going with the flow
I'd like a box of breadsticks, eh
Sometimes, the little things in life (like a box of breadsticks) can bring the most joy
Scrolling through my phone all day
I spend way too much time comparing my life to others on social media
Looking at all these perfect people
I feel like everyone else has it all together and I'm just faking it
You're gorgeous, stop
I know I should try to build others up, but sometimes it's hard when I'm feeling down about myself
Oh, my God, bae
I love my partner, but sometimes it's hard to balance my own life with our relationship
And I wonder what would they say if I did nothing to impress them
I wish I could just be myself without worrying about what others think
Would they still be obsessed then?
Do people only like me because I seem cool or successful on the outside?
And my schedule fell through the cracks
I'm not always good at managing my time or sticking to a routine
Sometimes I get my shit together, but others, I take three or four naps
I have good days and bad days, and sometimes I just need to rest and recharge
There's no system, maybe I should get a cool tat
I don't really have a plan or direction in my life right now, maybe a tattoo could help
Having dumb conversations with the evil house cat
Sometimes, talking to my cat is the highlight of my day (even if he is a bit of a jerk)
I don't think that you would think that I could really be a pop star
I don't fit the typical image of a pop star, but I still dream big
But when I'm in my room, I'm really feeling like a rock star
I may not make music that everyone likes, but it doesn't stop me from feeling like a star on my own
Everybody does it, Sara-Sue still said she wasn't
Even though it seems like everyone else has it all figured out, they struggle too
Probably busy looking pretty for her special long lost cousin
People have their own priorities and struggles, just like I do
What you gonna go when you're 'round like 82
When I look back on my life, what will be the things that truly mattered?
And you're not looking at the past like, 'Damn, this life goes really fast'
I don't want to regret the time I spent worrying or feeling lost when I'm older
And all that you can remember's you were trying to be better
I want to look back and know that I always tried my best and worked towards being a better person
All these temporary pleasures, no real memories to treasure
I don't want to spend my life chasing instant gratification and missing out on truly meaningful experiences
It's gonna be alright
Even though life is messy, there's still hope and things will work out in the end
Welcome to actual real life
This is what life is really like - it's not always perfect or glamorous
Da-da-da-da
Just some catchy lyrics to tie it all together
Writer(s): Claire Rosinkranz, Ragnar Rosinkranz
Contributed by Sarah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@garimaaaaa
"My sanity got stuck in december"
I felt that on a spiritual level 😭🤚
@chloegrace4998
🎶you’re gorgeous stop, oh my god, bae.🎶
@chloegrace4998
Ty for the likes
@N-J-A
Omg when I scrolled up on this that's EXACTLY when she said it
@Oliverardonn
@@N-J-A dude sameeeee
@kittyvalentine9384
@@N-J-A wait same omg
@gabrielmellina9948
0:19 When Claire said, "And my boyfriend doesn't exist" I felt that.
@homeroj.simpson4083
;C
@bethanylake4674
Claires aesthetic is so pure ✨😭
(Ty for the likes :) )
@kingzeus9532
True