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With a great Chet Faker, Japanese Wallpaper and Flume sound, cln is an up and coming artist that is one for us all to keep tabs on*. With a future-beat, down tempo and electronic style cln is firmly placing his name within the music scene.
Brisbane beat maker cln is making all the right moves with his considered and determined approach to his art. The dreamy soundscape of Hold Me is divine.
Callan Alexander is the face behind the name and the nineteen year old is breaking into the music industry with all the right strokes. Signed with Mammal Sounds, Callan moved to Brisbane from South Africa in 2009 where he really started to delve into music and experiment with different sounds and beats. The highlight of Callan’s career as cln has so far been given recognition from an already established artist; “Sia tweeted about a remix of mine, so that was cool” says the man himself.
There is a great maturity to Callan’s music and an effortlessness to it, that it’s hard to imagine there being any challenges and struggles faced with cln. Motivation is key for Callan and it is tested when the track doesn’t seem to twist and turn the way he wants it to. The added pressure of keeping a fresh and unique take on one’s art is something he also faces; “It can be really hard to stay motivated when your music doesn’t do as well as you’d planned. The music industry is so unpredictable and it’s difficult to keep positive”. So as a means to stay motivated plus keep a fresh approach, Callan surrounds himself with boundary pushing and limit testing artists, like the Gorillaz and Flying Lotus to inspire him.
The latest release from cln is Hold Me, which is a single that will feature on his upcoming EP that Callan is hoping to have released within the next few months. The track opens with a slow tempo and echoed vocals that instantly set the listener up for a dreamy and atmospheric experience. As the track progress there is a mixture of rhythmic beats, Chet Faker styled vocals and hints of electronic fluttered elements. The tempo then picks up around the two and a half minute mark and it’s here that the electronica really kicks in. All round this is a track that is expertly thought out and meticulously assembled. If this is anything to go by for what the EP will be like it’s a real testament to the talent that is cln.
Whilst we are unaware of any live gigs for cln in the near future especially in the wake of his EP release, we do know what makes Callan Alexander happy; “Being around the people I love makes me happy! Making music makes me happy too“.
*Ed: not sure how up-and-coming this kid is given Facebook have bestowed the blue tick of honor on his name.
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