We had a chat with up and coming indie rock artist Teddy Clarke about his engrossing, cinematic sound and future plans
With his distinctively all-encompassing and cinematic style, rising UK artist Teddy Clarke has done a great job of establishing himself as a thoroughly unique and exciting prospect in modern music, boasting charismatic appeal that explores complex themes with a sense of deftness and poise.
On his latest single ‘False Prophets’, Teddy articulates a feeling that a lot of the youth and people in general in the UK are battling with right now, brought along by the consistent displays of corruption, ineptitude and dishonesty brought around by our government. These feelings of disenchantment and anger and conveyed powerfully through the artist’s sound, with the track unfolding like a blunt open letter expressing his distain. As always, his sound feels focussed and driven, with its cinematic scope just adding to the dramatic tension and gravity of a situation that many of us are rapidly growing tired of. The track is a powerful statement from an artist who is growing known for using their platform to make them, and we had a chat with Teddy Clarke to find out some more about his process and his plans for the future.
Who TF is Teddy Clarke?
I’m a Hertfordshire based, cinema inspired indie artist. Writing songs I can dance on a stage to, about how the world is falling apart.
How long have you been making music?
I’ve been making music since I was a kid to be honest. I was that teenager always sat in the corner with a notebook and a guitar writing down some nonsense. I started working with my collaborator Analog & Digital in 2019 and now I’ve been releasing music for the past year and half.
Why do you make music?
I just love writing. I usually write for a feeling of escapism and out of frustration. Recently most of the songs I’ve been writing are to do with the state of the world. I just think everything’s been so insane and a bit bonkers for the last few years and it seems to be getting crazier by the day, the only way I really know how to deal with that is to write a song about it.
What are your biggest influences?
I’d say one of my biggest influences is Jake Bugg, as soon as I heard his song broken I was like I need to be able to write a song like that! I’m also massively inspired by Radiohead, Kate Bush, Rex Orange County, The Last Shadow Puppets and basically anything cinematic.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
The other week we played to a full room at Camden Assembly which had been on my bucket list for years of places I wanted to play. Me and the band just had such a great night, definitely the current hi-light.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
Currently I’d describe it as Cinematic-Indie-Pop, but every song I put out I feel like it has it’s own kind of sound and vibe it yet still clearly sounds and feels like a Teddy Clarke song.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
Playing a sold out show at Ally Pally. It’s my favourite venue, I’ve seen some of my favourite artists there. If I sell out a show there that’s gotta be my ‘I’ve made it’ moment.
We love your new single ‘False Prophets’, what more can you tell us about it?
So I wrote False Prophets about my frustration with politicians and the media. I just feel like over the past few years there’s so much fear mongering, and lies being spread. A lot of going back on promises, I’ve kind of just gotten to a point I don’t really believe anything I hear from a politician or the media anymore, and thus False Prophets was born.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
So my debut EP will be coming out very very soon (like announcing any day now soon). As well as that I have some more gigs lined up until the end of the year, including some outside of London which I’m really excited for.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
Pretty cliche but it’s probably my mum or there’s this guy who’s come to all of my gigs I don’t actually know his name but he’s always right at the front dancing like no-ones watching giving so much energy. He’s great he’s making me up my dance move game.
