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Nashville-based queer pop artist Clinton John’s debut EP is chock stuffed with brutally sincere tales about popping out and coming of age. However regardless of title, his ‘Embarrassing’ EP is a daring feat of truth-laid-bare lyrics and slick electropop beats that’s worthy of nothing however delight, and in a double whammy, PopWrapped are delighted to unveil the brand new assortment and the video for its title observe.
“Being easy is the one straight factor about me,” John jokes. “My writing is at all times sincere. It took me a while to get snug being so susceptible with the issues I’ve skilled and never sugar-coating them in my songs, however I’ve discovered individuals regarding that honesty even when that very same state of affairs didn’t occur to them.” Getting kicked out of his personal Christian highschool for being homosexual prompted Clinton to complete early on-line and relocate to Nashville at 17. After the transfer, he attended the Darkhorse Institute for audio engineering and spent the final 8 years working behind the scenes with songwriters, producers, videographers, and photographers to fine-tune his craft and absolutely put together to launch music that was true to his imaginative and prescient. The result’s a mix of hyper-vulnerable lyrics and charming pop soundscapes that pulls inspiration from fashion-forward, boundary-breaking artists like Troye Sivan and Kim Petras.
Within the course of, Clinton has managed to construct a reputation for himself, amassing over 22k TikTok followers and performing on the Nashville Delight foremost stage and in Lee Jean Firm’s “Artists at House” efficiency collection. The journey to new music additionally led him to rethink his relationship with alcohol and the way it was affecting his profession. “The truth that I’m sober is one thing that I’m changing into extra snug with and has turn out to be an enormous a part of my journey particularly attending to this place of releasing new content material,” he admits. “I was afraid for some time that if I ended ingesting, I might cease experiencing issues to jot down about however the exact opposite occurred. Not ingesting made me rather more in contact with my feelings and allowed me to be extra productive with my time and power. Had I not stopped ingesting I don’t suppose I might have been capable of obtain this visible EP.”
Every tune on the brand new EP is accompanied by visuals conceptualized and styled by Clinton himself. With the assistance of a small crew of collaborators, together with director Ren McConville, every music video for the album is a do-it-yourself murals with a big-budget really feel, together with the brand new reel for Embarrassing’s title observe. “The entire tune could be very susceptible and sincere and we needed one thing that will match that power,” he explains. “I’ve by no means completed a choreographed dance earlier than and the entire thought of it scared the shit out of me, so we determined we needed to go for it. The entire course of got here collectively in about 2 weeks from after I contacted the choreographer, discovered the dancer, booked the house, had two rehearsals and began filming. My relationship with my ex was on and off for nearly 3 years and we needed to symbolize that push and pull of loving somebody however being conflicted with the damage and frequently working again to them.”
That is your debut EP. What made you determine to launch it now?
There have been a pair elements that made it potential and really feel like the appropriate time to launch an EP. Getting sober was a sport changer for me. I ended ingesting in February of 2020 and I don’t suppose I might have been capable of end the writing of the EP and full the visuals had I not. Sobriety gave me a way of readability and focus that I hadn’t had in years and the chance to self-reflect and write from a spot of vulnerability that I wasn’t capable of entry earlier than. Once we completed the observe “Embarrassing “, I regarded again on the songs I had and it felt like a really full chapter of my life in addition to a strong illustration of the kind of artist I’m and I felt like I used to be prepared to shut that chapter in a way on my early 20’s and the place I used to be after I wrote these songs.
You made the choice to movie a music video for each observe of the report. What was the thought course of behind making this this each a visible in addition to audio challenge?
One of many largest causes I made a decision to do a visible for every tune is as a result of throughout quarantine I used to be searching for a inventive outlet. I’ve at all times written music about my actual experiences and through lockdown there wasn’t the chance to exit and meet individuals to make out on the dance flooring with and write a tune about it. I knew that visuals had been one thing I needed to be part of my music as a result of I contemplate myself a pop artist and one in all my favourite components of pop music is how the mixture of visuals, trend, and efficiency can praise and elevate a tune however was hesitant as a result of if the visuals suck it could actually do the alternative of elevating your music. Being in lockdown took away social interplay however for me that additionally took away my social expectation and consider of what individuals considered me in a optimistic method and made me determine to go for it and make visuals for each observe.
How did you provide you with the idea for the “Embarrassing” music video and what was the filming course of like?
The idea and filming of the “Embarrassing” music video got here collectively two weeks after deciding to have a choreographed dance music video, discovering a choreographer, rehearsing, discovering the dancer, location, and wrapping filming. It was an extremely quick course of and had it not come collectively so rapidly and simply I believe I might have backed out on the idea. I’m not a educated dancer and have by no means discovered choreography like this which scared the hell out of me due to, no pun supposed, how embarrassing it could possibly be, however that additionally excited me. I knew this might be the title observe of the EP and it is without doubt one of the most susceptible and sincere songs I’ve written, so I needed one thing that will push me out of my consolation zone in the identical method that writing the tune itself had. I used to be tremendous fortunate to work with an incredible choreographer Daniel Wayne Thomas and dancer Terin Christopher in addition to associates who provided their help make the video potential, so the method was really easy and by far the scariest however most satisfying video from the visible EP.
In the event you needed to decide a favourite observe from the brand new EP, which one wouldn’t it be and why?
My favourite observe from the EP is certainly “Embarrassing.” The tune spans the time interval of 8 years with the experiences that had been written about and I felt a way of nostalgia and closure from having the ability to launch it. Writing isn’t at all times a cathartic expertise for me however throughout the entire course of of constructing this tune and creating the visible it felt like a remedy session in a great way. I haven’t heard many songs speaking concerning the embarrassing emotions that come from trying again on issues that you simply’ve completed prior to now, which is comprehensible as a result of it’s actually embarrassing and nobody desires to relive these reminiscences and produce them to gentle however I believe it’s a really actual feeling that individuals can relate to questioning if another person is embarrassed by courting you. I by no means go into writing a tune making an attempt to be “relatable” however simply making an attempt to be sincere with what I’m going by means of as a result of I believe ultimately somebody will relate to that.
What do you hope listeners take away from the brand new EP?
I actually needed to present individuals a glimpse into the kind of artist I’m each sonically and visually. The EP appears like a stepping stone to me as I plan to proceed releasing songs and music movies so I simply hope that individuals like what they hear sufficient to wish to observe together with what’s coming subsequent.
Lastly then, what’s within the pipeline for Clinton John in 2022?
Extra music, extra visuals, and hopefully getting to start out taking part in exhibits once more as soon as it’s secure for everybody to pack into crowds and dance collectively.
Take a look at the video for “Embarrassing” above and provides the EP a hear under. For extra info on Clinton John, observe him on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. Header photograph credit score: Ash Hurst.