In ‘befriending my tears,’ Clara Benin Triumphs by Embracing Vulnerabilities

The songsmith’s newest record is a reminder to “believe in yourself.”

“Life is strange, I’ll just ride it out anyway,” so goes one of the lines of Clara Benin’s “imposter syndrome.”

The alt-pop track acknowledges that while navigating life can be self-doubt-inducing, it’s all about moving forward — even if it means doing it at your own pace.

The affirming song is the lead single in Benin’s second studio album, “befriending my tears,” and it encapsulates the record’s theme of embracing fears and vulnerabilities.

A sonic journey toward healing

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“befriending my tears” is a nine-track effort that serves as the follow-up to the singer-songwriter’s 2020 EP, “Fragments.”

The album opener “imposter syndrome” is followed by the previously released “small town.” This song is a post-breakup tune, but it also focuses on rediscovering yourself in the process of dealing with heartache, hinting hope of a new beginning.

“blink,” a pivotal song in Benin’s musical career, talks about surrendering to the fleeting nature of life and simply being present. In a Bandwagon feature, she shared that “​writing [it] played a really important role in my healing process during the pandemic.”

In “different…,” the quiet frustrations brought forth by differences in a relationship are in the spotlight. But this bittersweet taste of love gone awry and the inevitability of change is immediately balanced by the succeeding track, “affable dork.” The song comfortably sits in the middle of the record, giving listeners a sweet breather as Benin speaks of gaining a love she once thought was beyond what she deserved.

“I am no manic pixie dream/ That you would fancy your way over to me/ There must be some kind of mistake,” she sings in the chorus.

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Ushering the audience into the second half of the record is “momentary.” The track, at times ambient and sonically playful, finds the 29-year-old songsmith finding a spark to keep going. Benin then ventures into a more pop sound in “keep still.” Moments of reservation and resilience collide as she touches on the miracle of growing far beyond expectation.

The penultimate track, “darling, i’ve been there,” tenderly unfolds as a comforting love letter, offering a kind of sheltering solace that comes from within. As the album draws to a close, “don’t hurt yourself trying to regain it all” becomes an enduring reminder to be gentle on yourself.

‘More expansive soundscapes’

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Overall, the songs carry “more expansive soundscapes and a refreshing musical direction that leans toward emo-tinged indie folk.” This gives the tracks — compositions bound by the common theme of “learning to believe in yourself” — a dreamier feel that makes them all the more resonant to the listener.

Artists Sam Marquez, Tim Marquez, Gabba Santiago, and The Ringmaster sat as the album’s producers, working on the tracks that Benin has arranged and produced herself.

However, what the record achieves goes beyond seamlessly introducing exciting sounds to the artist’s repertoire.

As a whole, it’s an earnest testament that life’s biggest triumphs can manifest as coming to terms with yourself — and embracing the person that emerges from the fiercest storms no one knows you’re battling.

Stream Clara Benin’s “befriending my tears”:

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Watch her Wishclusive performances of some of the album’s tracks below:

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See her collaborate with Japanese guitarist Ichicka Nito in “Reflection”:

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Written by Emmy Borromeo