David C Clements has released his new album ‘The Garden’.
The album marks his first full-length release in eight years, with an 11-track alt-folk collection featuring songs written with Snow Patrol’s Iain Archer and Jacknife Lee.
Speaking of the album, David said: “‘The Garden’, like most albums, is about no one thing. Instead it is about everything. In writing this album I have accidentally journaled the last 8 years or so. It maps out the meandering path that life has taken, putting a pin in some of the key moments. The songs will hold different meanings for different people, but I will try and sum up what they mean to me. It is about lives coming in to the world, two to be precise, and my responsibility to help shape them and the world they live in. It is about lives leaving this world and how we find ways to cope with that. It is about mental health and trying to restore peace in the mind. It’s about love in all its forms, the joy it brings and the pain. And in some ways it’s a breakup album, not with a person, but with a system of belief. So the album is about life itself and the search to make sense of it and find meaning in it, looking for ‘The Garden.’ “
To celebrate his album release, David shared with us 5 tracks that influenced ‘The Garden’.
James Vincent McMorrow – December 2914
When James Vincent McMorrow brought out ‘We Move’ it completely changed my perception of what a singer/songwriter could be, and that was pushed even more with ‘True Care.’ I love that lazy synth bass and how the song shifts and changes as it goes.
David Bazan – Care
David Bazan has written some great story songs, and I love how he leans in to the grey in the topics he writes about. It’s another song from a singer/songwriter that’s heavy on synths and was a big influence when it came to experimenting in writing the album.
Sufjan Stevens – Should Have Known Better (live)
I love this version of the song on the ‘Carrie and Lowell’ live album. It’s such a great take on the song, especially the end section. So much energy and joy in it. I love when sad songs can have this section of joyous relief. Some of my favourite parts of my album are like that.
Phoebe Bridgers – Funeral
This is just one of those songs that one play just doesn’t do it, I need it on repeat for a while to just sink in to it. It’s such a well crafted and beautifully sad song.
Sam Amidon – Pretty Fair Damsel
One of my favourite songs from a stunning album that Jacknife Lee played to me as a reference when I worked with him. The arrangements across the album are just incredible, but there’s a simple and beautiful folk song at the heart of each one. I always try to keep the song at the heart of anything I do. No matter what the arrangement is I want to be able to strip it right back to guitar and vocal and for the song to still stand up by itself.
Listen to David’s top musical influences:
Stream David C Clements ‘The Garden’ via Spotify below: