Clara Chung

{{Short description|American musician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Clara Chung | image = ClaraChung.jpg | caption = Clara in 2011 | birth_name = Clara Chung | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|10|31}} | birth_place = New York, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} | origin = New York City, U.S. | measurements = | instrument = {{Flatlist| * Guitar * vocals * keyboards * drums * percussion * trumpet * flute * melodica }} | occupation = {{Hlist|Singer-songwriter|musician}} | years_active = | label = Independent | spouse = | alias = CLARA (Previously Clara C) | module = {{Infobox youtuber | child = yes | youtube_handle = @CLARAtheartist | youtube_display_name = CLARA | youtube_years_active = 2009–present | youtube_genre = Music | youtube_subscribers = 236 thousand | youtube_views = 25.4 million | stats_update = December 19, 2025 }} }}

'''Clara Chung''' (born October 31, 1987), known mononymously as '''Clara''' (stylized in all caps), is an American singer-songwriter, producer and composer. She is a music artist who rose to fame on Youtube when she won numerous talent competitions in a row including JC Penney's Talent Search, Los Angeles’ Kollaboration 10, KAC Media Juice Night, and ISA 2009. CLARA is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who writes, produces, and directs her own content. CLARA has independently sold-out tours worldwide and has performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and for the White House's U.S. Department of Education. CLARA's music has been featured in commercials, Film & TV (Netflix's ''Big Mouth)'' and can be heard in public spaces all around the globe. CLARA also composes for cosmetics industry titan Bobbi Brown.

== Early life and education ==

Chung was born in New York on October 31, 1987, to South Korean-born parents who currently reside in Northridge, California.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-273389--.html|title=Singer Clara C. is a YouTube sensation|last=Chang|first=Richard|date=October 29, 2010|work=Orange County Register|accessdate=October 23, 2012}}</ref>

Chung graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and a minor in Education in 2010 and is currently enrolled in a graduate program for Psychology at Pepperdine University.<ref name="apa">{{cite web | url = http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?the_art_in_my_heart_an_interview_with_clara_chung_15449.aspx | title = The Art in My Heart: an interview with Clara Chung | publisher = Asia Pacific Arts | date = July 16, 2010 | access-date = February 13, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100806180944/http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?the_art_in_my_heart_an_interview_with_clara_chung_15449.aspx | archive-date = August 6, 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref> She is now a full-time professional music artist, but had taught children with autism prior to her music endeavors.<ref name="apa"/>

== Career == {{More citations needed section|date=March 2026}} In a 2011 interview after the release of her first album, Chung said that she initially was not particularly motivated to post videos of her singing and guitar playing on YouTube, but was encouraged by her friends to try it out. Chung describes the music in her album, ''The Art in My Heart'', as being diverse and "taking on a lot of different sounds." "There are songs that are very much like Sara Bareilles and others that are more like Coldplay. And there are other songs that I can't categorize. I guess if you want to sum up influences, I’d say definitely Sara Bareilles, John Mayer, Feist."

In 2010, Chung won the Kollaboration LA competition after writing her first hit original song "Offbeat" and performing it at the competition held at the Shrine located near University of Southern California.

In April 2010, Chung worked with other popular artists such as rappers Dumbfoundead and Jay Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soompi.com/news/jay_park_dumbfounded_and_clara_chung_to_release_a_song_tomorrow_1 |title=NEWS: Jay Park, Kobe Shin, and Dumbfoundead And Clara Chung To Release a Song Tomorrow |publisher=Soompi|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427233253/http://www.soompi.com/news/jay_park_dumbfounded_and_clara_chung_to_release_a_song_tomorrow_1|archivedate=April 27, 2010|date=April 22, 2010 |accessdate=December 1, 2010}}</ref>

In September 2010, she released her album ''Art in My Heart'' in conjunction with her music video for the lead single "Offbeat". The video for "Offbeat" was directed by viral video director Ross Ching<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/06/driven-by-the-desire-to-create-the-next-viral-video.html |title=Driven by the desire to create the next viral video | Culture Monster |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 7, 2010 |accessdate=April 6, 2015}}</ref> (of Kina Grannis' "Valentine" music video fame)<ref>[http://www.beatweek.com/music/musicianinterviews/3175-kina-grannis-interview/] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120908034223/http://www.beatweek.com/music/musicianinterviews/3175-kina-grannis-interview/|date=September 8, 2012}}</ref> and produced by Don Le of Fusion3Films. The concept for the video was Chung singing amongst inspiring visuals in a world filled with bubbles. It has amassed over 13,000,000 unique YouTube views so far. DJ Descry and My Parasol have produced the only known remixes to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allkpop.com/2010/09/clara-chungs-offbeat-mv-released |title=Clara Chung's 'Offbeat' MV released! |publisher=Allkpop.com |date=September 29, 2010 |accessdate=April 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/w_apa/showarticle.aspx?articleID=15764&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 |title=Asia Pacific Arts: Clara Chung releases new music video for "Offbeat" |publisher=Asiapacificarts.usc.edu |date= |accessdate=April 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710142254/http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/w_apa/showarticle.aspx?articleID=15764&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://mochimag.com/blog/2010/09/clara-chung-releases-her-first-music-video-for-offbeat/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022154718/http://mochimag.com/blog/2010/09/clara-chung-releases-her-first-music-video-for-offbeat/|date=October 22, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://a-tunes.net/2010/09/28/clara-chung-releases-debut-album-music-video/ |title=Clara Chung Releases Debut Album & Music Video |publisher=A-Tunes.net |date=March 23, 2015 |accessdate=April 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://a-tunes.net/2010/09/30/dj-descry-remixes-clara-chungs-wake-up-in-neverland/ |title=DJ Descry Remixes Clara Chung's "Wake Up in Neverland" |publisher=A-Tunes.net |date=September 30, 2010 |accessdate=April 6, 2015}}</ref> In 2011, director Ross Ching and producer Don Le followed up with a second music video, "The Camel Song". The video featured YouTube personality, Nigahiga, as her love interest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.droku.com/blog/clara-chung-reveals-the-camel-song-music-video-ft-ryan-higa/#more-5601 |title=Welcome to |publisher=Droku.com |date= |accessdate=April 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hsieh |first=Kevin |url=http://www.channelapa.com/2011/08/the-camel-song-by-clara-c.html |title=The Camel Song by Clara CchannelAPA.com |publisher=ChannelAPA.com |date=August 8, 2011 |accessdate=April 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411165244/http://www.channelapa.com/2011/08/the-camel-song-by-clara-c.html |archive-date=April 11, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In February 2011, Chung announced her Loveprint mini-tour (March–April) in which she makes stops in Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle and San Diego.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?clara_chung_announces_her_new_mini-tour_16355.aspx| title = Clara Chung announces her new mini-tour| publisher = Asia Pacific Arts| date = February 8, 2011| access-date = February 12, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130826050038/http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?clara_chung_announces_her_new_mini-tour_16355.aspx| archive-date = August 26, 2013| url-status = dead}}</ref>

On June 6, 2011, on an interview with Robert Herrera of Front Row Live Entertainment, Chung stated that she is currently writing a new album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clara C Interview w/ Robert Herrera| date=June 6, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x-k50QnFVQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/8x-k50QnFVQ |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=Front Row Live Ent|accessdate=June 11, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On September 25 2012, Chung released her 2nd Album titled ''esc''.

Chung also toured with David Choi on their Fall Tour presented by YesStyle, visiting 19 different cities from Canada and the United States.

On September 30 2013, Chung released her acoustic album ''Organika'', and in October toured the United States and Canada, visiting 14 cities. This tour was an acoustic tour that is based on her album ''Organika''.

Chung and her husband were featured in Andy Grammer's music video for "Honey I'm Good."

===Discography===

===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" |- !align="left"|Album Information !align="left" width="250px"|Track list |- | style="text-align:center;"|'''''The Art in My Heart'''''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-art-in-my-heart/396836981 |title=iTunes Music – The Art in My Heart by Clara C |publisher=iTunes Store |date=September 24, 2010 |access-date=April 6, 2015}}</ref> *Released: September 24, 2010 |{{hidden|'''Track list'''| # Hum # Offbeat # Heartstrings # The Camel Song # Til We Go # Fool's Gold # Dear Daphne # Loveprint # Wait on Me # Wake Up in Neverland }} |- !align="left"|Album Information !align="left" width="250px"|Track list |- | style="text-align:center;"|'''''Esc'''''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/esc/565125382 |title=iTunes Music – Esc by Clara C |publisher=iTunes Store |date=September 25, 2012 |access-date=April 6, 2015}}</ref> *Released: September 25, 2012 |{{hidden|'''Track list'''| # You've Got It All # Quesadilla # Let Grow # False Start # Brighter Days # Eventually # By the Blue # Wanting What I Need # Fish # These Are the Good Old Days }} |- !align="left"|Album Information !align="left" width="250px"|Track list |- | style="text-align:center;"|'''''Organika (An Acoustic Album)'''''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/organika-an-acoustic-album/id718031222/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030012917/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/organika-an-acoustic-album/id718031222 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 30, 2013 |title=iTunes Music – Organika (An Acoustic Album) by Clara C |publisher=iTunes Store |date=September 30, 2013 |accessdate=April 6, 2015}}</ref> *Released: September 30, 2013 |{{hidden|'''Track list'''| # Nayelli # Heartstrings (Remixed) # Wanting What I Need # You've Got It All # Quesadilla # One Look # Offbeat # Fish }} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category}} *{{Official website|http://www.claracmusic.com}} *{{YouTube|u=ClaraCMusic|Clara Chung}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chung, Clara}} Category:Living people Category:American musicians of Korean descent Category:American people of South Korean descent Category:1987 births Category:American women singer-songwriters Category:Singer-songwriters from California Category:Guitarists from Los Angeles Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters Category:21st-century American women singers Category:21st-century American women guitarists Category:21st-century American guitarists Category:University of California, Irvine alumni Category:Musicians from New York City Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state) Category:YouTubers from New York City Category:YouTubers from Los Angeles