SINGER-SONGWRITER
ACTOR
COMEDIAN
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
RINGMASTER
VAUDEVILLIAN
CLOWN
WRITER
VIDEOS
PHOTOS
BIOGRAPHY
Claire Ness grew up in Whitehorse, then studied Comedy Writing and Performance at Humber College in Toronto and Circus Training at École Nationale de Cirque in Montréal.
Claire is a prolific songwriter in a variety of genres: blues, country, folk, jazz, children’s, musical theatre, francophone, and comedy. Her catchy tunes contain vivid imagery, elaborate metaphor, historical allusions, and intricate storytelling.
In 2021, Claire won a Canadian Folk Music Award and a Western Canadian Music Award for her children’s album “Broccoli Farm”. The title track "Broccoli Farm" was also a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition.
Claire has toured in Canada with the HomeRoutes organization, and attended multiple Artist Residencies, including the Singer-Songwriter Residency at the Banff Centre for Arts Creativity.
Claire is the Founding Artistic Director of the Yukon Circus Society and for the past few years has been focused on bringing circus workshops and performances to Yukon communities. For more information on the Yukon Circus Society, check out www.yukoncircussociety.com.
Claire is currently working on her fifth album, a live recording of her Jazz in the Hall concert, presented by Jazz Yukon. It is a collection of original love songs performed by an all-female septet featuring Andrea McColeman, Genesee Keevil, Keitha Clark, Bonnie Northgraves, Lorène Charmetant, and Malorie Gendreau.
QUOTES
“Definitely one of the colourful five percent.”
– JIM ROBB, Yukon Icon
“When I listen to her voice, I want her to be my friend.
There’s just something so unbelievably appealing.”
- RICH TERFRY, CBC
"I’ve been listening to Broccoli Farm steadily for the past few weeks, I hear something new each time and It never fails to lift my spirits. I love the clever lyrics, joyous sentiment, solid arrangements, and especially Claire’s crystal clear voice. This is bound to be one of those timeless recordings that is loved by many generations to come."
- AL SIMMONS, Entertainer
"A voice of sonic silk."
- MARTEN BERKMAN, filmmaker
"On a joué Maudite Affaire à notre émission vendredi et je te jure,
je la chantais sans arrêt toute la fin de semaine! Une très belle chanson.”
– JAIME LITTLE, CBC Radio Canada
"It’s the sort of music that fans of Norah Jones would be familiar with.
Added to that is a half-spoken, theatrical, expressive vocal that draws the listener in.”
– BARRY JACK JENKINS, Whats Up Yukon Reviewer
“Our producers and I were taken by Claire Ness… Jazzy, folky, torchy…”
– GRANT LAWRENCE, CBC
"I love U2, dirty electro house and Tom Waits.
But! Claire Ness is hands down my favourite band."
- DYNAMIKE, multi-international-award-winning-street-performer
“Claire Ness is climbing a tree. Is this going to be a problem?”
– FOLK ON THE ROCKS SECURITY
"That's my friend's mum."
- FREY BOUNDS
CONTACT
