Indie-rock innovator David C Clements announces new album 'The Garden' + releases the euphoric double single "Contrast" & "The Garden"

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NEW ALBUM ‘THE GARDEN’, OUT SEPTEMBER 20TH VIA THIRD BAR RECORDS - PRE-ORDER VINYL HERE

After recently returning with his stunning comeback single “Reckless”, his first piece of new material in eight years, Northern Irish indie-rock innovator David C Clements has now announced his plans for his new studio album ‘The Garden’, alongside the release of the euphoric double A-side offering “Contrast” / “The Garden”.

Marking his first full-length release since his breakthrough debut LP ‘The Longest Day In History’ in 2016, ‘The Garden’ heralds a new beginning for Clements as an artist.

David C Clements calls time a blessing and a curse. In the eight years since the release of his debut album, he has toiled through creativity's long winters and now offers up 'The Garden', an 11-track alternative folk record featuring songs written with Iain Archer and Jacknife Lee.

In spending the best part of a decade writing and recording 'The Garden', Clements has "accidentally journaled" the key moments in his life. He began close to home with long-time producer Michael Keeney (Foy Vance, SOAK) in Bangor, County Down, meeting one evening a week to experiment with new songs. Under the guidance of Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), Clements was encouraged to take his time, and to explore co-writing.

While life's demands can get in the way of dedicating time to music, it is that same life that creates the stories that are shared within these songs. Clements and his wife welcomed a son. Beloved family members were lost; he met them again in dreams. He moved house, moved jobs, made friends, and lost touch with others. Songs were scrapped and new ones took root. His daughter was in pre-school when recording began; now she is about to finish primary school. Clements writes about empathy and escape, the mundane and the unmeasurable. "Been wandering round for years looking for the garden," he sings on the title track.

Adding about the record, he said, "I’m so excited to be announcing the release of my forthcoming album ‘The Garden.’ I was lucky enough to make it with a few of the best producers around, starting out with my long-time producer Michael Keeney who got the whole thing off the ground, then Jacknife Lee who was a dream to work with, and finally Iain Archer whose music and work I have loved for years. It took the guts of my thirties to make it and I have poured everything I have into it. Soon it will be yours, I can’t wait for you to hear it.”

Capturing more of that warm and riveting aesthetic he has become synonymous for, his new double single “Contrast” / ”The Garden” sit as two of his more emotive releases to date. With the former co-written and produced by Iain Archer (Snow Patrol, Noah Kahan, James Bay) and featuring string arrangement by Oliver Kraus (Adele, Sia, Ash), he continues his long-awaited return with style and aplomb here.

Speaking about “Contrast”, he said, "Contrast was the first of my co-writes with Iain Archer. I’ve been a fan of his for years and was really excited to work with him. Iain has a real knack for connecting with people and drawing songs out of you that you still feel real ownership over so the sessions proved to be very fertile ground. The song itself is about connection and a celebration of our differences, the search for more understanding and empathy in an ever contrasting world.

While adding about “The Garden”, "The Garden is a protest song I wrote while my daughter was still very young. There are many that will write much more eloquently and succinctly about gender bias and inequality in our world than me, and are far more qualified to do so. What I will say is it’s a song about a Dad simply wanting his daughter to grow up with the freedom to be whoever and whatever she wants to be.”

Following the release of his debut album, 'The Longest Day in History' in 2016, Clements established himself as one of Northern Ireland's most distinctive voices. In 2022, he stood in as lead singer of Two Door Cinema Club on their South American festival run. He was invited to Washington D.C. in 2023 to perform at the capital's St Patrick's Day Gala Concert, alongside James Vincent McMorrow, SOAK and Tolü Makay.

David C Clements performs in places as epic and ethereal as his musical offerings. Within the circular walls of Mussenden Temple, perched on the edge of a sheer cliff with the Atlantic Ocean below. In Belfast's Central Church, his sold-out Christmas show has become an annual tradition; pews filled with listeners who hold Clements' voice in reverence. If he sings it, they will come.

To celebrate his long-awaited new album, David C Clements will also be performing a one-off headline show at Belfast’s Ulster Hall on October 6th with his full band and Arco String Quartet. Tickets will be available to buy from May 31st.

‘The Garden’ will be released on September 20th through Third Bar Records and will be available on vinyl and digital formats

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lorraine longMay 30, 2024