CLAVVS
CLAVVS (pronounced "claws") is a Brooklyn-based indie pop duo originally from Atlanta, Georgia.[1][2] Composed of four-time Grammy Award-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist Graham Marsh (Gnarls Barkley, Kid Cudi, Lauryn Hill) and writer/vocalist Amber Renee, CLAVVS was formed in 2013 in East Atlanta Village after the pair met at a house party. [3]
CLAVVS | |
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Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
Genres | indie pop, synthpop, vapor soul |
Years active | 2013 | –present
Labels | independent |
Associated acts | |
Website | www |
Members |
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History
2013–2015: Formation and first release
Graham Marsh and Amber Renee met in August 2013 at a house party. They were introduced by a mutual friend and formed CLAVVS at the end of 2013. They began working on their first songs in Marsh' home studio in 2014. CLAVVS released the single "Sit You Down" in September of 2015.[4]
2016–2017: halfblood and World Underwater
CLAVVS released the first singles from their debut EP halfblood on a monthly basis before its release on April 4, 2016. "Sit You Down" was picked up by several Hype Machine blogs and was also featured on PBS' international series The Music Voyager. With each monthly release, CLAVVS gained more attention, ultimately landing their single "Spectre" in MTV's Teen Wolf and several other singles in the in-store playlists for Forever 21, American Apparel, and Old Navy.[5] CLAVVS was named Best Progressive Pop Act by Creative Loafing, who also ranked halfblood the #17 Atlanta album of 2016.[6] CLAVVS performed at Sweetwater 420 Fest on April 23, 2017 following the release of their sophomore album World Underwater, released on March 24, 2017.[7][8] World Underwater peaked at #60 on the NACC college radio chart, garnering spins at stations across the country, including Austin's KVRX and L.A.'s KCRW.[9] Singles "Future Gold" and "Siren" are featured in the in-store playlists for Bloomingdale's, H&M and MAC Cosmetics. "Glass Skin" was featured on the third episode of MTV's Teen Mom: Young and Pregnant.[10] They released a cover of MGMT's "Electric Feel" on June 19 via Earmilk.[11] Their single "Like Daggers" was premiered through Ladygunn on November 13, 2017 and appeared on Spotify's Chill Vibes playlist.[12]
2018-present: No Saviors
In September 2018 the duo released single "Lay Back" with a psychedelic lyric video, and it reached #1 on the Hype Machine chart and landed in Spotify's Young & Free playlist.[13][14] CLAVVS released two more singles at the end of 2018, "Slow Dive" and "Echo." "Echo" was chosen as the theme song for Nike's The Fenom Effect Podcast, released late 2018.[15] "Slow Dive" and "Lay Back" were both featured in Netflix's You (Season 2), in episodes 1 and 10 respectively. [16] An unreleased song "Devils I Know" debuted on November 18, 2018 during episode six of the CW's Charmed reboot.[17] In early 2019, CLAVVS announced that these singles would be part of their new EP No Saviors. The duo released two more singles ahead of the release, including "Devils I Know" and title track "No Saviors."[18] The No Saviors EP was released on March 22, 2019. Songs from the EP have since been featured on Younger (TV series) and ABC's Grand Hotel (TV series), among others. On July 17th, 2019 CLAVVS released a double single Keeps / Fade. The 405 premiered lead single "Keeps," describing it as "equal parts poignant and euphoric." [19] "Keeps" was featured on episode 31 of MTV's Catfish: The TV Show, which aired on June 26th, 2019. [20] CLAVVS released No Saviors (Extended) on February 25, 2020 alongside a video for lead single "Half Moon" which premiered via KCRW on February 20, 2020. [21]
Sound
The duo's sound combines world music elements with trip hop psychedelia and alternative pop melodies. The 405 describes CLAVVS as "indie hitmakers" for their use of pop and indie elements.[22] Consequence of Sound praises the duo's "natural chemistry," calling their sound "swirling and wistful." [23] NPR calls CLAVVS "sleek and suitably mysterious...a pop sound that straddles spacey trip-hop and ingratiating pop, with notes of psychedelia to keep the mix feeling ever-so-slightly off balance." [24] Pop Matters says, "Since their inception, the duo have carved a niche for themselves with richly-produced, hook-laden indie pop." [25]
Members
- Graham Marsh – instrumentals, production
- Amber Renee – lyrics, vocals
Discography
Albums & EPs
- Halfblood EP (2016)
- World Underwater (2017)
- No Saviors EP (2019) [26]
- No Saviors (Extended version) (2020)
Singles
- "Sit You Down" (2015)
- "Throats" (2015)
- "Pledge Allegiance" (2015)
- "Leviathan" (2016)
- "All I Got" (2016)
- "Spectre" (2016)
- "I'm On Fire" (2016)
- "Glass Skin" (2016)
- "Serpentine" (2016)
- "Bloom" (2016)
- "Future Gold" (2017)
- "Girl" (2017)
- "Silver Tongue" (2017)
- "Siren" (2017)
- "Electric Feel" (2017)
- "Like Daggers" (November 2017)
- "Lay Back" (September 2018)
- "Slow Dive" (October 2018)
- "Echo" (November 2018)
- "No Saviors" (February 2019)
- "Devils I Know" (March 2019)
- "Keeps" (July 2019)
- "Fade" (July 2019)
Remixes
- "Sit You Down" Bombassic Remix (2016)
- "Serpentine" Daily Bread Remix (2017)
- "Lay Back" Bad Tuner Remix (2019)
Live performances
CLAVVS has performed with Rhye, Ibeyi, Kevin Garrett (musician), and Vampire Weekend's Chris Baio, among others. The duo performed at Sweetwater 420 Fest on April 23, 2017 following a tour of the United States' East Coast from Atlanta to Brooklyn at the end of March 2017. CLAVVS made their SXSW debut in 2019, where they were named one of NPR's Austin 100 Artists to Watch. [27] The duo played their debut LA show on March 17, 2019 at The Echo (venue). Their No Saviors EP release show was March 29, 2019 at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY. CLAVVS opened for Kevin Garrett (musician) during Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Ontario on May 9th, 2019. The duo next played The Underground Music Showcase in Denver, CO on July 27th, 2019. [28]
References
- "Premiere: CLAVVS' 'Throats'". PressPlayOK. 15 October 2016.
- "CLAVVS 'Lay Back' With Chill New Single". "PopMatters". 11 September 2018.
- "Steady Climb the Mountain: A CLAVVS Journey". Castro, Guillermo. Immersive Atlanta. June 9, 2017.
- "CLAVVS - 'Sit You Down' Premiere". Wonky Sensitive. September 14, 2015.
- "CLAVVS with Thrice Groove" Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Aisle 5. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- Radford, Chad. "Atlanta's 40 Best Albums of 2016". Creative Loafing. December 21, 2016.
- "Sweetwater 420 Fest Lineup". Sweetwater 420 Fest. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- Gerry, Mike. "CLAVVS Single 'Bloom' + Sophomore Album Title Announced". Open Ears Music. October 20, 2016.
- "NACC Chart Week Ending March 28". NACC. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- [http://soundtrack.mtv.com/post/music-from-teen-mom-young-pregnant-season-1-episode-3/ "Music from Teen Mom: Young & Pregnant Season 1, Episode 3." MTV Soundtrack. Retrieved Mar 29, 2018.
- Hawkins, Erica. "CLAVVS Share Brooding Cover of MGMT's 'Electric Feel'". Earmilk. June 19, 2017.
- "Track Premiere: CLAVVS 'Like Daggers'". "LADYGUNN". Nov 10, 2017.
- "CLAVVS 'Lay Back' With Chill New Single". "PopMatters". 11 September 2018.
- "Hypem on Twitter". September 26, 2018.
- "CLAVVS Share 'Echo' Track via COS". "Tell All Your Friends". 16 November 2018.
- "You Season 2". January 16, 2020.
- "Charmed Soundtrack". "What Song". November 17, 2018.
- "Brooklyn Electropop Duo CLAVVS Announce EP 'No Saviors' + Share Stunning Title Track". Pop Matters. January 31, 2019.
- "Brooklyn pop duo CLAVVS shares empowering new anthem 'Keeps'". Tomer, William. The 405. July 17, 2019.
- "CLAVVS' TV & Film Sync Placements" Retrieved July 31, 2019.
- "Hypnotic Pop Duo CLAVVS Return with 'Half Moon'". Galvan, Jose. January 20, 2020.
- "Indie hitmakers CLAVVS continue their sonic evolution on new single 'Slow Dive' [405 Premiere]". "The 405". October 24, 2018.
- https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/11/clavvs-echo-song-premiere-origins/ "CLAVVS Reveal Origins of New Single 'Echo.'"]. "Consequence of Sound". November 15, 2018.
- "The Austin 100: CLAVVS". NPR. March 5, 2019.
- "CLAVVS 'Lay Back' with Chill New Single (Premiere)." "Pop Matters". September 11, 2018.
- "CLAVVS Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- "The Austin 100: CLAVVS". NPR. March 5, 2019.
- Bands in Town. Retrieved July 31, 2019.