Drawing is in with textured drums with an almost tribal energy, expanding with a luscious, layered soundscape featuring piano, guitar and organ, The Clarky Project opens Call Me After with a sublime, choral vocal performance and the somewhat metaphorical, yet wholly situational lyrics, “You said ‘I can’t’, eyes on the floor, hands on the sound, I held the pause, it felt like ‘stay’, but silent said more…”
The emotional quotient is high, and the overarching energy of the piece is transcendental. The acoustic guitar arpeggios manifest this emotive nature, and the chord choices, vocal production and message of the song amplify this further.
There is a cinematic appeal to Call Me After – it feels like the perfect soundtrack for the opening credits of an HBO series, or perhaps the finale of an episode of Nine Perfect Strangers. The hook, which serves as the title of the track remains in our minds long after the song has reached its conclusion, whilst the cerebral percussive elements add dimensionality to the already ethereal track.
We learn that The Clarky Project is a narrative indie pop project created by producer and composer Michael Clarky. He tell us that after working under different identities on projects with France Télévisions, BMG, and Universal, this project serves a more intimate purpose, driven by soft female
vocals and emotional depth.
The Clarky Project‘s upcoming album She Was a River is “a discreet tribute to a lost voice — now passed on to other women.” Michael confesses, “For two years, I put my career on hold to support my wife in her battle against cancer: between her rest periods, I composed gentle melodies and hopeful lyrics – messages of love brought to life by her presence. She shed no tears at the cancer diagnosis, but when she realized she would lose her hair, she burst into sobs – a torrent of emotion that inspired the album’s title.
He continues, “This music brought us so much comfort during those trials that I decided to share it with the world, hoping it offers others the same solace and life-affirming energy it gave to us. She Was a River is a sincere offering: an invitation to experience tenderness, strength, and vulnerability, and to pass on the desire to love and be loved through music.”
We love what The Clarky Project is bringing to life, it feels unique, surreal, and has a broad appeal. There is no doubt that Michael will find amplified success with his compositions. We have added Call Me After to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we anticipate future releases from The Clarky Project.