We had the good fortune of connecting with Clare Dunn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Clare, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think about risk as a positive. Every great advancement in our society and world history, has started with someone taking a risk. To look beyond the way things are, and dare to see something that could be. For me as an artist, I always have loved artists who have taken risks with their music and I aspire to do the same.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was raised on a farm and ranch in rural Colorado. I think as a songwriter and artist that definitely gives me a unique point of view that has always been the bedrock for my music. The western and Ag way of life is something I treasure and champion, and those experiences and life lessons have always been the guiding force in my music.

Getting to where I am today was certainly not easy – but the work ethic I was gifted growing up on the farm/ranch, has played a huge role in my success. There is no quit and I think if I could say one thing to folks reading this, it would be those 4 words. There is no quit. When I first moved to Nashville I couldn’t play, couldn’t write, couldn’t record, I had no idea what was going on. I had a vision, and the drive to make it a reality and that’s all I knew. It certainly wasn’t easy learning crafts I had never been around (no one in my family is musical/musician). But that “no quit” attitude is what carried me through those early days and beyond. I think too often we see on social media that things seem to come easy to everyone, and not the gritty, determined, work that goes on in the background to get to that point. Don’t be afraid of it, just start getting after it.

If there’s one thing I’d like people to know about me is that when you listen to my music, it’s authentic to me and who I am. It’s not someone telling me what to sound like, or what to say. It comes from my heart, and deep down in my boots.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, if they were coming to visit me in Colorado on the farm/ranch (I also live in Nashville as well), I’d give them the grand farm life treatment. Connecting with things in life that we don’t normally get to connect with much any more. The simplicity of a sunset, the hardy-ness of a farm cooked meal, the cool crisp air in the mornings, a hand-made quilt comforting you in the evenings. Those are the things that are special to me. The pace of life isn’t slow, but for some reason the way you look at life is when you’re there. The time for reflection while out checking cattle, shifting your thoughts with the lazy rhythm of the hooves of grazing creatures swishing through grass. Letting your worries fade into the background like the distant call of a coyote somewhere far off, and being present in the moment with crickets chirping somewhere near by. We wouldn’t really do anything grand. We’d most likely, check cattle, maybe work cattle, maybe move cattle, move a tractor home from a nearby field, enjoy a glass of wine in the evenings on the front or back porch (wind depending), we’d cook feasts over

conversation for supper, and well, those are the grand things to me.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give my shout out to all the hard working men and women in Agriculture today. You keep us fed with the highest quality Agricultural products in the world and on we appreciate your hard work and dedication.

Website: https://www.claredunn.com

Instagram: claredunnmusic

Other: TikTok! @claredunnmusic

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.