Best known for playing Scarlett O’Connor in the hit ABC/CMT show Nashville, Australian singer-songwriter Clare Bowen has already made quite a name for herself in the UK, selling out shows at the O2 and Royal Albert Hall, alongside her fellow Nashville crew, including Sam Palladio. Now that the last credit for the show has rolled through, Bowen is spreading her wings with her first solo venture; her debut album – set for release on August 31st – with accompanying tour, supported by Striking Matches (who, incidentally, penned the hit Nashville song ‘When The Right One Comes Along). Fans of the show will doubtless be swept along in the excitement, still, one listen to the album, ought to convert a new legion of fans to Bowen, even those who have never heard of Scarlett or Gunnar….
Comprised of 11 tracks, the album is a masterpiece, showing off the gorgeous, unique tonality of Bowen’s vocals to the full, alongside tender, clever and vulnerable songwriting
hypnotising power. Without losing the elements of the songs that shot her to fame as Scarlett, Bowen still clearly delineates her own artistry in this project, stepping out of the Nashville shadow to show her talent in its own right. The album also straddles the gap between traditional country sound and modern influences, making it hard to pigeonhole solely to the ‘country’ file – this is no bad thing, as Bowen takes the genre’s storytelling elements, but pushes the melodic boundaires, taking her sound to another level, courtesy of stellar production by Josh Kaufman.
The opening track to the album was debuted in the UK on Bob Harris’ Radio 2 show, and was the first single released from the album, providing a perfectly poignant starting note to the record. A captivating song, the track was thoughtfully produced with reference to the rest of the album and is a powerful introduction to the following tracks, giving a theme of letting go. The album follows this ballad theme for a lot of the album, allowing Bowen to fully showcase her vocal potential, but also the stellar songwriting and depth of material on offer here, something proven even by a quick peruse of the song titles. Surprisingly, the ballads are as catchy as they come, showing you don’t have to have an electronic beat to a song to get people singing it for days on end.
Shifting energy levels, ‘Doors & Corridors,’ is accompanied by a unique and wonderful drum beat that pairs wonderfully with Bowen’s tone – a song about living life outside the lines, in a fantastical world. The breadth of the music she was brought up with, from Vivaldi to Edith Piaf to Bruce Springsteen is clear here, in the track’s unique sound, laced with a kind of fantastical melody.
Accompanied by an almost Jason Mraz/Jack Johnson-sounding guitar strumming, ‘Tide Rolls In,’ brings a more upbeat element to the album. More pop in feel, with instrumental breadth, including guitar, brass and hints of piano. The repeated lyric, ‘Tide Rolls In, Tide Rolls Out,’ is one that won’t leave your head and is an intelligent, quirky number, showing off Bowen’s musicality that stretches beyond her vocal range.
‘Aves’ Song’ returns to a sound rooted more firmly in the country genre in sound and theme – a song about a girl letting go of her past, ‘Gravity was not enough, turns out she had wings.’ This is a gem of a song, showing off Bowen’s vocal range but also her truly impressive songwriting capacity – the backing vocals making this a catchy number.
Sitting at number five on the album is Bowen’s duet with her husband Brandon Young – the sublime ‘All The Bed’s I’ve Made’ – that brings back floods of memories of her character Scarlett in Nashville. It is a beauty of a track, surrounding the main theme of lost and true loves, and the marriage of Bowen and Young’s voice is something to be beheld.
Bringing a gospel tinge to the album is the next track, ‘Lullabye.’ This feels like a truly intimate and personal track, singing to every orphan, motherless and fatherless child, one that will speak to many souls around the world, and is the kind of track to garner a very loyal legion of fans. Following quick on its’ heels is ‘Sweet William,’ with a similar lullaby feel that allows Bowen to show again her ability to branch out from usual songwriting themes, talking about a sailor boy. ‘Lijah & The Shadow,’ proves this again, and pushes the boundaries of Bowen’s sound further. This track is a true departure for Bowen, providing a window into her true essence. Its a natural fit, the mysticism of the track pairing beautifully with the other-worldly elements of Bowen’s voice, for which she became so popular.
‘Little by Little,’ then goes back to the more traditional country sound, with the use of steel guitar. The themes here are again more explicit than the previous track – about having confidence in yourself and taking a leap of faith. Co-written with the ever-successful Amy Wadge, and her husband, Brandon Robert Young, it is a masterful and inspiring track, building to a gospel kind of mighty melody, a powerhouse of a track, which has already proved very popular with fans.
Hot on its heels, the heavyweight songwriter herself, Lori McKenna, has a hand in the next track ‘Grace of God & You,’ a stunning piece of writing. What McKenna does so beautifully is capture so many emotions in one song, and this song is no exception, a beautiful, pure track about love in its many forms.
Rounding out the album, ‘Warrior,’ is the perfect ending to this beautiful album. A syncopated rhythm sets the pace here, with choral backing driving Bowen’s vocals to an apex of beauty. As if the entire album hadn’t proven the beauty of Bowen’s storytelling and songwriting, this sets as yet another reminder, ‘They’ll call you a hero, a guardian angel, one in a million, who didn’t stand a chance. They’ll call you a survivor, say you’re a fighter, who turned this battle into a dance.” It’s a beauty, completing the picture of a glorious debut album, and proving Bowen’s musicality outside the Nashville shadow.
Top 3 tracks:
1. Let It Rain
2. Aves’ Song
3. Warrior
The album is out tomorrow, plus catch Clare on tour at the following locations:
2018 UK TOUR DATES
(With Special Guests Striking Matches)
Sep 2 | Birmingham, UK | Symphony Hall
Sep 4 | Gateshead, UK | Sage Gateshead
Sep 5 | York, UK | York Barbican
Sep 6 | Manchester, UK | Bridgewater Hall
Sep 8 | Glasgow, UK | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Sep 9 | Cambridge, UK | Cambridge Corn Exchange
Sep 10 | Guildford, UK | G Live
Sep 12 | London, UK | Royal Festival Hall
Sep 13 | Brighton, UK | Brighton Dome
