Establishing the mood with an intimate piano featuring brooding chords and astral keys, Clare Easdown opens In Candlelight with a cinematic nature as she sings the title of the track followed by poetic prose with reference to the current war-torn nature of our planet.
The emotional quotient is high, anthemic drums guide us forward as Clare Easdown shares her delicate, ethereal timbre, loaded with an intentional message of love and peace, at a time when we need it the most. Clare is unafraid to use her art as activism. She is an artist that is not only connected to the zeitgeist, but offer her art as a tribute to the universe.
The lyrics of In Candlelight are powerful, and we really appreciate the production style. It is haunting, yet captivating. Speaking on the release, Clare confesses, “The story behind In Candlelight can be framed as a fusion of urgent global awareness and deeply personal conviction. The seed for In Candlelight was planted in the shadow of endless news reports – graphic videos on Tik Tok, families fleeing war zones, children caught in the crossfire. From Ukraine to Gaza, Sudan to Yemen, the kist of active conflicts felt overwhelming, yet the world seemed to scroll past them in silence. While working alone on my lounge suite early this morning, I lit a candle and started to create In Candlelight.”
The star continues, “The flicker of the candle became a symbol – fragile yet persistent, like the human spirit under siege. That moment crystalised my purpose. To create a song that would hold space for grief, rage, and hope all at once. The track was shaped by my personal belief that music isn’t just entertainment; it’s a vehicle for empathy and change. I wanted In Candlelight to pierce through apathy, to remind listeners that war is never abstract – it’s happening to people just like us. Every beat and vocal layer was built with urgency, as if the song itself were a protest march, a vigil, and a love letter to peace.”
Naturally, we are extremely moved by the song. It is important and brings us to tears with its message. We live in a time where many of us feel hopeless in the face of these adversities, so to have an artist like Clare Easdown share her perceptive and soul through music feels refreshing and important.
On her influences, Clare adds, “Specific artists who inspired this release are Dolores O’Riordan from The Cranberries with their beautiful track Zombie which was inspired by the 1993 Warrington bombings in England. PJ Harvey, for her raw, fearless storytelling and ability to confront political and social issues head-on. Massive Attack for moody, trip-hop- infused atmospheres that carry weighty subject matter, and Sevdaliza for blending vulnerability with a haunting, cinematic landscape.”
We can feel these influences manifest on In Candlelight, but it is also clear that Clare Easdown is creating a conscious sonic universe of her own – filled with intentional depth and a spirit in the music industry that we desperately need more of! We have added In Candlelight to our New Music Spotlight playlist and our TIMELESS playlist.