myclownshoes – Swan Song (2024)
Toss aside your preconceptions and stereotypical perspectives of, well, everyone; then take a look at the US-based duo myclownshoes. While the pair “might be a white boy band from Kentucky”, they barely breathe toward the idea of a bunch of kids on the stage singing some country tune. Founder Blue Happel began making music at age 12 and released their first single ‘BLUE’ in 2015; however, 2019 saw the debut single ‘Alexandria (Slowed)’ as myclownshoes. Joined by guitarist Max Hayes, the band delve into the complexities of life as a queer youth living in the 21st century.
Released nearly five years after myclownshoes’ debut album, Lips Do What Hands Do, they released the well-received sophomore album Tantrum. Shifting from a primarily RnB sound to harder, heavier, almost “punch in the face” alternative rock, Tantrum represents myclownshoes’ rebirth and evolution. Coming full circle, the ten-track album celebrates “transition, identity and how far they have come with their relationship to music…”. Today we take a look at the final track, ‘Swan Song’.
Potentially one of the softer and more soothing songs on Tantrum, ‘Swan Song’ blends the raw force of tracks like ‘Bedridden’ and ‘Temptation Is A Weapon’ with the sincerity of ‘The Floor Glows’. Coming in at six minutes in length, ‘Swan Song’ is the longest track on Tantrum, yet when the song ends you feel as though you haven’t heard enough. In fact, you’ll probably be a bit disappointed that the skin-tingling lightness is over – all a reason to press repeat.
Penned and produced by Happel and Hayes, ‘Swan Song’ weaves a bold bass with rhythmic guitar riffs creating a shimmering sonic tapestry. For me, the most intriguing aspect of ‘Swan Song’ is Happel’s soaring vocals – almost skin-chilling in its haunting execution. The rise and fall of instrumentation is a rollercoaster of emotion, but the siren-like voice acts as a thread onto which you can hold. It waivers and flails in the arrangement… then again, within its ethereal symphony there is strength and surety.
Sincere, sentimental, introspective and honest, ‘Swan Song’ has quickly become one of my favourite melodies of 2024.
Find out more about myclownshoes on their official website, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustianablecurator
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