Clarence Clarity Explained

Clarence Clarity
Birth Name:Adam Mark Crisp
Birth Date:30 May 1985
Birth Place:London, England
Years Active:2012–present

Adam Mark Crisp (born 30 May 1985), known by the stage name Clarence Clarity, is an English singer, songwriter, producer and musician.[1] He has been praised for his unique, eclectic pop sound which was described by The Guardian as "funk played by a swarm of bees".[1] In addition to his own music he has produced for acts including Sundara Karma and Rina Sawayama.

Background

Crisp was born in London and raised in Yateley and Fleet, Hampshire.[2] [3] He played with several bands and under several aliases prior to Clarence Clarity, mostly known for his releases with the band Elle Milano from the mid-to-late 2000s, and his work under the name Entrepreneurs until the early 2010s.[4] [5] Elle Milano broke up in 2008 after the death of Crisp's mother,[6] while the Entrepreneurs name was retired in favour of Clarence Clarity.

Early into his career as Clarence Clarity, Crisp was noted for his high degree of anonymity, preferring not to talk about his previous work and giving false and absurd information in press releases, such as stating that he was from Fiji, that he ate mud or that he was 7 feet tall;[7] [8] this misinformation led to rumours, such that his music was a new Jai Paul project.[9] When asked about this by The Guardian, he replied with "I've got a musical history, and I suppose I don't want to have to justify why certain things in the past haven't taken off. I've wiped the slate clean a couple of times. It all feels necessary to have got here."[10] [11] [12] Despite the similarity, Crisp has stated that his stage name was not overtly influenced by the meme template 'Sudden Clarity Clarence'.[13]

Career

Previous Projects: 2002–2012

Psirens: 2002–2004

Psirens was a band formed in 2002 by Crisp and James Headley.[14] It quickly splintered into several other bands, and was soon retired as a project.[15]

Elle Milano: 2004–2008

Elle Milano was formed in 2004,[16] as one of the bands formed from the members of Psirens. It consisted of Crisp, Headley, and Chloe Dunford.[17] They released an EP, three singles, and their only album Acres Of Dead Space Cadets on Brighton Electric.[18] After the release of Acres in 2008, the band went on tour, but cancelled most of the shows early into the tour.[19] Soon after, the band announced their split, releasing a final EP off-label onto their Myspace.[20]

Entrepreneurs, The Premarital Sect, The Super-Ego and FOE: 2008–2012

Following the disbanding of Elle Milano, Crisp began producing electronica under the name Entrepreneurs. Under Entrepreneurs, he began working with the label Stella Mortos,[21] releasing the double A-side single "Hunting Roger Rabbit / Six Severed Hates".[22] On 10 August 2010, he released the EP Uv Been Robbed (Joking, But Not) independently on Bandcamp.[23] He released another double A-side, "Bubblegunk / Fuck Tactics", on London label Fear & Records in 2011.[24] [25]

Crisp produced music with vocalist Hannah Lou Clark under the name FOE,[26] [27] providing production for her 2012 album, Bad Dream Hotline.[28] Around this time he was also involved in a punk band, The Premarital Sect, and produced hip-hop instrumentals under the name The Super-Ego using Ableton Live.[29] He also mastered 7" single "Good Girl / Amazing Discovery" for Surrey six-piece Wildeflower in 2012.[30] [31]

Clarence Clarity: 2012–Present

His first release under the name "Clarence Clarity" was 4GODSLUV[32] in 2012,[33] and he subsequently released his debut EP Save †hyself on the 37 Adventures label in late 2013. In December 2014, Clarity released his second EP, Who Am Eye, now on the Bella Union label. The EP cover featured his face (albeit with a distorted mouth), serving as the first time he had shown his face under the name.[34] In March 2015, he released his first full-length album, No Now, and also performed a session at Maida Vale Studios for Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1.[35] In 2016, Clarity released a single with Pizza Boy, "Splitting Hairs", and the SAME EP, which consists of the titular track "SAME" repeated 5 times.[36]

During 2017, Clarity helped produce Rina Sawayama's debut mini-album, Rina.[37] He also began releasing singles with minimal or no advertising, such as "Fold 'Em"[38] and "Naysayer Godslayer".[39] He continued this trend into 2018, as it was revealed that he was working on a project which was widely believed to be called Leave Earth. In September 2018, the album title was revealed to be labelled ,[40] and was released independently on his Deluxe Pain label on 4 October 2018. This album featured many of the previously released singles in remixed forms. Clarity also revealed that Leave Earth was actually a compilation playlist consisting of all his singles released from 2016 to 2018,[41] and continued to release singles for this playlist in pairs up until 31 December that year, finishing by releasing "Leave Earth" and "Sob Story".

In March 2020, Clarity released an ambient album, Dead Screen Scrolls, as a pay-what-you-want on Bandcamp;[42] only an hour prior announcing an album was to be released for the first Bandcamp Friday (where all processing fees were to be waived for a day).[43] [44] Later in 2020, on 5 June, Clarity announced that he was releasing the mixtape Aerobic Exercise for the next 24 hours only, donating the proceeds to charity as it was a Bandcamp Friday.[45] He would later put the mixtape back up for purchase permanently,[46] alongside a second mixtape, Your Wrong, to coincide with the Bandcamp Friday in February 2021.[47]

Clarity was the primary producer of Rina Sawayama's debut album, Sawayama which released in April 2020 to critical acclaim.[48] Later that year, he also co-produced the songs "Iron Fist" and "Give Great Thanks" for Dorian Electra's second album My Agenda,[49] [50] and produced the entirety of Sundara Karma's fourth EP, Kill Me.[51]

During a Reddit AMA in 2019, Clarity announced the title of his next album would be Midieval Europe. He also said that the project would be much shorter than his previous albums.[52] In an April 2021 interview with Sonemic, Clarity stated that the project would not be titled Midieval Europe and that it would be released in three parts: an extended play followed by an album and another extended play.[53] The first of these, Vanishing Act I: No Nouns, released in September 2021.[54] Additionally in 2021, Clarity produced Rina Sawayama's cover of the song "Enter Sandman" for the charity compilation The Metallica Blacklist,[55] and collaborated with her on a remix of the Lady Gaga song "Free Woman" for Gaga's remix album, Dawn of Chromatica.[56]

In 2022, Clarity provided production for Sundara Karma's fifth EP, Oblivion![57] He also released the instrumentals to Vanshing Act I on 17 March,[58] and released the sequel to his 2021 mixtape Your Wrong, titled Your Wrong To, to coincide with that May's Bandcamp Friday.[59]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum Details
No Now
  • Released: 4 October 2018
  • Label: Deluxe Pain
  • Formats: Digital download
Dead Screen Scrolls (Ambient Works, Vol. 1)
  • Released: 20 March 2020
  • Label: Self-Released
  • Formats: Digital download
Vanishing Act II
  • Released: TBA

Compilations

TitleCompilation Details
Leave Earth
  • Released: 2016 - 31 December 2018
  • Label: Deluxe Pain / Self-Released
  • Formats: Digital download
Aerobic Exorcise
  • Released: 5 June 2020[61]
  • Label: Self-Released
  • Formats: Digital download
Your Wrong
  • Released: 5 February 2021
  • Label: Self-Released
  • Formats: Digital download
Your Wrong To
  • Released: 6 May 2022
  • Label: Self-Released
  • Formats: Digital Download

Extended plays

TitleEP Details
Save Thyself
  • Released: 17 September 2013
  • Label: 37 Adventures
  • Formats: Digital download, 12" Single
Who Am Eye
  • Released: 2 December 2014
  • Label: Bella Union
  • Formats: Digital download, 12" Single
Vanishing Act I: No Nouns
  • Released: 23 September 2021
  • Label: Deluxe Pain
  • Formats: Digital download
Vanishing Act III
  • Released: TBA

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"4GODSLUV"2012Non-album singles
"KADYクソPERRY"
"Alive in the Septic Tank"2013Save Thyself
"The Gospel Truth"
"Those Who Can't, Cheat"2014Who Am Eye
"Buck-Toothed Particle Smashers" (ft. Kill J)2015No Now
"Will to Believe"
"Cancer™ In The Water" (A.J. Crew edit)2016Non-album singles
"Splitting Hairs" (ft. Pizza Boy)
"Vapid Feels Are Vapid"Think:Peace
"Same"
"Now I Am Become Death" (Vocal Version)Non-album singles
"W€ CHANG€"2017Think: Peace
"Fold 'Em" (ft. Shadi)
"Naysayer Godslayer"
"Next Best Thing"2018
"Adam & The Evil" (ft. Pizza Boy)
"Your Secrets" (with Kai Whiston)Kai Whiston Bitch
"Rafters" (ft. A.J. Crew)Leave Earth
"1985"
"Telenovela"
"Del Rey Dreamhouse"
"Untrust In Us Together"
"Anthropic Principles"
"Bipolar Rainbows"
"Deafening Red"
"Sob Story"
"Leave Earth"

Songwriting and production credits

TitleYearArtistAlbum
"Ballad for the Brainkeepers"2012FOEBad Dream Hotline
"Mother May I?"
"Jailhouse"
"Tyrant Song"
"A Handsome Stranger Called Death"
"Get Money"
"The Black Lodge"
"Genie in a Coke Can"
"Ode to Janey Lou"
"Dance & Weep"
"Cold Hard Rock"
"Bad Dream Hotline"
"Valentine (What's It Gonna Be?)"2018Rina Sawayama
"Ordinary Superstar"Rina
"Cyber Stockholm Syndrome"
"Alterlife"
"10-20-40"
"Take Me as I Am"
"Time Out (Interlude)"
"Cherry"rowspan="2"
"Flicker"
"Mannequin"HMLTDHate Music Last Time Delete EP
"Apple of My Eye"
"Thirsty (For Love)"2020Dorian Electra
"Dynasty"Rina SawayamaSawayama
"STFU"
"Akasaka Sad"
"Paradisin'"
"Fuck This World (Interlude)"
"Snakeskin"
"Give Great Thanks"Dorian ElectraMy Agenda
"Kill Me"Sundara KarmaKill Me
"O Stranger"
"YOUR TOUCH"
"Artifice"
"Lifelines"
"Minor Feelings"2022Rina SawayamaHold the Girl
"This Hell"
"Catch Me in the Air"
"Forgiveness"
"Your Age"
"Imagining"
"Frankenstein"
"Hurricanes"
"Phantom"
"Flavour of the Month"
"Symphony"2023Dorian ElectraFanfare
"Freak Mode"
"anon"
"Wanna Be a Star"

Remixes

TitleYearArtist
"Faith"2014I Break Horses
"Ladders"2015Archive
"Midnight Sun"Kate Boy
"Heartbreak Hi"2016Avec Sans
"Gone"2019Charli XCX and Christine and the Queens
"Free Woman"[62] 2021Lady Gaga, Rina Sawayama

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clarence Clarity (No 35). The Guardian. 12 December 2014. 26 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402182230/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/dec/12/clarence-clarity-no-35. 2 April 2015. live.
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/feb/17/new-band-entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs (No 970)
  3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/hampshire/hi/people_and_places/music/newsid_8161000/8161521.stm Hannah Shark sings for South:Live
  4. Web site: Entrepreneurs . 2022-04-16 . DIY . 7 April 2011 . en.
  5. Web site: Interview: Entrepreneurs . 2022-04-16 . Crack in the Road.
  6. Web site: Elle Milano Split . 2022-04-16 . Clash Magazine . 27 October 2008 . en.
  7. Web site: Clarence Clarity . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180627204557/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/introducing/clarence-clarity-142249 . 27 June 2018 . 2019-02-09 . The Line of Best Fit . en.
  8. Web site: Dunn . Francesca . 2015-02-19 . 2, 4, 6, 8… we appreciate clarence clarity . 2022-04-16 . i-D . en.
  9. Web site: Dunn . Francesca . 2015-02-19 . 2, 4, 6, 8… we appreciate clarence clarity . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011234/https://i-d.vice.com/en_au/article/xwd4vj/2-4-6-8-we-appreciate-clarence-clarity . 12 February 2019 . 2019-02-10 . I-D . en-AU.
  10. News: McQuaid . Ian . 2015-01-03 . Clarence Clarity: 'I feel too normal' . en-GB . The Guardian . live . 2019-02-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011407/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jan/03/clarence-clarity-i-feel-too-normal . 12 February 2019 . 0261-3077.
  11. Web site: Clarence Clarity . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180627204557/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/introducing/clarence-clarity-142249 . 27 June 2018 . 2019-02-10 . The Line of Best Fit . en.
  12. Web site: Subscribe . Clarence Clarity: The man, the mystery . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190209232416/http://diymag.com/2014/12/11/clarence-clarity-interview-class-of-2015 . 9 February 2019 . 2019-02-10 . DIY . 11 December 2014 . en.
  13. Web site: TND Podcast #19 ft. Clarence Clarity. www.youtube.com.
  14. Web site: Gezoontheit at The Nest, London . 2022-04-17 . RA.
  15. Web site: psirens presents . 2022-04-16 . Angelfire.
  16. Web site: 2008-04-21 . Elle Milano Tour . 2022-04-16 . Glasswerk . en-US.
  17. Acres Of Dead Space Cadets (album). Elle Milano. Brighton Electric. 2008. btnlp01.
  18. Web site: Elle Milano . 2022-04-16 . DrownedInSound . en . 1 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210801175223/https://drownedinsound.com/artists/Elle_Milano . dead .
  19. Web site: 2008-12-14 . MySpace.com - ELLE MILANO (2004-2008) - The Gates Of Hell, UK - Tropical / Flamenco / Tango - www.myspace.com/ellemilano . 2022-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081214201136/http://www.myspace.com/ellemilano . 14 December 2008 .
  20. Web site: Elle Milano reviews, music, news - sputnikmusic . 2022-04-16 . www.sputnikmusic.com.
  21. Web site: Stella Mortos Launch: Entrepreneurs, Foe, Pettre at The Macbeth, London . 2022-04-17 . RA.
  22. Web site: Mortos . Stella . SEMORT-1: Entrepreneurs - Hunting Roger Rabbit / Six Severed Hates . 2022-04-16 . Stella Mortos.
  23. Web site: 2010-07-19 . Entrepreneurs . 2022-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100719221446/http://entrepreneurs.bandcamp.com/ . 19 July 2010 .
  24. https://completemusicupdate.com/article/approved-entrepreneurs/ Approved: Entrepreneurs
  25. Web site: 2011-02-17 . New band of the day – No 970: Entrepreneurs . 2022-04-16 . the Guardian . en.
  26. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/apr/12/foe-new-band Foe (No 1,003)
  27. https://www.repeatfanzine.co.uk/interviews/foe.htm Foe On Her Past, Present & Future…
  28. https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/foe-bad-dream-hotline FOE – Bad Dream Hotline
  29. https://diymag.com/archive/entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs
  30. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1300605-Adam-M-Crisp Adam M. Crisp
  31. https://www.discogs.com/artist/2383815-FOE-8 FOE (8)
  32. Web site: 4GODSLUV. YouTube. 7 February 2021.
  33. Web site: Clarence Clarity: The man, the mystery. Subscribe. DIY. 11 December 2014 . en. 2019-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190209232416/http://diymag.com/2014/12/11/clarence-clarity-interview-class-of-2015. 9 February 2019. live.
  34. Web site: Clarence Clarity announces WHO AM EYE EP, streams first track. The Line of Best Fit. en. 2019-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180627211604/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/clarence-clarity-announces-who-am-eye-ep-streams-first-track. 27 June 2018. live.
  35. Web site: Clarence Clarity plays Maida Vale session for Radio 1. Subscribe. DIY. 25 March 2015 . en. 2019-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20150811195520/http://diymag.com/2015/03/25/clarence-clarity-plays-maida-vale-session. 11 August 2015. live.
  36. Web site: SAME EP - Clarence Clarity. SoundCloud.com. en. 2019-02-10.
  37. Web site: Rina Sawayama and Clarence Clarity team up for haywire anthem "Alterlife". The Line of Best Fit. en. 2019-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190210044349/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/discovery/rina-sawayama-and-clarence-clarity-team-up-for-haywire-anthem-alterlife. 10 February 2019. live.
  38. Web site: Clarence Clarity teases second record Leave Earth with tormented-soul single "Fold 'Em". The Line of Best Fit. en. 2019-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180511022441/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/clarence-clarity-teases-second-record-leave-earth-fold-em. 11 May 2018. live.
  39. Web site: "Naysayer Godslayer" is the new deranged R&B jam from Clarence Clarity. The Line of Best Fit. en. 2019-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190209232312/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/naysayer-godslayer-is-the-new-deranged-rb-jam-from-clarence-clarity. 9 February 2019. live.
  40. Web site: My 2nd album is called THINK: PEACE and it will be out in one month.. Clarity. Clarence. 2018-09-04. @clarenceclarity. en. 2019-02-09.
  41. Web site: Leave Earth. Clarity. Clarence. 2018-10-04. @clarenceclarity. en. 2019-02-09.
  42. Web site: DEAD SCREEN SCROLLS Clarence Clarity. 20 March 2020. Bandcamp. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200502193958/https://clarenceclarity.bandcamp.com/album/dead-screen-scrolls. 2 May 2020. 20 March 2020.
  43. Web site: I've been waiting for the right time to release an ambient album. Today is that day. Clarity. Clarence. 2020-03-20. @clarenceclarity. en. 2020-03-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20200321074615/https://twitter.com/clarenceclarity/status/1241011824088285187. 21 March 2020. live.
  44. Web site: I dont want anyone to have to pay for this . 2022-04-16 . Twitter . en.
  45. Web site: It's @bandcamp fee-waiver day . 2022-04-16 . Twitter . en.
  46. Web site: AEROBIC EXORCISE, by Clarence Clarity . 2022-04-16 . Clarence Clarity . en.
  47. Web site: NEW beat tape/instrumental album out at midnight PST (8am GMT) . 2022-04-16 . Twitter . en.
  48. Web site: Rina Sawayama Announces Tour and Debut Album, Shares New Song: Listen. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200408013556/https://pitchfork.com/news/rina-sawayama-announces-tour-and-debut-album-shares-new-song-listen/. 8 April 2020. 2020-03-20. Pitchfork. 17 January 2020. en.
  49. Web site: Dorian Electra's new single "Give Great Thanks" is one for the subs . 2022-04-16 . The FADER . en.
  50. Web site: Credits for Clarence Clarity on TIDAL . 2022-04-17 . TIDAL.
  51. Web site: 2020-10-01 . Sundara Karma on the depression and desire behind explosive new single 'Kill Me' and its Hannah Diamond-directed video . 2022-04-16 . NME . en.
  52. Web site: r/indieheads - CLARENCE CLARITY - HI! ASK ME ANYTHING. 2019-02-09. reddit. 15 October 2018 . en.
  53. Web site: Sonemic Interview: Clarence Clarity. live. 2021-09-23. Rate Your Music. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210410214454/https://rateyourmusic.com/feature/sonemic-interview-clarence-clarity . 10 April 2021 .
  54. Web site: Clarence Clarity on Twitter: "VANISHING ACT I : NO NOUNS 23 SEPTEMBER 2021 . 2022-05-07 . Twitter . en.
  55. Daw . Stephen . 2021-08-26 . Rina Sawayama Heads to Never Never Land With Rollicking Cover of Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' . 2022-05-07 . Billboard . en-US.
  56. Web site: 2021-08-30 . Lady Gaga Announces New Chromatica Remix Album . 2022-05-07 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  57. Web site: 2022-02-11 . Sundara Karma announce new 'Oblivion!' EP and share title track . 2022-05-07 . NME . en-GB.
  58. Web site: VANISHING ACT I: NO NOUNS (INSTRUMENTALS), by Clarence Clarity . 2022-05-07 . Clarence Clarity . en.
  59. Web site: YOUR WRONG TO, by Clarence Clarity . 2022-05-07 . Clarence Clarity . en.
  60. Web site: ALBUM BIO: Clarence Clarity - NO NOW [Bella Union] (Out Monday, 2 March 2015)]. 2015-02-08. Mushroom Promotions. en-US. 2019-02-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20190216153230/https://mushroompromotions.com/bios/album-bio-clarence-clarity-no-now-pias-out-monday-2-march-2015/. 16 February 2019. dead.
  61. Web site: AEROBIC EXORCISE, by Clarence Clarity. 2021-09-23. Clarence Clarity.
  62. Web site: Darville. Jordan. Lady Gaga shares Dawn Of Chromatica remix album release date, tracklist. August 30, 2021. The Fader. August 30, 2021.

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