Denmark trio Clara Thomas specializes in alterna-pop, with a triple-A edge. There is no Clara Thomas in the band, but it does include vocalist/guitarist Clara Liebrath, keyboardist/programmer Thomas Li, and guitarist/bassist Kasper Soderlund. The story begins with Li and Soderlund meeting due to their punk rock appreciation (Clash, Dead Kennedys, Joy Division, etc.), and eventually forming a band together, the trip-hop/acid jazz Family Spirit. Although they did release an album (Joy of Creation), they ran into problems when their singer, also a fashion model, traveled constantly. Frustrated by having to take a back seat to someone else's occupation, Li began looking for a replacement. One day while calling the modeling bureau to locate the model/singer, a woman at the desk told Li about her friend's daughter Clara, who just happened to be a singer. After a tryout, she was given the singing slot, and they changed the band's name to Clara Thomas. Shedding their punk and trip-hop influences, the new group decided to try writing alterna-pop ditties. They succeeded and signed with Mercury, who released their self-titled debut in early 1998. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi