For the first time in her career, Scout Paré-Phillips has made an album with no love songs on it. Although the songs on Lupine Daughter are full of love, the New York singer-songwriter says that for the first time in her musical career, they are not love songs. Instead, lead single “Claw” and the record around it are about something harder won: choosing yourself.
Written while processing a lupus diagnosis and the death of her father from autoimmune disease, “Claw” is built on Paré-Phillips’ custom baritone guitar, layered with cello, pedal steel, and drums. It is heavy, urgent music, and deliberately so.
Paré-Phillips hopes that anyone dealing with chronic illness, family addiction, caregiving, grief, or general trauma will find catharsis and validation in the record, built on the idea that taking care of yourself first sometimes means making painful sacrifices, in order to keep functioning and showing up for the people and things you love.
It is a striking statement from an artist who has spent years in service of other people’s projects, from her band The Sterling Sisters to her work with Jack White. With “Claw,” Scout Paré-Phillips is finally putting herself first.
“Claw” is out now.