Under the monikers ESPRIT 空想 and Mirror Kisses, Clanton became a key figure of the early vaporwave scene through his meditative lo-fi productions. During one session, a mislabeled download of what he thought was Oasis turned out to be shoegaze band Brian Jonestown Massacre, opening him up to the vast world of underground music on the internet, which led him to help form the scene that would dream up vaporwave. He downloaded a lot of music from Limewire. So MTV was his primary education: videos by artists like 311, The Prodigy, and the Bad Boy Records crew taught the art of showmanship. His hometown of Ridgeway, Virginia, had a NASCAR track but no concert venues or record stores. Growing up, Clanton knew he wanted to be an entertainer, but he didn’t know how.
“Working the George Clanton way has made for a really unique career that hasn’t yet been fully recognized.”
“I think of myself as the ultimate DIY person,” he says. Being extremely online has allowed Clanton’s fans access to the depths of his personality, to connect with his work more deeply. He also spearheads events, including weekly livestreams on Twitch. In addition to making music, he runs the 100% Electronica record label with his fellow pop mutator and wife Negative Gemini. It’s a fitting return for an artist who’s spent the last decade cutting through the noise.
You can hear the impact of this approach in his upcoming third album-take fuzz-pop anthem “Fucking Up My Life.” The track is both raucous and soothing, and as Clanton’s distorted croons echo across swelling synths and crushing breakbeats, he offers a mantra: “It feels alright.” Every moment feels a little more colorful, a little more comforting. When you pair those words with the gauzy textures Clanton’s become known for, his music feels like a dreamy filter you can put over your own memories. His lyrics are direct transmissions from his soul: raw, often off-the-cuff, evocative.
“I’m looking for something that triggers a memory or an emotion,” he says. The Los Angeles artist’s process involves tweaking synthesizer presets, but beyond searching for the right melodies and textures, he’s hoping to come upon a sound that strikes a spiritual chord. George Clanton doesn’t just produce gleaming electronic pop, he produces nostalgia too.
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