Clara Kent is an Afro-Indigenous (Oglala Lakota & Ojibwe) multidisciplinary artist, entrepreneur, and community leader from Pittsburgh, Pa’s Homewood community. Clara is best known for her music and dynamic performances, but also utilizes various forms of expression within visual art and media. She focuses her artistry on uplifting the creative community and reclaiming indigenous roots, particularly for underserved Black artists and youth in her neighborhood.
Kent began her independent artist journey in 2017 with the release of her first album, “AURA”, a vaporwave neo-soul project written and produced by Clara and beatmaker Yorel Tifsim. The album focused on the Hero’s Journey and the power of reclaiming your authentic self when obstacles arise. “AURA” was very well received, leading to the self-proclaimed “Multidimensional Artistic Individual” being named Pittsburgh City Paper’s “Person of the Year” for Music in 2019, and has performed across the country, opening for Wyclef Jean at SXSW, Cautious Clay at WYEP Summerfest, Thundercat at Stage AE, Nnamdi, Oshun, Jon Wayne, Mumufresh, The O’My’s, and OHMME. Clara embarked on a summer tour in 2019 with London-based music events company Sofar Sounds, becoming one of their cohort performance artists alongside acts like Moses Sumney, Lianne La Havas, and Yebba.
Since then, Clara Kent has expanded her career into media and entrepreneurial ventures, while continuing to create music and advocate for other Black and Indigenous creatives. In 2022, she began hosting a radio show on WYEP called “More Bounce with Clara Kent,” managing the Alt-Funk band Mani Bahia & The Mob. Also, she launched her production company, Bounce House Studios & Productions LLC, a Black women-led organization whose purpose is to “Elevate the Underground” ™️ through free programming and donation-based events for BIPOC artists. One of the first music projects released was The Four Winds: EAST, Part One of “THE FOUR WINDS” series. The Four Winds series honors her Afro-Indigenous heritage and was intentionally released on Juneteenth in 2023 to raise awareness of the intersection of African American and Native American presence and cultural contributions in music and culture. The EP was well-received and was named “Best of Soul” by Bandcamp Daily in 2023 and was featured on 90.5 WESA, Pittsburgh’s NPR station. In 2024, Clara was nominated and selected as an official Voting Member of the Recording Academy for the Grammy Awards, recognized for years of community work, artistic excellence, and consistent advocacy for musicians in the industry. Kent is currently preparing to launch new projects and music events under the Bounce House brand, starting late summer of 2026.
Clara’s mission is to connect people to their hearts, their communities, and the planet, one song, painting, and creative collaboration at a time. Her vision is that people recognize the importance of their emotions and learn to embrace them, thereby creating a compassionate and supportive world for everyone. She hopes that with her gifts and connection to her ancestors and nature, she’ll be a vessel for Great Spirit to heal and transmute heaviness into light for those who connect to her artistry.
