Clare Easdown's "In Candlelight": A Mesmerizing Anthem of Solidarity and Resistance

Clare Easdown's "In Candlelight" is a mesmerizing and deeply sincere act of protest in a space of liminal sound. Clare recorded the piece in her lounge room in Sydney using only her iPhone, a cheap pair of headphones, and one lit candle, resulting in feelings of vulnerability, immediacy, and a roofless conviction in her voice. Clare's vocals, fragile yet steadfast, are laced with a message that transcends mere melody and brings the audience face to face with the human realities of war.

Clare draws on influences from artists such as Dolores O'Riordan, PJ Harvey, Massive Attack, and Sevdaliza, blending evocative trip-hop sonorities with daring storytelling. For Clare, the candle evokes both a vigil and a beacon of hope during ever-encroaching darkness. "In Candlelight" does not usher in passively, though. She calls explicit attention to the current catastrophes unfolding in places like Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen, demonstrating and demanding that we do not scroll past the suffering.

The flaws of the production are also its strengths; layered, unrefined takes retain a raw emotion that makes the song feel alive and breathing. "In Candlelight" is not background music and is a sonic reckoning that demands stillness amidst chaos. We are saturated with music that I would deem disposable, and Clare Easdown is providing something that is rare: art with moral weight that demands you to be present and dares you to feel.

Get In Touch With Clare Easdown:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clareeasdownmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clare.easdown/

Bandcamp: https://clareeasdown.bandcamp.com/releases