Denton-based singer-songwriter and visual artist Claire Morales is ready to enter a bold new era. Her forthcoming full-length album Lost in the Desert is set for release on August 19, and today she offers a first glimpse with the unveiling of “Champion,” a raw, cathartic lead single accompanied by a gripping one-take music video.
Premiered via Glide Magazine, “Champion” is now streaming on all platforms and showcases Morales at her most vulnerable—and most fearless. The track pulls from a turbulent chapter in the artist’s life, where conflict avoidance reached a breaking point. “It was brutal but necessary,” Morales says. “‘Champion’ is about embracing conflict… It pokes fun at how monumental small arguments can feel. I imagined it like the kind of one-sided argument you have in your car alone—it sounds great because no one’s there to challenge you.”
The single’s one-shot video, directed with emotional urgency, captures Morales in a charged performance that flirts with the edge of chaos. “Filming the video felt like exposure therapy,” she adds. “In a single take, I fight the camera, scream, cry, and release all the emotions that are too scary to express in real time.”
Lost in the Desert is more than just a record—it’s a layered artistic experience. Paired with a graphic novella, the album traces a surreal, mythic journey of self-discovery, portraying a lone woman’s trek through sand-swept terrain, both literal and emotional. Morales blends sonic textures as freely as she blends media, traversing folk, indie rock, psychedelic pop, and raw garage edges in a way that recalls Throwing Muses, PJ Harvey, and Mazzy Star.
Much of the album was recorded live in Denton, Texas, with Morales and lead guitarist Alex Hastings co-producing. The sessions brought together a rotating cast of friends and local players, anchoring the project in a spirit of community and trust. From blistering anthems to quiet, folky lulls, the album’s shifting tone reflects the layered emotional terrain Morales navigates.
Watch the “Champion” video on YouTube and stream the single now on all digital platforms.
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