Clemency
Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2004 | SELF
Music
Press
Clemency, the duo of blood-brother Jason and Paul Watkins, is back with their first single in over a year. Produced by prestigious producer Joe Causey (Colony House, Jillian Edwards, Jake Smith), ‘Here We Go’ is the uplifting and cinematic follow-up to the successful EP ‘You’ve Got the Fire.’
The two brothers recorded the single in Nashville TN, where the song ‘Here We Go’ would evolve into a story of inspiration and motivation. The new single is a significant step in right direction for the two blue-blooded brothers, a soaring piece of work that delivers on the band’s signature sound and individual skills as musicians.
Get ready to sing along, and follow the guys on Facebook for more info. - GoodMusicAllDay
We’re only a few days into 2015, and we’ve already stumbled across one of our new favorite summer road trip tunes. Yes, we know we’re about five months out from shimmery, sunny rays beating our cold-tattered faces, but...we’re already looking forward to it.
“Runaways” has a really cool, driving down the road kind of a vibe that pulls bits of feel from artists like the Traveling Wilburys and Tom Petty with or without the Heartbreakers.
Coming out of Nashville, Tennessee, indie rock duo Clemency is exploring love and music as universal concepts in their new six song EP, You’ve Got the Fire. Amongst a bevy of soaring, vocal-driven, heartwarming tunes stands our favorite, “Runaways.” The lyrics are endearing, providing that illustrious image of running away with that special someone. Set to a steady snare beat and twangy bassline, it tells its story with ease, charging ahead with summertime nostalgia.
While the open road, flirting glances to the passenger next to you, beef jerky and sunflower seeds are a distant glimmer, you can easily go there with one click right now. Press play and go. - The Music Ninja
I recently encountered an indie duo from Oklahoma named Clemency. Their indie rock and pop sound is so incredibly infectious and luminous. I’ve shared with you their radiant song Color Hit The Canvas, but now, let’s dive into new song Runaways, which come along with a brand new video. Runaways bursts with catchy hooks and a vibrant bittersweet passion that reminds me of recent anthems by Bleachers, WATERS, The Griswolds, and The Royal Concept. The video, which you can stream below, is part two of their six song video series. I’ll tack on Color Hit The Canvas again below, too, in case you let it slip through the cracks the last time around. Both songs are on their six track EP, You’ve Got The Fire, out February 10th. You can preview the full EP on Soundcloud, here. It’s chock full of terrific tunes encapsulating the sure to be buzzing band’s indie rock meets indie pop and alt rock sound. - I Heart Moosiq
Clemency return with their third instalment of their fantastic 5 part song/video release series. As elegantly soft as 'My Heart Is the Eastern Horizon' is it certainly doesn't lack punch. A rather emotional track with an ulterior motive. Saying everything is going to be fine. Learning to let go never felt so right. And in true Clemency form the accompanying video is one of their best yet forever capturing the essence of their music. Well worth the making of over 100 paper boats! - Scientists of Sound
Get your heart stolen by our latest alt-rock find, Clemency!
Something about their versatile catalog feels nostalgic (for Mae lovers - especially) yet fresh. The glorious strings probably have something to do with that.
You're definitely going to dig on tracks like Reach and Boys' Choir. "Love will never leave, love will help you see." Come on. - The Music Bed
There’s a lot to like about Clemency, but the thing you have to respect them for above all else is that everything they release shows evolution and maturity.
While we like Clemency’s previous material, their latest EP, My Heart is the Eastern Horizon, exhibits the type of growth some artists spend their entire careers striving to attain.
The EP’s title track is nothing short of breathtaking. We’ve been inundated with so much music in recent days and weeks that I honestly can’t even recall how I happened upon the video for My Heart is the Eastern Horizon, but the video is as gorgeous as the music demands and, if you do nothing else today, watch this.
It serves as an aural panacea in an anarchic world and everyone needs a little more of that in their life.
While MHITEH is our obsession du jour, the entire EP is lovely and our other favourites are Reach and Take Your Place.
Visit the band’s web site; they have videos for each of the songs on the EP which play as you navigate your way around.
The band are great about engaging with their fans, so stop by and visit them on Twitter and Facebook.
They’re also about to embark on a tour with Seabird and Abandon Kansas, so definitely catch them in your city (they’re not coming to Chicago, which gives us the sads. If you’re able to catch them, let us know all the details!)
TOUR DATES
Oct 16 The Evening Muse -Charlotte, NC
Oct 17 The Rutledge – Nashville, TN
Oct 18 HeBrews -Fort Wayne, IN
Oct 19 The Southgate House Revival – Newport, KY
Oct 21 The Demo -St Louis, MO
Oct 22 The M Shop @ Iowa State University – Ames, IA
Oct 23 Czar Bar – Kansas City, MO
Oct 24 The Vanguard – Tulsa, OK - Thirty Roses Blog
Discography
2008 - VAPORS
2012 - MY HEART IS THE EASTERN HORIZON EP
2015 - YOU'VE GOT THE FIRE EP
Photos
Bio
- Lightning 100 (WRLT) Artist of the Week (2015)
- 5 placements during “Teen Mom 2” on MTV (“Color Hit the Canvas”, “We Have Love”, “Runaways”, etc.)
- Top 10 Alternative Specialty Radio Single ("Color Hit the Canvas”)
- Performances with OK Go, GIVERS, The Secret Sisters and others
- Exclusive Premiere of Video Series on Roxwel network (You’ve Got the Fire)
- Top 10 AmazonMP3 single (“My Heart is the Eastern Horizon”)
- “New & Noteworthy” iTunes feature (My Heart is the Eastern Horizon)
- Starbucks in-store play (“My Heart is the Eastern Horizon”)
- MTV Soundtrack Featured Artist for "Teen Mom: OG" Finale ("Take Your Place")
- Song Placement during “Teen Mom” on MTV (“Reach”)
- Song Placement during “Emily Owens, M.D.” on the CW (“The Wild Wind”)
- Nashville, TN-based, but originated in Yukon, OK (Oklahoma City)
Jason and Paul Watkins are are two blue-blooded brothers from the red state of Oklahoma. They grew up in a musical family, sang in choirs, took piano lessons and began playing music together in high school. Paul picked up the bass and Jason began writing lyrics in response: a process that hasn’t changed much since then. They started Clemency right after, toured around the entire state, and eventually moved to Nashville to start their careers.
In Nashville the Watkins’ were introduced to Grammy award-nominated producer Brent Milligan who worked with them on their debut record, Vapors (2008). Vapors was celebrated for its clever use of lo-fi instrumentation and unpretentious blend of vibey pop and ambient rock. “Everything about this 10-track CD is totally first rate,” declared Indie Vision Music. “From the mix, to the packaging, to the creativity of the lyrics, it’s completely professional. Clemency has everything covered.”
Clemency returned to the studio with Milligan to create their follow-up, My Heart Is the Eastern Horizon, EP, released in 2012. With this project, the band moved beyond the traditional listening experience and developed a concept video around each song. The videos allowed fans to immerse themselves in the stories being told in the songs. The title track from My Heart is the Eastern Horizon became a Top 10 Amazon MP3 single, a “New & Noteworthy” iTunes feature, as well as an “Artists on the Rise” Amazon feature.
Soon after releasing My Heart is the Eastern Horizon, Clemency started writing their most recent EP, You’ve Got the Fire, which released in stores 2-10-15.
Spiritually, questions about love kept showing up in the recording process, so they decided to create one love story through six videos that coincide with each song on the record.
According to the duo, You’ve Got the Fire draws visual inspiration as well as character and plot archetypes from films like Spielberg’s E.T. The Extraterrestrial, The Goonies, The Karate Kid, Beasts of the Southern Wild and Drive.
At first listen, Clemency gives off an energy of romantic love, but the type of love these blue boys talk about goes broader than that. Clemency explores LOVE and MUSIC as universal concepts.
At first listen, Clemency sounds like a rock band too, but the type of rock these blue boys are making instead goes much more nuanced than the universal concept of rock n' roll itself. Their sound is geared for the next generations of listeners. It's a sound that blends post-Y2k production sensibilities with a secret sauce that definitely contains a little Americana, a little radio-ready rock n' roll and some electro-art rock influences too.
Clemency followed up the successful You’ve Got the Fire EP with an uplifting and cinematic single produced by prestigious producer Joe Causey (Colony House, Jillian Edwards, Jake Smith), called “Here We Go”.
Band Members
Links
