For Claire Chicha, also known as spill tab, her artistry is deeply rooted in the emotions found in the spaces between words. The bilingual French-Korean singer-songwriter and producer's interest in sound design began at an early age. Growing up, she would observe ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) sessions from her parents’ post-production studio in Los Angeles, unknowingly establishing the groundwork for her career as spill tab, which has led her to tour alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Wallows.
Her debut album, ‘ANGIE’, as she describes it, is a project she has worked on for countless hours—likely many thousands—comprising her favorite musical creations from the past three years. Chicha reminisces about the album's ‘mountain dew interlude’, crafted in her co-writer’s bedroom studio, viewing those early works as crucial building blocks, a stark contrast to the 2020 track ‘Cotton Candy’, which was recorded on her room’s floor, with merely a microphone balanced on three stacks of books.
“I feel like my first three EPs were me practicing at the batting cages, figuring out what works and what doesn’t,” she shares with CLASH, reflecting on 2020’s ‘Oatmilk’, the 2021 project ‘Bonnie’, and ‘KLEPTO’, a 2023 offering blending punchy synthesizers, sultry vocals, and crunchy guitars. “The inception of the album was making ‘PINK LEMONADE’ and the title track ‘ANGIE’. I believe those two songs were either quirky enough or, in the case of ‘ANGIE’, I loved them enough to want to create a collection that contextualizes why those songs could coexist.” The “grandma and grandpa” of the upcoming album signified a new phase for her, along with her signing to the trendy French label Because Music.
Specifically discussing ‘PINK LEMONADE’, Chicha remembers how a 45-minute improvisational jam session was distilled down to a usable eight-second clip. “You can still hear the essence of the idea in that initial track at the start, but we layered so much on top of it, adding more 808s, more drums, and more guitar.” With such intense tracks interweaving themes of love and loss, and being a debut project, it’s clear a meticulous approach was necessary.
With ‘ANGIE’, expectations soared. Collaborating with a group of local artists, including long-time producer David Marinelli, along with Solomonophonic, Wyatt Corona, Austin Bernard, and John DeBold, Chicha immersed herself in vintage synthesizers, digital interpretations of analog sounds, and interconnected lyrics. “Once you record that stuff, it encourages you to engage with it.”
The follow-up single ‘De Guerre’, a gritty and self-indulgent track, featured Chicha writing in French, using it as a medium to express a particular persona. “Living in France taught me so much about being confident and assertive,” she recalls her time in Paris with her aunt, where she deeply engaged with the culture and its classic sounds. “It can be tough, and might seem harsh, but I truly value what it brought to my life,” she explains, highlighting the difference in social cues between French and English speakers.
Having witnessed the music industry's production-line aspect firsthand, Chicha views songwriters who write for pitches as some of the most dedicated individuals in LA. “One of the biggest blessings of 2021 was beginning to participate in many sessions. You get to collaborate with incredibly talented producers and take home whatever inspires you.”
At the time of the interview, wildfires were devastating Hollywood Hills and the San Fernando Valley. Comparing the city to a reality TV show, Chicha admits she has only briefly written for pitch, choosing a more proactive approach instead. “You can only create music for yourself because if you're attempting to create something for someone else, there's no assurance it will succeed,” she states. One thing is abundantly clear: spill tab is creating for personal healing. “At the very least, if you're making music for yourself, whether or not it becomes a massive hit, you can say that you have fulfilled something for your own mental well-being or soul.”
Words: Emma Way
Photography: Jade Sadler
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For Claire Chicha, also known as spill tab, her artistic expression places significant emphasis on the sensations found in the pauses between words. The bilingual songwriter, who is French-Korean, and