- Sometimes people are born with a kind of timeless wisdom that radiates from their being. Simply being in their presence makes you realise truths about yourself, and forces introspection, even when you don't want it. This applies to musicians too, and Brisbane based Clea is one of those people. Her debut full length record Vermillion is a clever array of introspective ballads, drenched in nostalgic instrumentation and stuffed with mature lyrics and effortless vocals.
Album opener Cool Days is the driving force behind the record – while it's one of the most upbeat tracks, it doesn't create an early peak. Synths and sharp drums that may sound cheesy under different circumstances are weirdly fitting when combined with Clea's vocals and the dissonant tunes. Her musically unconventional melodies, harmonies and abrupt changes in mood may appear wrong to the music theory purist, but her ease in performance makes everything work in a way that's hard to put your finger on.
The album goes between dynamic highs and lows, with stripped back Teenager sinking to a mellow trough and Grey Area bringing some punchy electric guitars to close the record out, ending on a high. Dynamic diversity is one of the things that artists early in their career tend to forget, but is one of the most important in creating an interesting and engaging album that doesn't end up sounding too ‘same-samey’. Clea has managed to find that perfect balance between providing those high and lows without straying too much from her musical path.
Clea’s lyricism is beyond her years, and her way with words is clever and refreshing. A combination of simple, relatable diary-esque lyrics and adroit metaphors meld together to make unconventional phrases that hit you much harder than if she stuck to one form or the other. Angulate is a prime example of this, incorporating interesting rhyming patterns and unusual vocabulary to create memorable and striking lines of lyrics.
Vermillion is a polished, mature debut record from an artist so early in their career, with a defined and interesting sound. Clea manages to capture the insecurity of your adolescent years with her introspective lyrics and dissonant melodies, without being so much of a downer that it leaves you sobbing in your pillow with no hope for the future. Her wisdom, both musically and literally, has allowed her to successfully create an album combining styles in a way that appeals to a wide audience. A hidden gem waiting in the wings, Clea is about to be thrust into the spotlight.
- Olivia Shoesmith.