CLEA DROPS BREATHTAKING ACOUSTIC VERSION OF ‘SUGAR’

1 Sept

“Step into a dreamworld”
- FASHION JOURNAL

“(Clea) seems to cast a spell over you with her music.”
- TRIPLE J

“shimmering, dramatic and glorious”
- PURPLE SNEAKERS

“Brisbane indie-pop artist Clea is renowned for floating into our lives with something completely different but equally astonishing than her last effort.”
- TONEDEAF

Clea has today once again truly captivated us with a breathtaking live acoustic version of her current single ’Sugar’. This stunning rendition was filmed by Nick Maguire, in the Scenic Rim-based, self-built studio herself and partner and producer Alistar Richardson (who also features in the video) call their creative home.

The ‘Sugar (Acoustic)’ version is simplistically shot inside the warmth of their home studio, surrounded by wood, white and natural light, with sunbeams flooding in through windows onto faces full of contentment. For the most part, the music does the talking, with soaring voices accompanied only by an acoustic strum of guitar - yet at the same time we’re invited into what feels like a very personal yet warm and inviting world.

'Sugar’ was born during the Australian bushfires in early 2020. Clea was feeling a sense of dread and hopelessness as the inferno engulfed the country, destroying countless lives in its destructive path. “I was overcome with emotion and felt the strongest desire to cower and crawl in the corner. It is the nature of humans turning a blind eye to a situation to save oneself of hurt, but in this instance there was truly no way of hiding,” Clea explains.

Struck by the reality of a planet in turmoil and a deep sadness for humanity's inability to recognise an issue until it’s literally on the doorstep. "It saddens me deeply that it takes for the country to burn and our chests to fill with smoke to truly start to take seriously the issue of climate change and the great stress humans place on this incredible earth. The world is in great pain and the systems in place have failed us, true change is crucial otherwise we can literally kiss it all goodbye,” she continues.

Lucky fans in Brisbane were recently treated to a couple of live performances from Clea and her band who sold out two nights at The Outpost earlier in August. A rarity in the times we’re faced with, Clea and her band’s performances were altogether moving, full of life and at times hilarious. After quite some time between live shows, Clea and band found their home once again on the live stage with ease and joy.

Clea floated into our lives some four years ago with her debut single ‘Polyester'. 2017 saw the young artist release her first body of work - her Fairweather EP. But it was her debut album Vermillion (2018) that shook the public into consciousness. Taken from Vermillion, Clea’s breakout moment came in the form of the single ‘Dreaming’; which saw her take the win for the 2019 Song Of The Year at the Queensland Music Awards.

The same year, Clea made Mark Ronson’s ’Nothing Breaks Like A Heart’ her very own during a breathtaking triple j Like A Version. Clea’s music is a collection of moments, a living-breathing document of life’s rich pageant. Never wanting to repeat anything twice, Clea sees constant renewal an integral aspect of her creativity and life. Clea’s creative passion expresses itself through song, video, fashion and captivating live performances.

Clea hit the ground running earlier this year with ’Soft Blow To The Head’, an invigorated and re-focused vision, a sophomore album in her sights, a renewed sense of independence and a longing to act as a positive creative force. ‘Sugar’ marks the next sweet chapter in her creative journey.