Today, ARIA Award winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Forest Claudette shares their addictive — and deeply personal — new single ‘Kobe Beef’. Soulful, layered, and joyous, the song finds Forest embracing their truth and gender identity. Alongside ‘Kobe Beef’ comes its striking video, which showcases the non-binary artist's creativity and magnetism.
“Cool with the automatic, whipping to my mother planet," they sing over a deep groove and swooning backing vocals. "Cool with the damages I'm bound to get from cameras flashing." That takes us to the cheeky chorus: "Why the heck you bringing up my Kobe beef, uh huh — told you that when I was drunk at seventeen".
In the accompanying video, directed by Quinn Cavin, fans are treated to a wondrous series of locales in which Forest vibes like never before, giving the camera uninhibited charm and chameleon-like fashion along with each transition.
"'Kobe Beef' is the first song I've ever written about being nonbinary," they shared while discussing their new song. "It's centered around the questions and conversations I had to have with myself before I could feel comfortable and safe to make this project. Like 'why share so much? Why expose yourself? Can't some things be private? Why is it so important to speak about?'" Ultimately, Forest chose to reclaim their power with complete honesty.
On the heels of winning two ARIA awards (Best Soul/R&B Release for ‘Mess Around’ ft. EARTHGANG and Best Cover Art), the new single arrives after the release of Forest’s collaboration with Cosmo’s Midnight on ‘Borrowed Time’ and their incredible cover of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' classic track ‘Can't Stop’. It was preceded by the release of their acclaimed Everything Was Green EP in June 2023. The celebrated release included numerous singles such as the addictive anthem 'Mess Around' ft. EARTHGANG, as well as ‘Motor in the Sand’ and ‘Two Years’.
An enigmatic and captivating performer, Forest has graced some of the nation’s biggest stages over the past two years, including Splendour In The Grass, Beyond The Valley, Groovin’ The Moo, Wildlands and more. Having sold out their debut headline shows, supporting Ruel on his Australian tour dates and SXSW + The Great Escape on the horizon, 2024 shows no signs of slowing down for Forest.
Forest Claudette powers through life’s growing pains with diaristic songwriting, using their thoughtful take on alternative pop and R&B to find oases in a troubling world. Claudette explores gender identity and sexuality, the joy and sacrifice of coming out, and life’s complexities - the asteroids and stones we encounter en route to our own outer space oasis. Music has long been a tool for self-discovery in Forest's life. Their first single, 2022’s ‘Creaming Soda’ was spawned from the imposter syndrome they felt from entering the music industry so young. Themes of self-doubt and loss further molded their debut EP 'The Year of February'.
As Forest readies new music, they reflect on the progress they’ve made to get here. “Now, at the core, I want to be honest to my experiences and how I see the world,” they say. “I just know that I can, so I think I should.”
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