Something is to be said about an indie rock track that instantly grabs you and keeps you in the groove. The latest single from Paper Citizen, “American Song,” pulls it all off. It opens with great distorted guitars, so your ears are already perked. One can’t help but fall into this world with the catchy drum rhythm kicking in to get Paper Citizen’s expressive vocals and fully formed indie rock aesthetic.
Clair Gohst, the brain behind Paper Citizen, embodies all the torrid talent destined to break conventions and make a stand within the indie rock fraternity. Hailing from Singapore, the land of this singer, songwriter, violinist, guitarist, and music producer does well to deliver a sonic that spreads between sharp vocals, lyrical intimacy, spacious guitars, and organic rhythms. To push her uniqueness further, she writes lyrics in her song, “American Song,” at least as much over nostalgic tones as she does on refreshingly current sounds.
Claire has a tale to tell as interesting as her music. Hailing from a pious Christian family in Singapore, she was troubled at the age of 17 when her family discovered that she was queer and decided to boot her out of the house. It was at this juncture that she took solace and comfort in the local music scene since she sang and played American songs to entertain both visitors and locals. This early ingress into her musical career finally translated into a scholarship for her to study music in the USA, where she claimed that living and breathing Western Music was nothing but living the dream. “American Song” is written deep within, expressing Claire’s love of American music and how she stands there at present, missing its live scene a decade past. The electric guitars, raw emotion, and transformative power of a live performance really nail what makes American music so special to her.
Texturally, it is more engaging in sound; purely indie rock, you feel the layers of the vocals and instruments building. There is something about the uniqueness of sound in rock music that stays the test of time and makes artists like Paper Citizen prime examples. The personal journey and musical evolution of Claire is heard in each note of “American Song,” expressing her resilience and passion for her craft. Her debut album, due out this American fall, is sure to reach the depth and honesty that “American Song” leaves one hungry for. It is a track that resonates with anyone who has ever taken solace in the words of a song, who is moved by the outpouring of emotion music can bring forth, and who loves the tapestry of sounds that weave the story of American music. For Claire, in the face of all the many challenges causing divisions in today’s world, music remains unifying. “Despite all the things we argue over in this country, I think we can agree that America has some of the finest music in the world,” she said.
Paper Citizen’s new single “American Song” lights up like an anthem, powerful and evocative, intertwining a tale of love, nostalgia, and the force of music around us. Indeed, it is a song for every lover of indie rock and that deeper meaning one can ascribe to the music around us.
You can find more of Paper Citizen at:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
You can listen to ‘American Song’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.