Lucy Fitzgerald 
I’ve had “On Purpose” on repeat for days, and I swear everyone needs it on their playlist—it’s one of those rare tracks that grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go. Clara Kay captures that messy grief of being stuck between the pull of self-blame and the sting of betrayal, like, how do you even mourn someone who hurt you but still feel it’s partly your own fault? She takes that wreckage and builds a slow burn of emotion: first hush, then hurt, then that fragile flicker of hope, and by the end I’m yelling at the track, “You aren’t to blame!”.
The production roots itself in vulnerability, acoustic guitar and voice, but flips cinematic rock on its head when the second chorus hits (thank Ariel Borujow’s Grammy-magic mix and Ian Stewart’s mastering for that punch). It sounds like something personal and epic collided, and honestly, that’s exactly how heartbreak feels sometimes.
Her background, Dallas-born, Boston-bred, Berklee-honed, seeps into the story too. There’s this seasoned storytelling in her lyrics: she fronts rock bands, then goes folk-solo in her bedroom, layering grit and softness in each line. It’s raw without being messy, cinematic without being overdone.
If you’re into smart, emotional songwriting that marries folk intimacy and rock punch with cinematic flair, this single nails it. Can’t wait to see what Clara Kay drops next.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
