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Maryland-based singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist McClenney, formerly Chris McClenney, spawned a reinvention of his introduction as an artist with his EP "I'm Not Here." And in the throws of attempting to secure an understanding of him through five songs, we begin to question if we will ever care for someone as deeply as the man behind the music does.
"I'm Not Here" plays as a testament to an artist's ability to preserve the process of making the music for themselves yet leaving the songs for us, seeing as he's already lived the contents of said songs. McClenney's lead-in track "the Fear" sounds like the smallest, most torn version of himself with his pieces easily scattered and clawing to be stitched together. Velutinous chords cry a bare melody along his purred vocals. The ascension from the vocals in the chorus sync with the progression in the chords. As directionless as his lyrics come off there is a sense of navigating behind the production. The "Portrait in Two" artist sounds closer to finding the way track-by-track.
Immediately following is "Art of the Loner," a song with a rhythm that feels unattainable for its entire duration. Exotic harmonies and stock-still chords open the song, filling the sonic space with emptiness as if the crescendo is nonexistent, then we're lobbed right back into the motion of the music. Delayed vocals and a lagging melody give the song a nonchalant tone. His meeting with the grainy drums and percussion loop, shoving McClenney even further from everything his vocals convinced us he no longer cares about. Woozy guitar strums and alerted licks continuously add and subtract throughout the song, knowing when to point to the succession of the gagged electric bass rides or synthesizer shots foreshadowing "Art of the Loner's" changes by the closing suave acoustic/keyboard melodies and harmonies mirroring the start. Two songs in and the aforementioned 'way' he wants to find is seemingly being rejected. But the funny thing about your path is you always keep walking it despite your detours.
"Love in the Sky" finds itself with the only feature on the EP (not including Blake Straus's co-writer credit on "SOS") with April + VISTA. This song not only guides McClenney back to passion within the makeup of "I'm Not Here," it is the most impressive and beautiful song on the project. Adjoining grooves from the bright, sensual drums, hi-hats and drawing bassline create a rhythm you want to get close to but you cannot get close enough. A prime chord progression grounds the aqueous keys copying the ebb and flow of McClenney's burning melodies. The drift in and out of his falsetto frame a fantasy nature on the songwriting. By "Love in the Sky's" hypnotizing instrumental break the music sounds pregnant with warm curiosity. April takes that curiosity and transform it into discovery. Interweaving cooling harmonies, rare bird vocal tones and gambolling melodies, the one half of the duo inverts the colors of the world the music curates. And there is still the leading single "SOS" along with the safeguarded cut "quiet/us" to fall in love with.
By the time you understand the position of these songs McClenney is already off in the sunset with his beloved, likely crafting new melodies and grooves as their love evolves. "I'm Not Here" in its most basic form sounds like a guy in a room with his instruments seeing what comes out, and in a peaceful way that is how he mines the most meaning.
Listen to "I'm Not Here" in full below.
Lead Photo Cred: soundcloud.com
Maryland-based singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist McClenney, formerly Chris McClenney, spawned a reinvention of his introduction as an artist with his EP "I'm Not Here." And in the throws of attempting to secure an understanding of him through five songs, we begin to question if we will ever care for someone as deeply as the man behind the music does.
"I'm Not Here" plays as a testament to an artist's ability to preserve the process of making the music for themselves yet leaving the songs for us, seeing as he's already lived the contents of said songs. McClenney's lead-in track "the Fear" sounds like the smallest, most torn version of himself with his pieces easily scattered and clawing to be stitched together. Velutinous chords cry a bare melody along his purred vocals. The ascension from the vocals in the chorus sync with the progression in the chords. As directionless as his lyrics come off there is a sense of navigating behind the production. The "Portrait in Two" artist sounds closer to finding the way track-by-track.
Immediately following is "Art of the Loner," a song with a rhythm that feels unattainable for its entire duration. Exotic harmonies and stock-still chords open the song, filling the sonic space with emptiness as if the crescendo is nonexistent, then we're lobbed right back into the motion of the music. Delayed vocals and a lagging melody give the song a nonchalant tone. His meeting with the grainy drums and percussion loop, shoving McClenney even further from everything his vocals convinced us he no longer cares about. Woozy guitar strums and alerted licks continuously add and subtract throughout the song, knowing when to point to the succession of the gagged electric bass rides or synthesizer shots foreshadowing "Art of the Loner's" changes by the closing suave acoustic/keyboard melodies and harmonies mirroring the start. Two songs in and the aforementioned 'way' he wants to find is seemingly being rejected. But the funny thing about your path is you always keep walking it despite your detours.
"Love in the Sky" finds itself with the only feature on the EP (not including Blake Straus's co-writer credit on "SOS") with April + VISTA. This song not only guides McClenney back to passion within the makeup of "I'm Not Here," it is the most impressive and beautiful song on the project. Adjoining grooves from the bright, sensual drums, hi-hats and drawing bassline create a rhythm you want to get close to but you cannot get close enough. A prime chord progression grounds the aqueous keys copying the ebb and flow of McClenney's burning melodies. The drift in and out of his falsetto frame a fantasy nature on the songwriting. By "Love in the Sky's" hypnotizing instrumental break the music sounds pregnant with warm curiosity. April takes that curiosity and transform it into discovery. Interweaving cooling harmonies, rare bird vocal tones and gambolling melodies, the one half of the duo inverts the colors of the world the music curates. And there is still the leading single "SOS" along with the safeguarded cut "quiet/us" to fall in love with.
By the time you understand the position of these songs McClenney is already off in the sunset with his beloved, likely crafting new melodies and grooves as their love evolves. "I'm Not Here" in its most basic form sounds like a guy in a room with his instruments seeing what comes out, and in a peaceful way that is how he mines the most meaning.
Listen to "I'm Not Here" in full below.
Lead Photo Cred: soundcloud.com
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