We have featured ethereal deity Clare Easdown for a slew of her previous releases, so when we heard that the star was back with STIGMA ENIGMA, we couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience with the world!
Setting the tone with the sound of rain and super atmospheric vocals with an accompanying synthscape, Clare confesses to her loneliness and perceived lack of understanding. These are not uncommon themes within Clare Easdown‘s wider artistic narrative, but the poignancy this time around, coupled with a highly emotional sonic architecture, feels vivid.
The visionary creator taps into a high emotional quotient for the release, sharing her soul with a personally created production, which actually manifests in a more authentic sonic journey in line with Clare’s message.
Speaking on the release, Clare tells us, “STIGMA ENIGMA is about mental health awareness and breaking down the enormous amounts of stigma around mental health today. It’s a song about having more compassion, empathy and awareness around mental health and loving more and judging less.”
We appreciate the intentional depth that the star conveys with her prose and performance. Clare goes on to inform us, “I was locked away in a psychiatric facility against my will due to my mania flaring up as I have bipolar disorder. I was laughed at when sharing live footage from within the facility and since have been ignored by many people in my life.”
With reference to the avant-garde accompanying visual, Clare comments, “The music video is simply screen recordings of the footage I recorded when being locked away and the sad notion that people would laugh at me when I had lost my mind.”
There is no doubt that STIGMA ENIGMA serves as a raw and heartfelt plea to dismantle the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health. Despite progress, mental illness remains heavily stigmatized, entrenched in societal norms. This opus boldly confronts these barriers, aiming to shatter the walls of stigma that isolate and oppress.
We deeply connect with the intentional manner in which Clare Easdown creates, and the cinematic detailing within her self-produced opus is hypnotic. Fans of Sleep Token, Madonna, Grimes, FKA Twigs, CHVRCHES, Lana Del Rey, and INIKO will also be able to relate to Clare’s work. The vocal production is haunting and we are in awe of her heart-wrenching range. Naturally, we have added STIGMA ENIGMA to our New Music Spotlight playlist, as well as our TRIPPY and TIMELESS playlists, whilst we continue to stream Clare’s wider discography, and anticipate future release from the visionary, Australian talent!