Single of the Week: Clypso “Middle Ground” featuring Kwame
The freshest sounding artist in Sydney right now has released a catchy, funky and bouncy new single featuring one of the best new rappers around.
In amongst all the new music released daily, occasionally an artist will stand apart from the crowd and really grab your attention. Clypso is one of those artists.
Emerging from Marrickville in Sydney’s Inner West, Clypso sounds nothing like any other aussie acts around at the moment. On her Facebook page she describes her sound as “jungle-infused troptronica with glitchy afro-punk vibes” which sums up nicely just how difficult she is to categorise.
2017 was a breakthrough year for Clypso. Her single “YOLO” reached the top 10 of the Spotify viral chart and received airplay on Triple J Unearthed and FBI Radio. She’s played live for the likes of One Day Sunday, Rare Finds, Heaps Gay and even had a festival slot at Listen Out in Sydney.
Clypso is a double threat of producer and singer, with beats leaning towards an Afro-Caribbean influence. “Middle Ground” begins with a sparse, minimal dancehall inspired beat that sounds like something legendary producer Dave Kelly might have produced. The lyrics detail the drama of a relationship, contrasting with the upbeat bouncy feel of the track. As the bassline and steel drums enter the song builds to a frenzy with Kwame’s verse.
“While making the track I came up with a funky instrumental in the middle and I imagined an Andre 3000 style verse that would go frenetically with the hi-hats. I knew there was only one person I wanted to feature on it and asked Kwame,” said Clypso.
With a broad range of talents, a penchant for thinking outside the box and an ear for a catchy hook, Clypso is definitely one to keep an eye on.
