Q&A with Clinton Kane
Clinton Kane
Hands Up, Hearts Out.
Most people never have the right words to say. Perhaps this is why we admire our songwriters, due to their ability to communicate so much in just one song. It's a talent rooted in the brilliance of Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Bruno Mars - all songwriters first - but also wonderful singers and performers with something to say. Enter another such singer-songwriter who is making an impact - twenty-one-year-old Clinton Kane. Clinton doesn't just wear his feelings on his sleeve; he throws them in your face. Growing up in Perth, Australia, and the UK, he's somewhat of a wanderlust, having lived all over the world, including thirteen countries. Clinton started posting popular covers on YouTube, and his breakthrough happened in early 2020, as the featured vocalist on the dance-pop hit "Drown" by Martin Garrix. Clinton has had his own success with solo singles, including the brand new "Chicken Tendies" as well as "Fix It To Break It", "Hopeless" and "Remember The Mornings", among others. Clinton's long-awaiting EP due this spring explores his heart and mind in the rawest of ways. A self-taught singer, pianist, guitarist, and drummer, Clinton Kane draws the listener in with his tender and powerful vocals, and he is very simply an artist who should be on your radar.
ICYMI: Click HERE for our exclusive Five Fun Facts with Clinton Kane.
IndieWavves: "Chicken Tendies" was released last week. It seems like the fans have been waiting for this one for a while - and you too. It's kind of a heartbreaker, but it's also weirdly uplifting and hopeful. With this being your first release of 2021, what excites you most about this ballad?
Clinton Kane: Yeah, I mean, the fans are fucking crazy about it. I don't understand. It definitely has to do with the song and the clip as well, and the keyword of me saying "Chicken Tendies". I didn't even think about it when I said it. Now everybody just says "Chicken Tendies" on every post I ever do.
IW: You play guitar, piano, drums, you're a singer, and you taught yourself everything. Which instrument was first, and when did you write the first song that you were happy with?
CK: I grew up as a pastor's child - I grew up in church and played the drums, then the piano and the bass guitar. I didn't know how to song write, and I strictly listened to only Christian music until I was sixteen. I didn't get much of the pop realm back then, but I didn't know how to song write, and I started YouTube covers around the time I was fifteen/sixteen. I wanted to write songs so bad, and I told my brother, and he knew how to song write, and I asked him to write a song for me, and everyone would think it was mine on YouTube. I paused on YouTube when I lived in Greece for a little bit and went back to Australia and had a panic attack. It was the first time I ever had that, I never had a lot of anxiety growing up, and I started playing these chords and humming in my head. Then I wrote the song, and the panic attack left. At that moment, I thought this is all I'm doing for the rest of my fucking life. It's called "this is what anxiety feels like".
IW: You speak up in your music and in your public and social media life, which seems to be paying off. Not that you intend to push so much stuff about you, but you share to get it off your chest. Mental health is increasingly becoming a safe topic for many. With your music, your insecurities, disappointments, life experiences, and more, how do you get over the hurdle of holding it in and sharing your journal entries or the vulnerable lyrics in your music?
CK: Honestly, as far as songwriting comes, it's pretty natural to me. It's my go-to when I feel anything; I will feel better about it and understand more. From all the songs I've written and the messages I've gotten like, "you did this for me, and I don't even know you". I see these messages every day, and I'm like, holy fuck. It's crazy to me how I can help a person with one song. Every time I start to doubt my feelings, I doubt sharing my feelings with my fans. Maybe my sharing will make me look like I feel it, too, so their feelings are also acknowledged. Just sitting here on my couch depressed helps.
IW: *** sounds like the signature ballad - or signature song that people will resonate deeply with. It's one of my favorite songs of the last year. I've listened to it so many times already. I think it speaks to so much of what we have all been through in 2020 and even now. I'm sure the meaning and inspiration for it wasn't the pandemic, but it's funny how a song can resonate for different reasons. This one is an anthem for all the pain, all the hurt, all the uncertainty. Have you performed this song yet, and do you think certain songs take a little more out of you to perform?
CK: No. Yeah, this one's a lot. This one will be the most that will be taken out of me for sure. I mean, the song's about loss and my life and everyone's vibes. How you would give everything to spend one more day with that person, and you wish you tried more even if they didn't. You fought for the relationship even if it just fades away.
IW: "Fix It To Break It", "Remember The Mornings", the upbeat ***, and other songs have positioned you well for a live tour. What are you most looking forward to performing? Are there some new covers you are testing out or thinking about trying, or can you talk about your favorite past ones?
CK: I think the ones I'm most excited to perform live would probably be *** and "Chicken Tendies". I love pouring my feelings out. Back in Australia and the UK, I used to perform at pubs. I love public speaking and performing, and being on stage. Whenever I get on the piano and the guitar, my eyes are closed, and I don't see anyone on the stage, so I'm really stuck on those two. I definitely slide in an R&B song, away from what my music sounds like - maybe with a Rihanna or a Drake song, just confuse everyone, like "ahh, this guy is a little spicy!" - something really far away from my genre that I think I could kill.
IW: A great voice honestly can sing anything. As a singer-songwriter, you seem to have a love for electronic music. How did you come to pair up with Martin Garrix for your breakthrough "Drown".
CK: I did not like electronic music before I did "Drown". I wasn't a huge fan of electronic music until now, but staying with him for like four months, I am like, EDM is my thing now. The song was sent to me, and I rewrote it. He found me on Instagram. He found one of my singing videos, reposted it on his story, and followed me. I was like, holy shit, this is like the #1 DJ in the world. I was a peasant; that's what I was. He reached out to me, and my A&R sent it over, and we rewrote it together in two days. He finished production in a month, and I flew out to Amsterdam in February of last year, and it was the fastest turnaround I've ever seen. He was really stoked about it, and I was too. I think the biggest thing I've gotten is the relationship with him, and he's the best guy. You would absolutely love him.
*** Some song titles for unreleased tracks have not yet been announced. Stock up on your chicken tendies until then because we will have more to share soon.
Written by Michael Menachem