Biography
Clara Rhoden delivers a message of raw honesty to the pretentious nature of an image-conscious society. Her songs are like therapy, digging under the surface of superficial layers to see what lies in the heart. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Clara is a rock chick with attitude, yet deals with life's tough issues with genuine sensitivity. She doesn't shy from speaking the truth in love, even when it hurts. Clara's debut album Keep it Real is a challenge to us all to live unreservedly and wholeheartedly as the people God made us to be.
Clara has a real heart to see those who are hurting and isolated come to wholeness in Jesus through her ministry. She has a passion to encourage and bless those who work tirelessly for others, but who don't receive much encouragement for themselves. Her ministry engages through songs, sharing and prayer to help people connect or reconnect with God in a fresh way.
Brought up in a musical family, Clara was classically trained in piano, viola and guitar. Later she taught herself how to play rock, building on the foundations of great rock artists such as U2, Switchfoot, Whiteheart, Petra, DCTalk, and a long list of other influences to establish her own eclectic rock style. Clara has played in bands since establishing her first band, Cornerstone in 1996. Since then she has released 3 EPs, 2 with her second band, Balaam's Donkey and a demo under her own name in 2006. Clara is an experienced performer and enjoys playing as a session musician on anything from guitar to drums, bass or even viola.
As a pastor/missionary kid, Clara has experienced first hand the ups and downs of Christian ministry in various contexts. Clara came to know the Lord from as young as she can remember. She has been serving in various ministry roles for over 15 years, including music director, student worker, small group/Bible studies, leadership team chair and pastoral worker. Clara knows that it is only by the grace of God that lives can be changed, so she's under no illusions that she has it all together. On the contrary, her prayer is that God can use her through her weaknesses, so His great strength can be displayed.
