Clarence James - “But Naw”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Mac DeMarco, Beck, Cautious Clay

Woozy and wobbly, Clarence James’s take on indie rock/R&B is comfortable and loose, taking bedroom pop material and expanding it a bit with psych-rock and classic soul leans. The emerging Austin artist has five singles to his name since premiering in 2018 with the melancholy sway of “Ronson Princess”, all falling in relatively the same lane of comforting, jangly rock under lo-fi air. Clarence James keeps an understated tone in his vocals too that nicely matches the vibe of his music - while his songs are smooth at heart, there’s raw personality and hints of dissonance twisting James’s music into something fresh heading into the next decade. (Kevin McStravick)