Q&A: San Francisco native, CLAY, shares their newest single “ARTERY”, the first single off the upcoming EP, Breathing Into Bloom.

 

☆ BY ISABEL DOWELL ☆

Photo By Kanya Iwana

 
 

“ARTERY” is an honest track about a hectic relationship that slowly leads into independence and self-love - It is painful and gripping, yet slow and soulful. CLAY’s influences of Erykah Badu, Paul Simon, and Lauryn Hill really show in the forefront of her music to tell a candid story like no other.

Read below to learn more about the new track and CLAY’s upcoming EP Breathing Into Bloom.

LUNA: Tell us about your newest single, “ARTERY”. What motivated you to write such a breathtakingly, painful song? How do you feel that it is different from your music previous?

CLAY: A tumultuous (non-romantic) relationship inspired the song. I have been doing a lot of self-work and boundary setting over the past few years and this song simply poured out of me during a time of stress and grief. I definitely think that the more I make music, the deeper I explore into my own feelings, emotions, thoughts and musings. The safer I feel in myself, the safer I feel to really dig into myself. I hope the music just becomes more and more honest.

LUNA: Being an artist who bridges a unique gap between music and politics, what are the pros and cons of something like this?

CLAY: I think the only con is when the lyrics are vague/muddy, especially when dealing with potent/important subject matters. Most times when I try to write about something, it doesn’t come out the way I want. I simply allow the songs to flow through me, and because I am often thinking about injustice, freedom, personal growth, shame, sorrow, etc, a lot of my songs end up being within those concepts.

LUNA: One of your previous songs, “Orange”, was said to be inspired by Donald Trump, who stole the color orange from you. After the release of that song, do you feel like you’ve been able to steal back your love of the color?

CLAY: Yes I absolutely have reclaimed the color orange for myself. I love looking at it but don’t often wear it because it clashes with my hair, ha!

LUNA: What is one thing you’d want someone who is new to your music to take away from it?

CLAY: Healing.

LUNA: What can you tell us about your upcoming EP, Breathing Into Bloom? Any secrets, spoilers?

CLAY: It is a cohesive body of work that I am truly proud of. I think it has something for everyone. I have a very special (also my first ever) collaborator on one song that I am very excited about. She is an incredible artist that I admire and we wrote the song together. It’s my next single, coming March 2nd, 2022.

LUNA: What are three goals you have for yourself, personal or professional?

CLAY: Short term goals: to get back into reading (I used to read a book a month), to expand my fanbase and continue to really engage with them/get to know them, and to finish my first album this year!

LUNA: Along with your EP, what exciting things can we expect to see from you in the near future?

CLAY: Hoping there will be some live shows in my near future! Performing is my happy place :)

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