Clarita de Quiroz Returns with Wizard: A Spellbinding Comeback Rooted in Heritage and Emotion

Harpers Bazaar Arabia

07-05-2025

Some voices define eras, and then some voices define places
For over a decade, Clarita de Quiroz has been more than a musician; she has been a cultural emblem of the modern UAE: poised, multifaceted, and unapologetically authentic.
Born in Abu Dhabi and shaped by the world, Clarita returns the 16 of May with 'Wizard', her most intimate composition to date. More than a song, it is a love letter to heritage, emotion, and the timeless bond between artist and homeland. As a pianist, composer, and vocalist, she doesn't merely perform, she channels feeling into form.
A Homegrown Icon
Clarita's bond with Emirati is growing stronger every day. From serenading royalty at private palace gatherings to performing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, she has embodied the grace and grandeur of the Emirates on every stage she graces. Her performances have transcended entertainment, becoming, instead, moments of shared national pride.
In a powerful testament to her cultural contribution, she was recently honoured with a creative excellence award by members of the UAE royal family, an unprecedented milestone for an independent artist. 'It's emotional,' she reflects. 'To be recognised by the country that watched me grow… there's pride in that on both sides.'
But recognition hasn't changed her artistic mission, it has refined it. For Clarita, success is measured in resonance, not reach. 'I've always believed that if your music moves even one person deeply, you've done your job.'
The Magic of Wizard
With 'Wizard', Clarita embarks on a new artistic chapter that delicately fuses cinematic classical elements with traditional Arabic sound textures. Haunting strings, emotive piano lines, and subtle Middle Eastern tones craft a track that is both atmospheric and deeply personal.
'It's about that one person who changes everything, without even trying,' Clarita shares. 'The Arabic influences are not there to impress, they're a part of me. This song feels like home.' This is only the beginning. 'Wizard' leads a new collection of Clarita's works that explore emotional landscapes through Arabic-classical fusion: a genre she doesn't follow, but defines.
Roots and Reverence
While the fusion of East and West isn't new in Clarita's repertoire, Wizard marks the first time she's allowed her Arabic identity to lead the narrative. 'In the past, I've blended genres jazz, classical, pop, soul. But this time, I didn't want to blend. I wanted to honour.'
Growing up in a household where Umm Kulthum shared space with Chopin, Clarita learned early that music has no cultural borders only emotional ones. And in 'Wizard', those borders dissolve.
Beyond the Music
While her music speaks volumes, Clarita's story resounds even louder. A classically trained pianist educated in Scotland, she has performed across three continents, opened for icons like Elton John and Kelly Rowland, and charmed audiences from London to Dubai. But artistry is only one facet of her brilliance.
Model, television presenter, boutique hotel owner, and now a law graduate with distinction, Clarita personifies the modern polymath. Her every reinvention, whether on stage or off, resonates with elegance and substance.
One memory that remains etched in her heart? 'A young girl came to me after a gala performance, crying, saying she wanted to play piano because of what she felt during my set,' she recalls. 'That's why I do this. To make people feel.'
A Spell Cast with Grace
In a world that often asks artists to choose between commercial appeal and authenticity, Clarita de Quiroz chooses both, and then elevates them. With 'Wizard', she invites us into a realm of introspection, beauty, and cultural reverence.
As the UAE continues to rise as a cultural beacon, Clarita remains one of its most cherished ambassadors. She doesn't just represent the region, she redefines it. And with 'Wizard', she isn't just returning. She's arriving anew, with all the enchantment and quiet power ofsomeone who knows exactly who she is.