ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Rochester native and country-Americana artist Claudia Hoyser is stepping into what she calls her most honest chapter yet with the release of her upcoming album, “Before the Dawn,” set to drop Jan. 9.
Hoyser joined “Behind the Curtain” host Gio Battaglia for the first episode of 2026, opening up about burnout, independence and the quieter confidence behind her latest body of work. The album, recorded largely in Nashville, reflects a more inward-looking phase of her career — one shaped by reflection rather than relentless momentum.
“This record was about stepping back and asking what I really want this next wave to look like,” Hoyser said. “I was doing a little bit of everything. Now it feels more refined.”
The album takes its title from the closing track, a song Hoyser said came together during a late-night writing session and ultimately surprised her. Looking back, she realized it captured many of the challenges she had been navigating at the time, while still pointing toward hope…