Written by Lana Williams
Photography by Fabian Prynn
After unveiling her highly anticipated debut record, ‘Rift’, earlier this year, Clara Mann has returned with a surprise double single release just seven months later. Acting as part of the extended edition of the album,released October 22nd, the new additions, ‘500 Miles’ and ‘Double Life’ follow suit of the nostalgic and sweet themes delicately woven throughout ‘Rift’.
An ode simply to having fun as an artist, ‘500 Miles’ focusses on simple pleasures, with Mann confessing that “… I like it because it’s a moment in the live set in which I don’t have to excavate my own big heavy feelings, or go digging – it’s just singing for singing’s sake, singing to be together, singing for joy.” Wistful and composed of delicate folk intonations, ‘500 Miles’, as too its counterpart, was written in collaboration with long-time friend and collaborator, Owen Spafford.
A cover, ‘My Life’, offers itself up rife in nostalgia and childhood reminiscence, with the choice of its inclusion reflecting on dearly-held mother and daughter moments. A track by Iris DeMent, a folk meets gospel artist with an incredible six-decade spanning career, the 1994 original presents Stevie Nicks reminiscent vocals, with crooning that evokes sincere contemplations of love, and joy; “I made my lover smile / And I can give comfort to my friends when they’re hurting”. Mann’s sonic account of ‘My Life’ mirrors DeMent’s intentions, with her lush recitations deeming Mann as a worthy successor of the deeply affectionate cut.
With these two new tracks and the ‘Extended Edition’ of ‘Rift’, Clara Mann proves she still has plenty more up her sleeve.
The vinyl extended edition of ‘Rift’ offers French-language bonus tracks and a 7” lathe including ‘500 Miles’ and ‘My Life’.
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