Violet Clare, the moniker used by 21 year old songwriter Violet Bowdle, aims to be authentic and unapologetically human. Originally from East Grand Rapids, Michigan, a town she has often referred to as her muse, she began writing stories of all kinds as soon as she could hold a pencil. Through lyrically-focused reflections, Violet Clare weaves themes of guilt, change, childhood, humanity, and nature through her alternative indie folk music.​

 

After ten years of writing in her bedroom (fondly nicknamed "the lab" by her mother), she had her first performance as "Violet Clare" at Grand Rapids venue The Stray in 2022 before moving to Chicago. Throughout the following spring and summer, Clare won second place in her high school's talent show, performed at Grand Rapids' Bizarre Bazaar, was interviewed on Kalamazoo College's radio station, and performed in Holland's Street Performer Series. In 2023, Violet placed in the top 5 of Uncommon Ground's open mic competition and performed at Chicago venues including Bookclub, The Red Room, and Sofar Sounds Chicago.​

 

In the past two years, 2025 Iowa City Songwriters' Festival scholar Violet Clare has had the pleasure of performing at LAUNCH Music Conference/Festival in Pennsylvania, Bitter Jester Music Fest (twice) in Illinois, a Folk Alliance International 2026 private showcase, and venues such as Fallen Log, Cobra Lounge, Bassline, Radio DePaul, and tons and tons of house shows in between. In her free time, Violet becomes too invested in meaningless tasks and dwells on everything that has ever happened.