INTERVIEW: Young Clancy

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Hi Clancy, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

Been well, thanks for having me.

Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Up With The Birds”?

I originally wrote the guitar part for ‘Up With the Birds’ when I was maybe 15 as I was just learning to play guitar and write songs. I was into Bob Dylan at the time pretty heavy. If I recall correctly, the song was about 7 minutes long and made absolutely no sense… as far as I knew, like a Bob Dylan song. So I’m super happy to present a song today that’s just under 3 minutes and has a little something to it I hope.

Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?

None in particular. I don’t encourage the kind of behaviour that involves sitting around with friends, drinking etc.. for so many hours straight that suddenly you can hear birds chirping and light starting to appear in the sky. But it is a remarkable, singular feeling. That doesn’t mean it’s good. Beyond that I’ll always embellish to tell more of a story.

How was the filming process and experience behind the video?

It was lovely. I drove out to Hamilton with the Directors Sylvain Chaussée & Pia Perez & Director of Photography Ivan Narez to a few locations they had scouted. Hamilton is beautiful place. It’s hard to walk around Toronto and feel visually inspired these days – people keep tearing down old nice things and replacing them with new ugly things. 

The single comes off your new album Vol. II – what’s the story behind the title?

Really just on account of my first solo EP was called “Vol. I” – well technically it was called “Yung Prince of the Basement Vol.I” which definitely complicates things, sure. But I truly believe in people to put one and one together here and really just figure this out.

Would you call this a direct sequel to the first volume?

Absolutely.

Would you call this a conceptual record?

Yeah, I think so. I don’t want to get to deep into it but there’s definitely a loose narrative there.

How was the recording and writing process? 

It was long. A lot of these songs go back a few years. Producer Gray Rowan helped me develop the songs in their early stages. And the rest was done at Dave Plowman’s studio over a year or so. Wonderful boys, to whom i’m forever grateful.

What role does Canada play in your music? 

I’m not quite sure how I feel about Canada right now. Something I explore a little bit in my music is the extent people will go to lie to themselves just to maintain this picture they have – to hold together an identity that really isn’t so. it feels like the nice picture we (mostly white people) had of Canada is sure starting to unravel there, yes sir.

I will say that the friends I have in the Toronto music scene are endlessly generous and inspiring – nothing gets down out here alone.

What were some of the emotions did you get to explore on this record? 

Something I’ve seen in myself and a lot of men is the problem of having great intentions to do the right and be our best self but often lacking the emotional maturity and self-awareness to do so in any meaningful way. I think you can see in a lot of the lyrics someone who’s endearing but hopelessly misguided. Anyways… let’s get to therapy y’all! Therapy 2020!

Where else did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics? 

There’s a playlist called ‘vol.ii’ on my Spotify page that nicely sums up my influences / inspirations for this project. A lot of 70’s soul, singer/songwriter stuff, Arthur Russell.

Any plans to hit the road? 

For a while I thought I had this show booked at a club in Montreal in October. Turns out it’s at the Toronto location. So no.

What else is happening next in Young Clancy’s world?

Oct 6 DRAKE UNDERGROUND release party! Please come! Otherwise just getting back in the studio etc… not a whole bunch!

Buy/Stream Vol. II EP Here

Watch ‘Up With The Birds’ Music Video Here