As a big fan of American indie-pop duo LANY, I was instantly drawn to Aussie artist Clayton Francis’ new EP Best Friend. Their music is so similar, with electronic percussion, uplifting synths, sweet vocals, and romantic lyrics that make the world seem better. However, the more I listened, the more I started to appreciate Clayton’s music in its own right.
Unlike LANY’s singer-songwriter Paul Klein, Clayton is happily married to his high school sweetheart. When he sings songs like the title track “Best Friend” and “As Long as You Love Me,” you know they come from a place of true, deep love. When he sings that he’d lay down his life for his partner in “You’ll be the Death of Me,” you believe him. This music isn’t fan service. He’s not trying to make the audience swoon, although they just might. He’s simply showing us his heart, and that’s a beautiful thing. Of course, being married to your high school sweetheart has its downside. You won’t find this music taking any dark turns. “Find My Way”, a song about the pursuit of a career which can take him away from his relationship, is as close to a story of struggle as this EP gets. But that doesn’t matter too much to me. There are plenty of places to hear songs about heartbreak and betrayal. There’s certainly a place for music that simply makes you feel as good as this collection of songs does.
The music from Clayton’s EP might sound like lost tracks from a LANY recording, but as a fan of that music I don’t care too much. It’s good when they make it, and it’s every bit as good as good here. What may give him a slight edge though is his maturity. And of course, we always have a soft spot for our own. If you love the indie pop music LANY are making, make sure you listen to Clayton Francis. He might just be your new favourite artist.
Images used with permission from Kick Push PR