Shawn William Clarke is a Toronto, Canada-based indie folk artist who has just come to my attention through the release of latest album, Softer Scissors.
By Graeme Smith
Though new to us, Shawn is an international touring artist who has played most of Canada, Europe and has appeared at festivals in Iceland, including Melodica and Icelands Airwaves. He’s been releasing albums since 2014 including a pair of Spectral Acoustics in 2020 and 2021.
Softer Scissors marks his return to full-lengths and it’s a bumper collection of twelve tracks that range from the introspective and acoustic to vibrant folk rock. Shawn used the pandemic lockdown well, not only creating the Spectral Acoustics series but also penning much of Softer Scissors, and the anxiety of the time comes through in his song writing. Yet, ultimately, this album is a life-affirming collection.
It opens with New Drug 1 and we immediately know that we’re in for something a little different with Softer Scissors. While many elements of traditional folk are there, Shawn gives us a vulnerable and stripped-back effort with elements of ’60s rock and some rich, personal emotion. The short opener segues pleasantly to the driving and upbeat Everybody Gets Sad which provides the perfect blend of the melancholic and the uplifting. Lyrically, it feels highly relatable, and Shawn proves himself to be a master wordsmith. It’s an early highlight.
From there the album settles into an eclectic but cohesive story of love gone cold, romantic escape, and moments in nature. Shawn is able to bring scenarios and characters to life through his attention to detail and it’s all beautifully backed by his warm and intimate compositions. We get elements of experimentation in mid-album interlude New Drug 2 followed by some punchy, funky pop in My Key Light. Time Intervenes is cantering and immersive before things are rounded off by a reprise of My Key Light, this time stripped-back and slow.
If you love indie folk then you need to get Softer Scissors on your rotation. Shawn expertly uses the genre to tell stories that only he can, and the emotion of each shines through in his delivery. His latest album is a fantastic introduction to his world.
Softer Scissors was recorded at Currie’s Music in Gravenhurst, Ontario with Rob Currie. Rob also did the mixing and co-produced the album. It features the talents of Graydon James, David Gluck, Mike T. Kerr, Claire Coupland, Sarah Hiltz, Laura Spink, Katie McLeod, Kristian Noel Pedersen, and Brandon Munday. You can give the album a listen below.