Homegrown talent: ABQ native clarq. is ready to shake up the music scene

Local Albuquerque musician Danni Golden, also known in the music community as clarq., is ready to shake up the music scene.

As a child, clarq. (pronounced as Clark) grew up singing anywhere she could. From church to talent shows and singing the national anthem at football games, clarq. could never get enough of the joy singing brought her. She decided to go to the Public Academy of Performing Arts in Albuquerque to sharpen her skills.

Homegrown talent: ABQ native Clarq. is ready to shake up the music scene

“I was there singing and dancing and doing theater and becoming me,” she said. “I had no idea what my trajectory would be but I still ended up using it.”

clarq. was writing and singing, ready to share music with the world when a close friend told her not to pursue music.

“It broke my heart because I had it in my mind that I was going to be a singer and songwriter,” said clarq. “I took a step away and lived my life, and I came out of that and my life wasn’t fulfilled without music in it.”

When clarq. reconnected with Albuquerque-based creative director and producer Marcus Scott, who works under the name mscottloveslife and has worked with K-pop group SuperM and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., and everything changed. clarq. decided to take a leap of faith and dust off her vocal cords to get back in the music industry.

“When Scott and I reconnected, he was in the midst of this creative hub,” said clarq. “That’s when I knew this was what my life was missing and seeing him move so authentically in his craft and making music his life, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s what I want.’”

“For me, it was like, how do I take something brand new to everybody else make it seem like it’s been seasoned,” Scott said. “It was already there, people just didn’t know it.”

Since then, the creative duo has given their all into music, crafting the clarq. sound and identity.

“A lot of conversations between us were about what clarq. is and more so what clarq. isn’t,” said clarq. “There’s not a whole lot of separation but she’s just that part of me that’s so sure and that comes from doing something that’s your purpose.”

clarq. describes her sound as multifaceted, inspired by female musicians like Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton, Selena, Destiny’s Child and more who were on replay in her household growing up.

“It’s pop with ’90s R&B, alternative R&B, some neo soul influence and classic hip-hop, which I was so proud to put on display on my most recent album, ‘CQ,’” she said. “It’s very multifaceted but rooted in my influences.”

The work has paid off for clarq. Since her formal debut in 2021, she has opened up for notable performers like rap artists B.o.B., D Smoke and Talib Kweli, and clarq. is ready to keep putting on more shows for music lovers of all genres.

“If you ask any venue owner, they will probably have really positive things to say, not only just working with us personally, but I think the unique feedback that they would give is that the people that come to our events, and what we attract is so positive, and it’s so filled with just like love and good vibes,” said clarq. “Anyone who believes in good music and having good vibes and a positive experience should come if that’s what resonates with you.”

clarq. will continue the trend of performing locally with her show “Cowboy Killer Returns to ABQ” on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Launchpad. She will be performing with artists Savings, Sun Sounds, Sweet Roll and Willajay.

The Albuquerque community has been supportive and clarq. hopes that continues.

“The only difference between a local artist and one that you’ve heard of that is big is your support,” she said. “I’m so thankful to be at every show and I’m overflowing with gratitude. I just want to be like the person people put on when they’re like ‘I want like, comfort, and I want to feel good, and I want to feel swaggy, and I want to maybe shed a tear or two.’”