“Just Because” by Claire Rosinkranz

A Candy Coated Take on Growing Up and Leaving Behind the Summer of Your Youth

By Kelty Duval

In 2020, Claire Rosinkranz went viral on TikTok for her song “Backyard Boy.” Now age 19, Rosinkranz has just dropped her debut album, “Just Because.” The album encapsulates Rosinkranz’s signature blend of whimsical sounds and intense lyricism. The artist herself has said that the thirteen track record details her life experiences as a teen growing into adulthood.

Almost every song off the album feels like a portal to California in the summertime, several of which detail Rosinkranz’s nostalgia of growing up in LA. Songs like “Pools and Palm Trees” reminisce about a person who made you feel like you were exploring the Pacific coastline. “Screw Time” and “Swinging at the Stars” elicit the carefree feelings of living life to the fullest with your best friends.

While every track is sung in a playful manner, some are more introspective than others. “Wes Anderson” and “Banksy” spin tales of relationship fallouts and loneliness; comparing the complex emotions to prominent figures. The third single off the album, “Never Goes Away,” comments on how words, once spoken, are permanent; especially in the digital age.

This album fully encapsulates the wistfulness that comes with adolescence and longing for the happy-go-lucky feelings of childhood. The songs will have you wanting to dance and sing into a hairbrush envisioning yourself spinning on a merry-go-round or jumping on a trampoline on the beach. “Just Because” proves that Claire Rosinkranz has the songwriting talent for more than just a viral TikTok sound.