Claud Mortiz is best known for their youthful appearance, melodic voice and non-conformism to gender binary. Known simply as Claud, they were born in Highland Park and showed an early inclination towards music. Having mastered the guitar, Claud was set for bigger things. Few months into their time at at Syracuse University, they met Josh Mehling and together they formed the duo 'Toast'. After gaining popularity with the duo, Claud decided to take the next step, opting to pursue a solo career. They released their debut single - "Never Meant to Call" in 2018 and a year later, followed it up with "Easy" and "If I Were You". A long-standing advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Claud's music is often focuses on life as part of the community, earning her immense praise from their fans.