Clover Stieve remembers exactly where she was when she wrote her new song, “How Big Can I Dream”—seated in the back of a Subaru, driving through Queens, New York. The Frenchtown, NJ native penned the track for WXPN’s 24-Hour Songwriting Contest, which challenged musicians to create a piece based on the word “belong”—a prompt that, she says, “cracked something open” inside her.
The result is a deeply introspective song that explores the fine line between ego and ambition, and what it means to reclaim our ability to dream big. Music Jawn sat down with Stieve to talk more about “How Big Can I Dream,” released March 31.
You wrote “How Big Can I Dream” for WXPN’s 24-hour songwriting challenge, based on the prompt “belong”—what was it about that word that unlocked such a strong emotional response?
A question that often comes up for me as an artist is: Do I belong where I dream of being? On a Coachella poster, on stage singing a duet with Hozier, touring the world, and hearing people sing the words to me. And then the follow-up question - why me, when there are so many incredible singer-songwriters out there?
The word “belong” brought me back to something simpler. The fact that I’m here at all - alive, making music, feeling pulled toward this path. It has to mean something. These dreams didn’t come from nowhere. They’re part of what I’m meant to explore.
I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I’ve started to believe that belonging isn’t about arriving somewhere - it’s about fully committing to the path you’re already on. And right now, I belong exactly where I am: giving everything I have to my artist journey.
Why do you think ambition—especially in creative fields—so often gets mislabeled as ego?
I think ambition often gets mislabeled as ego because, in creative fields, the work is so personal. You are the product in a lot of ways, and your success depends on how much of yourself you’re willing to invest in it. From the outside, that can look like self-centeredness, when really it’s commitment.
For me, ambition comes from a deep desire to create and connect. Over time, I’ve realized that it’s not just about fulfilling my own dreams - it’s also about what happens when I share the work. People find pieces of themselves in it. They feel less alone, more understood. Sometimes they even find words for things they couldn’t express before.
I’m working on not seeing ambition as ego, but instead as a kind of responsibility. If you have something meaningful to offer, you owe it to yourself and to others to give it all you’ve got.
“How Big Can I Dream” feels like a return to that childhood freedom to dream—why do you think we lose that as we get older?
I think as we get older, we just have more exposure to doubt - both from other people and from within ourselves. We’re told certain dreams are unrealistic, or we start comparing ourselves to what success is supposed to look like. And over time, that can make us more hesitant to take risks, especially after we’ve experienced failure or rejection.
But I’ve also found that it’s possible to unlearn a lot of that. With the right community around you, you can find your way back to a sense of play - to dreaming without immediately shutting yourself down. Being supported in that way makes a huge difference.
I was really lucky to grow up with that kind of encouragement. Both of my parents are artists (painters, sculptors, florists), so they understood the value of taking a more unconventional, creative path. That gave me permission, early on, to keep dreaming in that way.
What would you say to someone who hears this song and still feels like their dreams are “too much”?
If there’s a part of you you just can’t ignore, a passion project, a hobby you’ve been longing to try, a career change you can’t stop thinking about… that’s worth paying attention to. I think those desires are like seeds inside us; they need care and space to grow.
Following your dreams doesn’t have to mean upending your entire life. It can be as simple as making small, intentional choices that give you more room to explore them over time. Listen to that inner compass and let it guide you - you’ll start living in a way that feels more aligned with who you really are.
What does “living up to the biggest version of your dream” look like for you in this next chapter?
It looks like releasing my debut album, Born to Live, later this year, and touring in Europe - not once, but twice! I’m excited to create a playful, inner-child–inspired visual world for each song, alongside some incredibly talented friends, with the single and album covers, music videos, and merch.
I also hope to collaborate with artists I admire–writing, recording, and performing songs together. And the moments that really make it all worth it are hearing from people, who connect with the messages in the music. That’s when it feels like the dream is fully alive.
Clover Stieve's new LP, Born to Live, will be released this autumn.
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