Artist Bio (Full)

Lindsay Clark’s music lives in the margins — where folk tradition meets poetic intuition, and restraint holds its own quiet power.

Raised in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, her songwriting draws from Appalachian, American and British folk, woven with baroque and impressionist classical influences, a deep reverence for nature, and a poet’s sensibility. Her intricate style of fingerpicked guitar and gossamer voice reflect the resonance of mountain landscapes and the spirit of musical outliers like Nick Drake, Rickie Lee Jones, Fairport Convention, and Robin Holcomb. Her parents were always playing records around the house—which was often quiet— and the sounds of the 60s/70s (Joni’s Ladies of the Canyon stands out, or Simon and Garfunkel’s Bookends) were an easy place to land.

Often perceived as shy and unusually sensitive, Clark found early refuge in music — a space where unspoken emotion could take form, and where release felt possible. Since the early 2000s, her work has unfolded gradually and intentionally — often self-released, always deliberate and carefully crafted. With each album, her quiet vision sharpens—becoming more distinct, more deeply felt, and inviting listeners toward a fragile intimacy.

Crystalline (2018) was praised by PopMatters as “a rare exhibition of the weight that minimalism can hold in contemporary, reflective folk music.” NPR’s Bob Boilen called Carpe Noctem (2022) “stunning.” She has shared the stage with Alela Diane, Jolie Holland, Nora Brown, Mama’s Broke, and others, and has collaborated with longtime friend and engineer Jeremy Harris (Hand Habits, Devendra Banhart) on three studio albums. The late folk singer Michael Hurley — a dear friend with whom she recorded and performed in his final years — called her music “celestial.”

Her forthcoming album, elliptic, emerges from a period of doubt and redefinition, exploring themes of fear, identity, and the slow work of self-trust. The record features contributions from Mary Lattimore, Meg Duffy (Hand Habits), Angel Deradoorian, William Tyler, and Portland-based collaborators Matthew Holmes (bass) and Paul Moyer (piano).

Clark is currently completing an MFA in Creative Writing and working on her first collection of lyric memoir.

Artist Bio (Short)

Lindsay Clark finds balance between traditional and experimental folk. She uses poetry, rich harmony and a unique style of self-taught fingerpicking influenced by Elizabeth Cotten, John Fahey and Joni Michell, bridging diverse influences in folk and classical music. Originally from the small gold rush town of Nevada City, California, she now resides in Portland, Oregon (US). Carpe Noctem (2022) was called “stunning” by Bob Boilen (NPR Music). It features Alela Diane and William Tyler and has been featured on BBC Scotland, XRay FM, RTE and others. Crystalline (2018) was called “a rare example of the weight that minimalism can bear in contemporary, reflective folk” (Popmatters)

Recent Press

“Stunning... if you enjoy the ethereal folk sounds of Joan Shelley, then I am hoping you'll love the album I've had on repeat from Lindsay Clark called Carpe Noctem.” - NPR (2022)

“Clark is an acoustic guitar aficionado, a skilled picker, and possessor of a voice that both quivers and comforts as she sings songs that seem to softly glow.” - Bandcamp (2022)

“A rare exhibition of the weight that minimalism can bear in contemporary, reflective folk music.” - Popmatters (2018)

“the indelible beauty of Clark’s songs is that they don’t often resolve. She reveals small details without unveiling the full picture of her life. And she writes her lyrics with the mind of a poet, often using the natural world as a metaphor to comment on the beauty and danger of life.” - Oregon Arts Watch (2022)

Music Video