Before she was a drummer, from an early age Clementine was passionate about writing.  She graduated from the University of California with a double major in Creative Writing and Literature, moved to New York City, and was waylaid by drums through a series of coincidences and accidents. It wasn't until the early 2000's, while sitting vigil in a loved one's hospital room for 10 days, that words started to flow once again.  The project Francis Bakin is Clem's endlessly developing project showcasing her songwriting. The songs begin from the ground up, with electronic drumbeats which spark the lyrical ideas, and then live drums, guitar, bass and the rest of it.  Francis Bakin members have included Gretchen Menn (guitar and collaboration on songwriting), Ted Savarese (guitar), Robert Preston (bass), Mike Wells (keyboard), Jim Bove (drums) and Valerie Watley (vocals). The song "Cold Snap" from her debut album won second place in the Lyrics category of the 2008 International Songwriting Competition.