Paper Citizen is lead by Claire Gohst. At 18, Claire decided to pursue music as a full-time career, starting out in the local live music scene around Singapore, playing the violin and singing in bars, clubs and restaurants with different rock and folk bands.
Interview conducted April 14, 2021
By Dan Locke
Paper Citizen, an indie-rock project, self-described as “Indie rock for a lost soul in a new world, ” led by Singaporean singer-songwriter, violinist, guitarist and music producer, Claire Gohst. The music blends crisp vocals with lyrical intimacy, spacious guitars and organic rhythms. She released her video/single, “Scratching the Surface” via American Songwriter, title track of her forthcoming album, due out April 23, 2021.
What is your upbringing?
I was born in sunny Singapore and grew up in a little apartment on the west side as a family of four. My mother was a lecturer at the polytechnic, and my father was a reverend at the Methodist church. We were a religious household. We had a lot of strict traditional Chinese values that had a heavy emphasis on respect, as well as conservative Christian values that placed a lot of rules on what we were allowed to do, think or say.
How did you discover music?
Music has always been important to my family, as it’s an integral part of the church for praise and worship. I first discovered music at church. My parents believe that music is a gift from God and wanted to give their kids a chance to learn what they couldn’t. Since the age of 5, my older brother and I began classical music training on piano, which we enjoyed at times, and at other times, felt immense pressure to perform to a standard that would fare well at practical examinations.
I remember getting my first battery-operated radio at the age of 11 and hearing the voices of Shirley Manson and Alanis Morissette cutting through the static. How it opened my mind infinitely – the visibility of strong, outspoken, and talented women. The allure of a wildly dangerous mix of rebellion and style. When I left home alone, I decided that pursuing a lifetime in music was the only thing I wanted to do.
How did you start to write music?
I started to write music when I moved to America in 2013.
Describe your music.
“Indie-rock for a lost soul in a new world”. The music combines crisp vocals, spacious guitars and organic rhythms.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
The first guitar I ever owned, I bought it when I first moved to Boston 8 years ago. It’s a Yamaha acoustic and I paid about $250 for it brand new, and it’s got a nifty lil built in tuner and pickup.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model?
My guitar of choice is my 2018 sunburst Mij Fender Stratocaster. Its name is Mushu.
How did you start to play violin?
When I was about 7 my older brother started playing the violin at an after-school program. I thought he was just the coolest human being I knew and immediately wanted to learn it too. It took me almost a couple of years to convince my parents to let me take lessons.
What is your go to violin for stage performance?
It’s a $150 classical violin with a piezo pickup on the bridge.
How did you form the band? How did your band get its name Paper Citizen?
After moving to the US to study music production and engineering, I also started writing songs. It started as a way for me to express a lot of the feelings I had kept inside. It got really lonely when I first moved here.
I spend a lot of time thinking about immigration and how a piece of paper, a document or a note can determine the places you can exist in this world. Music can live anywhere on earth.
How was it to record your violin through a piezo pickup (which I think is that same type of pickup in Ovation Guitars)?
It’s great! It sounds warm and full. I especially love the sound of a violin through an amp. For recordings, I like recording a combination of both the signal from the pickup and with a microphone pointed above the violin.
What was your first performance as Paper Citizen like at the King’s?
It was an open mic gig that my friends were hosting, and I remember being really nervous. Sometimes it seems harder to bare your soul and perform in front of your own friends.
What makes a good songwriter?
What is the process of writing your music?
Heart. I think a good songwriter can tell a story and move you.
Sometimes I have a chord progression I stumble on or hear in my head, other times I hear a melody and occasionally I write lyrics first. I try to hear a song take its shape, composing different sections as I play it out. Sometimes when that doesn’t work, I experiment with producing the music first and start to demo a track on my DAW – this organization and visualization helps clear the direction for where the song could go next
Do you belong to any songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Yes, I am registered to ASCAP. I have had no complaints whatsoever.
How does it feel to be a rep for the alternative lifestyle?
laugh to hear that.
If it was more than a bill board and you could say something, what would you say to the alternative lifestyle nation?
Go out and find new art that inspires you today
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Living In Between. I wrote it for my brother for his wedding, it was about us and how we grew up in Singapore, during the time we welcomed the internet. I’ve got a demo of it somewhere 🙂
Tell me about your album (Wandering Ghost) coming out on April 23rd.
Wandering Ghost is a collection of indie-rock songs, heavily influenced by rock of the early 2000s and the style of songwriting that I loved singing along to. It’s of a journey from East to West, ranging emotionally from light to dark,
What is backstory for the video Won’t Be Losing Sleep (Stuck at home edition)?
When quarantine started, my friends in Boston had an idea of collaborating entirely remotely with the new technologies that were available to us. The concept was that we were only going to use our phones and a laptop, and lights that we could find in my home. we had an audio engineer, video producer, photographer and myself all on video conference, capturing audio through the internet and visuals through our individual screens. We made use of a projector in the house and waited till sunset so we could really get the colors we wanted. It was a whole lot of trial and error and I found it to be a really fun and interesting experiment with friends. I love the way it turned out for such an emotional song as Won’t Be Losing Sleep.
What is your favorite track on the album?
Scratching The Surface is my favourite. It’s such an empowering bop.
How do you stay healthy while performing?
Not smoking so much, drinking lots of water, eating right and exercising 🙂
How was your first streaming concert in back in June?
It was a lot of fun, and really cool that anyone could tune in from wherever they were. It does feel different playing to a camera as compared to playing to a room of people. I missed being able to feel the energy of others in a space and interacting with my audience.
How can people forget about the origin hashtag # Sharp in a musical score? Because of social media #sonyrecords vs. F#
Can they? Not anyone I’ve come across!
Digital vs. vinyl?
We wouldn’t get the sound that we have today if it weren’t for digital. We wouldn’t know of any records if not for vinyl. There’s something lush and special about analog sound when we amplify the vibrations of sound waves that are imprinted on a surface. With digital music, it’s simply amazing that all the data is with us everywhere. It’s the sound of music when you’re out in the world.
Digital for on the go and vinyl for when you come home from a long day at work. As a generation, we are lucky ducks.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Barracuda by Heart! It reminds me that you can channel your frustration into a kick-ass record. And of course, Guitar Hero.
Both (Pfizer and BioNTech) and Moderna have conclude Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the both vaccine, it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?
I don’t know anyone who hasn’t lost someone or something this past year due to COVID. I don’t want to consider the thought of how many people might forget. I’m just hoping everyone takes it seriously so we can all start healing and moving forward together.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Nothing could kill live music. It did put a temporary pause on things and affected many local venues. That’s to be expected but with any big change, I think the music industry is always able to adapt and grow in new ways we never imagined. As difficult as it may be its inspiring. Besides, it’s hard being creative in a world where things are always staying the same.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Listening to music (Haley Williams, Ariana Grande, Donna Missal), writing, practicing and creating new music (you’ll hear it so soon), playing video games (finished Witcher III and still chugging on the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Lots of Mario Party), taking care of my 6-month-old ginger kitten Olly and cooking (discovering meal services and new recipes)
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
just discovered batting cages and skateboarding! totally new to me and it’s really so much fun
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
Netflix 🙂 I just got through watching Avatar, the last air bender. it’s the best!
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Separate from Facebook, Instagram seems to be the better place for indie artists. Which is unfortunate that they’re connected. I understand the thought and sentiment behind the legalities of the change in terms and service, but it creates new opportunities for other platforms to fill the places where they can’t. This will benefit the artists in the long run. Besides, I don’t think Facebook was made for music anyways.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
everything is digital nowadays,
They can still stay connected to their fans online, keeping them updated and asking for help if they need it, through online merchandise or streaming shows.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
It certainly was and still is! that’s capitalism.
but the truth is, discovery is limitless, it’s not the only way to go.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
You mean a party with a holographic concert?? Can’t wait.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” .”
Will this help save the industry?
Yes of course! There’s a lot to consider in how best to help their music industry. There are still going to be hundreds of creators who have already fallen through these cracks. The help did come but there are already casualties. it’s a nice first step towards changing things.
In the past if a musician stop doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a stops licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
I think many musicians today wear several hats. Sometimes music work is seasonal. I think I’d want to be a luthier, making instruments for someone else to bring music into this world.
What is your happy place?
Surrounding myself with music is my happy place
Spotify just deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. Was your saved?
Yup just checked, they’re all there.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Yeah! Thanks for your time and reading about my life! Wandering Ghost EP comes out on April 23. Throwing in modern elements of analog synths, sampled bits, and digital processing, this album became a scrapbook of sounds that were collected over a couple of years, arranging them through time to give each song its own kaleidoscope of colours. It’s soft and hard, bright and dark; all at the same time, constantly changing with every turn. Give it a listen and let me know what you think! @papercitizen on socials!
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