To mark the release of her second studio album, Sling, Clairo’s taking over her Influences playlist with a selection of songs she listened to most while making the record. It’s a deep look at the sounds and artists that helped inspire the singer-songwriter’s next step—from Joni Mitchell to Bill Withers to Elliott Smith, Blossom Dearie, The Roches and more. Here, she sheds light on just a few. Todd Rundgren, “Intro” “Moments like ‘Intro’ inspired a more humorous approach to music and music-making: It can be beautiful and funny at the same time.” Joni Mitchell, “Coyote” “‘Coyote’ is one of the most important songs to me—for the weird guitar tunings, the unapologetic attitude, but mostly her words and metaphors. Genius, to say the least.” Electric Light Orchestra, “Big Wheels” “It had rain at the end of the song, so I too had to include (on accident) rain at the end of ‘Blouse’. It’s only right.” Elliott Smith, “I Didn’t Understand” “Easily the most heartbreaking song I have ever heard. Vocal stacks became all the more important to me because of how emotional it can really be on its own. I read this quote about Blossom Dearie, but I do think it applies to Elliott Smith’s music as well: ‘He sings as though he is sitting on your lap.’” Colin Blunstone, “Misty Roses” “For the glamorous and unsettling orchestral outro that’s completely separate from the earlier half of the song. It’s creative, enchanting, and makes his words all the more powerful.” The Langley Schools Music Project, “God Only Knows” “Innocence and Despair—an album so dear to my heart—allows me to see these hugely successful [Beach Boys] songs in a different light. Sometimes in a more beautiful way.”