Finding Yourself in the Desert: Claire Morales on Art, Courage, and Becoming
Some artists ease into their voice. Others have to fight for it.
On a recent episode of The Susana Gibb Show, Susana sits down with Claire Morales, a Denton-based musician, graphic designer, and storyteller whose work lives at the intersection of vulnerability and bold creative vision. What unfolds is not just a conversation about art, it’s a story about growth, discomfort, and the courage it takes to keep showing up.
From Shy Teenager to Confident Performer
Claire’s journey into music started early. At just 13 years old, she was already performing live, backed by supportive parents and a quiet but undeniable pull toward music. Offstage, she was shy. Onstage, something shifted.
Preparation became her armor. Structure became her confidence.
Over time, solo performances turned into band leadership, and Claire found herself not just creating music, but guiding others through it. Along the way, she adopted mindfulness practices like yoga and meditation, tools that helped her stay grounded in an industry that often rewards chaos over care.
Her leadership philosophy is simple but powerful: collaboration over ego, service over control. It’s a mindset shaped as much by watching what not to do as by learning from those who led well.
Lost in the Desert: When Music and Art Become One
Claire talks about her latest project, Lost in the Desert, a combined album and graphic novel that blurs the line between sound and story.
The idea was born from solo van trips and time spent in Joshua Tree, where the desert’s vastness stripped away distractions. In that isolation, creativity flourished. Music informed the visuals. Visuals reshaped the music. Each piece became inseparable from the other.
The desert, Claire explains, became a metaphor, a place where you’re forced to confront yourself without noise, comfort, or escape. What remains is truth.
A Female Hero, A Universal Story
At the center of the graphic novel is a woman on a solitary journey, a deliberate creative choice. Claire wanted to portray strength, independence, and resilience in a way that’s still underrepresented in storytelling.
While the themes are undeniably feminine, the response has been universal. Men, women, and creatives across disciplines have connected deeply with the story. It sparked a broader conversation about representation and a cultural shift toward embracing female-led narratives without limiting who they’re “for.”
The Emotional Cost of Creating Something Real
Claire doesn’t shy away from the hard parts of art, the doubt, the pressure, the constant pull toward “what’s next.” She speaks candidly about the hedonic treadmill, the cycle of chasing new goals without pausing to appreciate what’s already been achieved.
Creating, for her, is not about comfort. It’s about honesty.
She references Hemingway’s famous line: “Writing is easy. You just sit at a typewriter and bleed.” For Claire, that sentiment applies to all art. The work that matters most often requires sitting with discomfort and letting it speak.
Life on the Road and the Beauty of Small Moments
Touring remains a core part of Claire’s artistic life, not for glamour, but for connection. She shares stories of playing in overlooked towns where audiences show up fully, grateful and present. Tour life has it’s lighter moments too: costumes, unexpected friendships, and eating raw corn at a Kansas bar.
These experiences, she says, reaffirm her belief in people and in the magic that happens when art is shared live, face to face.
What’s Next for Claire Morales
As a fully independent, self-funded artist, Claire continues to promote Lost in the Desert through touring, interviews, and social media. She’s building her career with intention, patience, and a deep commitment to growth.
You can follow her journey on Instagram @clairemoralesmusic or explore her work at clairemoralesmusic.com.
More shows are coming. More stories are forming. If Claire’s journey teaches us anything, it’s this:
Vulnerability isn’t weakness, it’s the raw material of extraordinary art.
