Claire Cronin's New Song Mourns A World On The Edge

Los Angeles-based writer and musician Claire Cronin has released a new single, 'Before The End Of Time.' The song is a slow, lovely torch song that serves as a gorgeous lullaby about missing the world once it ends. It previews her upcoming album, The Bruise, which is set for release on October 9 through Orindal Records and A Moth Object.

Cronin recorded the album with her husband and frequent collaborator, Ezra Buchla, formerly of the bands the Mae Shi and Gowns. The project also features assists from artists including Julia Holter and Deerhoof's John Dieterich. The new single features Cronin on voice and guitar, Buchla on strings and processing, and Mark Wessels on musical saw.

The Song's Themes and Inspiration

Cronin describes the song as being about deep nostalgia, grief, and a fear of apocalypse. She says it reflects a world on the edge of ruin. The artist was thinking about paranoia and delusion, and remembering walks in east Hollywood where helicopters were always circling.

When singing the chorus, Cronin imagines she is the ghost of an old crooner like Frank Sinatra, singing to the victims of a shipwreck. She states that by the end of the song, her sense of longing becomes too intense. 'I ask to be taken out of time,' Cronin says.

A Crowd-Sourced Music Video

To create the video for 'Before The End Of Time,' Cronin put out a call on social media. She asked people to send short clips of things they think they'll miss at the end of time, the end of their lives, or the end of the world. Contributors could interpret the prompt however they wished.

Cronin chose from among the entries and added a few of her own clips. She then edited everything together, trying to make the transitions match the movements of the song. She found it poignant that there was a lot of repetition in what people sent.

'So many coastlines, bodies of water, skies, trees, children, animals, and shimmering lights,' Cronin observed about the submissions.

Upcoming Album Details

The Bruise is Cronin's forthcoming album. The tracklist includes the previously released lead single 'Black Water.' The album's collaborators and release date are confirmed.

Cronin's work often explores folk horror and spiritual dread. Her 2020 book Blue Light Of The Screen deals with an obsession with horror movies, themes that also tend to come through in her music. The new single, however, strikes a more classicist tone within what could be described as doom-folk. The video for 'Before The End Of Time' is now available to watch.