CLAY WESTERN RECOMMENDS: Tracks of the Week
Another Monday, another edition of TOOLS DOWN: Tracks of the Week.
Meet Clay Western—a lofi indie artist who blends small-town with coastal. Originally from Denmark (no, not Danish ‘Denmark’), a quiet little town in WA, Clay now calls Sydney home, and amazingly you can feel that contrast in his music. It’s warm, a bit nostalgic, and sounds like driving through the costal bush with the windows down. Small town boy taking on the world sorta vibe… and we’re fully here for it.
Clay’s first release of the year, ‘Long Way Down’, is dropping this May. Written alongside Harry O’Brien from Pacific Avenue, the track is shaping up to be one of his favourites to date. With Kesmar (aka the wizard behind Don West and Lazywax) on production again, it’s got all the polish and feeling we’ve come to love from Clay’s catalogue.
Keep an ear out for some live shows around the release. In the meantime, lets delve into some of Clay’s favourite tracks of this week - introducing Pretty Standard to whats going on in the Pop-music world.
TRACK #1:
Without You - Tobias Jesso Jr.
“Got introduced to this record by a friend recently, big John Lennon energy, beautiful lyrics, hooks and production. He also produced Dua Lipa's last record alongside Kevin Parker. Tobias is a Wizard.”
TRACK #2:
Lucy - RYMAN
“Actually discovered RYMAN through Tiktok a few months back and every release just gets better. Beautiful, thoughtful folk coming out of Nashville. When the drums come in it fucks me up.”
TRACK #3:
It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be - Olivia Dean
“Olivia Dean is hands down my favourite Pop artist at the moment. This track was written for the new Bridget Jones movie. For me the sentiment of the lyric ‘it isn't perfect but it might be’ really resonates.. Imperfection makes things human. Nothing or no one is perfect, but that’s what makes things special.”
TRACK #4:
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue - Bob Dylan
“A Complete Unknown really rekindled my love for Bob Dylan and sparked me to listen to almost every Bob Dylan record while driving around Tasmania with my dad a couple of weeks back. This track was one of my standouts.”
TRACK #5:
Delete Ya - Djo
“The new Djo album is insane. ‘Delete Ya’ really stood out to me for the calm yet driving verses, the lyrics are really visual and conversational, definitely something I’m really inspired by in my own writing. Much like the rest of the record, the production is really interesting. Nothing too big and expansive but the writing is so strong that it doesn’t need to be.”
TRACK #6:
How To Kill Houseplants - Spacey Jane
“I’ve always loved Spacey’s slower tracks and this is one of my favourites ever. The chorus lyric ‘Water me darling, love is a garden’ is so beautiful, visual and emotive. Excited for the homies to take over the world with this record!”
TRACK #7:
Steeeam - Shelly
“A little B-side from a side project that clairo put together through covid. Huge Clairo fan. The writing is so strong and the production is so lofi, jangly and on fleek.“
TRACK #8:
The Longest Goodbye - ROLE MODEL
“Like most of the world right now, I’m a big fan of the stuff ROLE MODEL is putting out. This track is off the deluxe version of his latest record. The trumpet reminds me of something from a Toy Story soundtrack. So fun yet bittersweet.”
TRACK #9:
to be a man - Martin Luke Brown
“Got sent this by one of my best mates recently. The verse melody reminds me of Big Jet Plane. Soft and beautiful production but the lyrics are so deep. Really brings mens mental health, masculinity and suicide to the forefront in a palatable way. Check in on your friends xx”
TRACK #10:
Favourite - Fontaines D.C.
“I was a bit late to the Fontaines bandwagon, it honestly took me a few listens of the record to get into them. I think this is a beautiful pop track. Summery and fun. I love it.”
…and to that pretty standard can be quoted saying “WOW, ABSOLUTELY CRACKING?” in regards to the above track ‘pickering’.
pretty standard: “Tell us about one or two of these tracks. Why do they stand out to you?”
“to be a man - Martin Luke Brown’ is a standout for me. I like everyone have had my struggles with my mental health and I think it raises a lot of questions around traditional masculine roles and expectations in society. Check in on your friends, be a shoulder. No one is an island. Treat strangers nicely, you never know what they’re going through.”
pretty standard: “Lastly, do you have any new projects coming out soon?”
“I’ve got my first release of the year coming out in May called ‘Long Way Down’. I wrote it with my good friend Harry O’Brien from Pacific Avenue back in February and it’s become one of my favourite tracks I’ve been a part of. My producer Kesmar (Don West, Lazywax) worked his magic on the production, as he has with all my other tracks, really bringing it to life. We’ve got a couple of fun shows planned around this release as well. That’s all for now…”
LINKS:
instagram // @clay_western
spotify // Clay Western
youtube // @claywestern
And, as always the full playlist is available for your awaited approval, perusal and amusement. As for the opposite of those three complex words your permitted to do those two…
We wish you happy listening,
Till we meet again,
Couper Baskus // official ‘Ne'er-do-well’ and global head of ‘Such-and-such’ @ pretty standard
