CLAVVS

CLAVVS (pronounced "claws") is an indie pop and trip hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia.^[1] Composed of four-time Grammy Award-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist Graham Marsh (Gnarls Barkley, Kid Cudi, Lauryn Hill) and writer and vocalist Amber Renee, CLAVVS was formed in 2013 in East Atlanta Village. They debuted with single "Sit You Down" in 2015, which was featured on the international PBS series The Music Voyager alongside Janelle Monáe.^[2] Follow-up single "Spectre" was featured in MTV's Teen Wolf on season 6, episode 3.^[3] CLAVVS self-released their first full-length album halfblood on April 4, 2016.^[4] They have since performed with the likes of Rhye, Ibeyi, Baio, and Ages and Ages.^[5][6] Their second LP World Underwater was released on March 24, 2017.^[7] They released a cover of MGMT's "Electric Feel" on June 19th via Earmilk. ^[8]

History

2013–2015: Formation and first release

Graham Marsh and Amber Renee met in August 2013 at a house party in East Atlanta. They were introduced by a mutual friend and formed CLAVVS (originally spelled CLAWS) at the end of 2013. They began working on their debut album in Marsh' home studio in 2014. Their first release was a cover and DIY video of fellow Atlanta duo Rae Sremmurd's "No Type" which garnered critical attention from international blogs.^[9] The duo changed their name to CLAVVS in 2015 to set themselves apart from other acts with the same moniker.^[10] Following the name change, they released the single "Sit You Down" in September 2015.^[11]

2016–present: halfblood and World Underwater

CLAVVS released the first singles from their debut record halfblood on a monthly basis. "Sit You Down" was picked up by several Hype Machine blogs and was also featured on PBS' international series The Music Voyager. With each monthly release, CLAVVS gained more attention, ultimately landing their single "Spectre" in MTV's Teen Wolf and several other singles in the in-store playlists for Forever 21, American Apparel, and Old Navy.^[12] CLAVVS was named Best Progressive Pop Act by Creative Loafing, who also ranked halfblood the #17 Atlanta album of 2016.^[13] CLAVVS performed at Sweetwater 420 Fest on April 23, 2017 following the release of their sophomore album World Underwater, released on March 24, 2017.^[14][15] World Underwater peaked at #60 on the NACC college radio chart, garnering spins at stations across the country, including Austin's KVRX and L.A.'s KCRW.^[16] Singles "Future Gold" and "Siren" are featured in the in-store playlists for Bloomingdale's, H&M and MAC Cosmetics.

Sound

The duo's sound combines elements of Atlanta hip hop with trip hop psychedelia and hypnotic alt-pop. Indietronica describes CLAVVS as "progressive, dark, hypnotic alt-pop driven by spacey synths and anthemic drums. All with the welcoming, but tenacious vocals from Amber."^[17] With subversive lyrics and otherworldly atmospherics, "CLAVVS' eerie pop soundscapes are fitting for soirees and séances alike."^[18] Another reviewer calls their sound "deeply entrancing and gossamer ethereal."^[19] Atwood Magazine's Mitch Mosk says CLAVVS' sound is "evocative and provocative...an engulfing, beautiful trip hop maze."^[20]

Members

• Graham Marsh – instrumentals, production
• Amber Renee – lyrics, vocals

Discography

Albums

• Feel It All (2015)^[21] This album was released under the moniker CLAWS before later disappearing from all music platforms.
• halfblood (2016)^[22]
• World Underwater (2017)

Singles

• "Sit You Down" (2015)
• "Throats" (2015)
• "Pledge Allegiance" (2015)
• "Leviathan" (2016)
• "All I Got" (2016)
• "Spectre" (2016)
• "I'm On Fire" (2016)
• "Glass Skin" (2016)
• "Serpentine" (2016)
• "Bloom" (2016)
• "Future Gold" (2017)
• "Girl" (2017)
• "Silver Tongue" (2017)
• "Siren" (2017)
• "Electric Feel" (2017)

Remixes

• "Sit You Down" Bombassic Remix (2016)
• "Serpentine" Daily Bread Remix (2017)

Music videos

• "No Type" (2015)
• "Sit You Down" (2015)
• "Throats" (2016)
• "Glass Skin" (2016)

Live performances

CLAVVS has performed with Rhye, Ibeyi, Baio, and Ages and Ages, among others. The duo performed at Sweetwater 420 Fest on April 23, 2017 following a tour of the United States' East Coast from Atlanta to Brooklyn at the end of March 2017. ^[23]

References

External links

• Website
• Facebook
• All Music