Based in the city of Ottawa, Saint Clare has been a staple in the Canadian rock scene with their energetic and heartfelt rock n’ roll sound. Formed with the mission to make music that stands at the crossroads of garage rock an pop, over the years the band has been compared to iconic acts like Pixies, Hüsker Dü and The Cure.
Their influences are diverse, ranging from The Jesus and Mary Chain to Mikal Cronin and Reigning Sound, giving their music a unique offering that combines grittiness with the melodic charm. The band’s lineup features the standard rock ensemble of guitars, bass and drums, augmented by a horn section with saxophone, trombone, organ and piano. The members each have their own diverse musical backgrounds, hailing from other notable bands such as The Shakey Aches, Loon Choir and Black Boot Trio. Together, they form a collective experience that contributes to the band’s compelling powerful sound.
First capturing their sound in the studio back in 2015, they dropped their debut release Moving on EP. Followed up by their eponymous debut record the next year, they continued to release music over the next couple of years with the single “Closer to the Devil” and 2018’s EP3.
Now, following an extended hiatus from sharing their original material with the world, Saint Clare is back with a brand new single titled “Half Bad.” The new track, written during the early months of the pandemic, is a poignant reflection on life’s swift changes, the sting of loss and the struggles with mental health that many face.
“Half Bad” was recorded and produced by Mike Dubue, known for his work with the likes of Hilotrons, Scattered Clouds and Timber Timbre, at Studio Cimetière in Quyon, Quebec earlier this year. The song captures an anthemic indie rock vibe, blending Saint Clare’s signature pop-focused rock with new wave stylings and tinged with subtle psychedelic undertones.
Jumping straight in with a bouncy groove of shuffling drums and bass guitar and lead guitar notes add colourful accents, frontman Matthew Saint Clare’s expressive voice enters to deliver lively melodic leads carrying meaningful, reflective lyricism. As the full arrangement builds around his commanding vocal leads, the bright punch of brass combines with the lightly crunching guitar rhythms to craft an epic pop rock anthem that’s at once nostalgic and modern. Paired with the single is a new visualiser music video animated by Curtis Delaney that brings to life the song on screen in spectacular fashion via colourful visuals and abstract spacey scenes.
Watch the music video for Half Bad below
Listen to Half Bad below
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