Chris Cleverley – new single and album to follow

Chris Cleverley
Photograph by John Seymour

UK Dream-Folk Artist Chris Cleverley’s brand new single ‘Chlorophyll’ presents a stark reminder of the impact of global warming on our fragile natural world.

Bedford-based Cleverley is among a new wave of pioneering artists carving an uncharted path through the UK acoustic landscape, with endorsements from The Times, The Telegraph and BBC Radio leading to his receipt of FATEA Magazine‘s ‘Male Artist of the Year’ Award.

‘Chlorophyll’ is the debut single from his highly anticipated 4th album Broadcast The Secret Verse, scheduled for release in November 2022. Cleverley’s first new music in over two years prepares audiences for the emergence of a groundbreaking new sound and bold stylistic departure from his previous work.

This hard-hitting new track is inspired by the way plants alter their floral pigmentation to protect from increasingly harmful UV rays but become less recognisable to pollinators in the process.  This heartbreaking dilemma is presented as analogy for the way we may harden ourselves during adverse times but risk losing our essence and vitality in the process.

Under the helm of producer John Patrick Elliott (The Little Unsaid/Reveal Records), the track blends dreamlike melancholia with wholesome, uplifting energy, creating immediate associations with Lo-Fi Indie greats Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers, Elliott Smith and Anais Mitchell.

Cleverley’s whispering vocal, intricate acoustic fingerstyle and ambient, e-bowed electric guitar interweave with the lush textural harmonies of guest vocalist Lucy Farrell (The Furrow Collective). This meditative ambience combines with punchy, driving rhythms to create an infectious, pulsing groove. Recorded in a secret pop-up location amidst the serene woodland of the banks of the River Dart, a deep connection with nature is present in every note.

The single’s striking cover art was designed by painter Martin D Hyde, revered on the UK Songwriting scene for his work with Reveal Records, Lau and Kris Driver. His dystopian vision is the perfect accompaniment to this bold piece of music, primed for the emotional landscape of 2022.

Chlorophyll is both an anthem for those weather-worn from the head-spinning events of the global pandemic, as well as a stark apology to a natural world ravaged by climate emergency, firmly cementing Cleverley’s position as a standout voice of the UK Songwriting scene.

Artist’s website: https://chriscleverley.com/

 


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