This Is Music - new album January 2025
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On the heels of his last record What Is Music, Clark Hamilton(klark sound) released a solo acoustic album entitled This Is Music. A stark and distilled collection of songs recorded in just 3 evening sessions immediately after the mixing of What Is Music was finished in 2024. These acoustic songs are just Clark and a guitar; his words and melodic sentiments outlining powerful emotional experiences and reflections. With this record Clark answers his own question, and delivers succinct yet unfolding compositions that find new meaning with each listen.
The videos below are the actual takes on the album, except one that I lost the footage for :|
What Is Music - new album June 2024
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Back
Klark charms us with his soothing vocal harmonies and then blasts us with kick-ass guitar solos on his latest record “What Is Music.” The album is an invitation into Klark’s deepest vulnerabilities as an artist, where finding his identity and voice is contrasted with a near death experience that left his guts literally spilled onto the ground over a decade ago. Struggling with how he is perceived by the world despite his other-worldly musical talent, Klark puts all of his moods and colors on display with heart wrenching songs about love, imposter syndrome, and the meaning of music itself. This record is unlike any other you will listen to this year. There are no production gimmicks, song features, or session players. This is Klark playing every instrument, each performance largely unprocessed and captured for the raw energy and spirit in which it was created.
credits
released June 28, 2024
All parts written and recorded by klark. The only instruments not played by klark were on track 8: vibraphone and woodwinds.
Mixed by Jason Kingsland
Tracks 8 and 11 Co-Mixed by Charlie Chastain
Tape Engineering by Vic Fisher
Mastered by Independent Mastering in Nashville
Where Music Goes is a compilation album released in 6 parts during the second half of 2021. It culminates with the release of "Two of Wands" a song with accompanying music video.
The releases set as a reminder to be carefree in the elements of creation and music.
Some of the songs were completed merely days before being released, some were more calculated. Each two song release brings the listener into the world of music klark creates.
The final piece of the project the Two of Wands music video describes the dichotomy of facing the realities of life while pursuing your dreams.
Two of Wands video
Special thanks to: John Roche(Director), Alex Wilson, Barbara Pita, Sara Joy Davis, Daniel Hyman, Anthony Doud, Bass Salama
This is the first klark sound record that was not recorded/produced by klark. Instead this 2020 quarantine became an opportunity to try something that klark probably would not have had time for if the pandemic had not happened. Big thank you to Zach Pyles for whom without which this entire record would not be possible.
For klark, making music is an exploration, constantly searching for something outside of the body and mind. Recording serves as a defining moment of that searching, a snapshot of the moods and learnings for a time.
This record has new collaborative elements in the bandstand. klark called upon his live band to record the rhythm section, and then to a plethora of local musicians to add production elements. THANK YOU to all those involved in the recording process.
Now onto the next one!
Thanks for listening.
Artifactory is an album with the feel of a compilation. The first half are songs recorded with members of klark's new live band. This is the first time that klark's music has taken incarnation in a live environment and why these songs are an important artistic milestone. As the album progresses the songwriting and recording styles shift to the traditional multi-instrumentalist pursuit, and by track 5 the songs are all recorded and produced by klark.
Overall the theme for this album is about creation. The lyrical content and message's therein center largely around self-motivation and encouragement of creative pursuits. Often there is a judgment process that impedes creativity. As a human develops they are hopefully more able to recognize over-critical tendencies towards creation; Stripping oneself of these frivolous attitudes is a liberating moment for any artist.
About/Contact
Clark Hamilton is a sensitive musician with extraordinary ability. His arrangements often capture a feeling of pastoral nostalgia. With an arsenal of diverse instrumentation, he wields a dense palette of sounds, emoting with a both a pure simplicity of heart and also an articulate complexity of contrasting rhythmic interludes and soundpieces. Clark is one of those unique masters of their craft, a persistent and unrelenting student who constantly surprises and beguiles the listener with a seemingly endless bag of tricks. Yet the tricks are without gimmick, and through the illusion that is the art of music, a genuine joy and selflessness shines through.
