The gentle, fluttering rhythms of Josienne Clarke’s latest single are hypnotic and engrossing. ‘Double-Edged Sword’ is an intimate, atmospheric song that showcases Clarke’s understated voice. Clarke says of the song’s themes and sound: “Sometimes your continued existence is enough, the bold move, an act of resistance. Going through something difficult and coming out the other side is an achievement in itself. Holding your ground or a boundary is not aggression, refusing to surrender is not the same as fighting. I was going for the sound of The Stone Roses’ ‘Waterfall’ meets Taylor Swift’s ‘Anti-Hero’ played by a folky singer-songwriter!” That’s an ambitious task but one that Clarke manages to pull off with style and skill.
Alec Bowman-Clarke created the accompanying visual. He says: “This video is the urban future. Josienne’s utilitarian outfit like if ABBA were in THX1138 amid the bright night city lights of Rotterdam after a show, we found a broken neon sign and went with it. I love the colours of the backgrounds, which I wanted to blur & haze, so much rich texture to find in all the usual places. A fun one to make.”
The single is taken from Clarke’s new album ‘Parenthesis, I,’ which has just been released. The songs balance the heartbreak of miscarriage and suicide, balanced by resilience and joy – reflected in the subtle power of Clarke’s performances. Clarke has been a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-winner but it’s not so easy to define her style and genre. Her music is personal, timeless and well-crafted. Quite simply, it’s a collection of beautiful songs that will transport and enrich you. Enjoy.
