Q: “America” is a moving, narrative-driven story. Walk us through the process of creating this song.
CLARK: I was listening to the now president of the USA using the kind of dehumanising language you hear in the song to describe a whole group of people as if they were uniformly bad. I got angry and wanted to write a something about how wrong this is, the clear intention was to turn a section of society against this group but in fact they are all real, mostly good, people with their own identity and motivations.
The challenge was to find a way in a song to make plain the humanity, the breakthrough was when I decided to lean into the tradition of the “story” song and describe a fictional person against the background of the language used. As I started to write I realised it wasn’t just about the use of language but also the uncaring nature of the society we are currently creating.
There are elements of country and Americana in there but it’s not really either of those things, I tried to create a listenable piece of music combining a message with a good tune though I really hope people listen to the words not just the music.
Q: Your lyrics are a standout part of “America.” Are you inspired by any specific artists when creating your music?
CLARK: Woo – too many, I do have my lyrical heroes – Dylan of course, Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake for the power of their words, David Byrne, for his invention. And one maybe forgotten a little bit is Andy Partridge from the Indie Rock band XTC in the 70s, clever and biting lyrics. – I implore you to take a listen! I really think we’ve got to reinvent music as having something important to say.
Q: In your own words, how would you describe the music that you typically create?
CLARK: Well I do hate “genres” – that’s become a tool to make music a commodity, the CEO of Spotify saying that “content” is becoming so cheap to make which is good for profits just says they don’t care about the cultural significance of it.
My music is heavily acoustic guitar based because that’s my main instrument but not always. I like sonic and rhythmic textures also so there’s an electronic element to it but it’s always got to be a vehicle for the lyrics and my wonky philosophy on life. I do worry that people have been trained to like only one thing now, my music isn’t country enough to be country, not folky enough to be folk, not electronic enough to be whatever that is.
Q: What is coming up next for you?
CLARK: I didn’t intend to do covers but I’ve done a version of Bon Iver’s “Skinny love” for ages. People seemed to like it so I recorded it and that has just been released as a slightly perverse valentine song! Available on all major platforms, take a listen (please). Other than that I’ve got more songs to release, writing, and recording with my ace producer, Glenn Kerrigan, plus getting out and performing, 2025 is shaping up to be busy. I’m not the youngest of fresh new artists having a different life behind me, so I’ve got a lot of catching up to do!
Q: What do you hope listeners take away from this track?
CLARK: Clearly I hope it will make them think a bit. I doubt one song will convert anyone who actually agrees with the orange one but hey – we’ve got to keep trying!
Q: What would you like to tell your supporters out there?
CLARK: To both of them – take a listen to different things, you might find you like it.
Also, hang on in there – we will triumph in the end!
Interviewed by Taylor Berry
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