Recommended Tracks: “Survival”, “Superman (Late Night Trance)”, “Burning Bridges”
Artists You May Like: Morgan Wallen, John Mayer, Zach Bryan
Coming to audiences likely with guitar in hand and boots on the ground, Harry Cleverdon released his debut album, Survival, on March 27. It features 10 tracks that walk us through an exploration of resilience while fighting a self-doubting prophecy, with Cleverdon ultimately ending up a better person because of the challenges life has offered him.
The young singer-songwriter from Australia shows avid potential with a sound that encapsulates authenticity in a soulful manner. Even as he’s growing as a person and a musician, he’s finding his niche. Cleverdon’s songs come with a soulful country twang that feels honest and genuine in nature, similar to how Cleverdon himself is described, coming from farm-grown roots. Adding to his overall capabilities as a musician, Cleverdon is a triple threat — writing, recording, and producing all of his songs himself, which really comes across in the sincerity of his sound.
Cleverdon opens the album foreshadowing the incredibly catchy melodies and timeless lyrical relatability throughout Survival with standout song “House of Cards.” This opener highlights a significant yet troubled relationship accompanied by a background of catchy melodies easy to groove along to, giving it a country-pop vibe. Although the majority of the album focuses on the relationship he has with himself and introspectively dealing with his feelings, the penultimate track, “The Best That I Can,” rounds out the storytelling within the relationship well. In this track, he describes a charming wonderland-like escape that brings Cleverdon to be the best version of himself — for both his muse and for himself.
“Survival,” the album’s title track, opens with calming, yearning instrumentals that play extremely well with the vulnerable lyricism exploring the balance between self-doubt and hope for himself and his future. Cleverdon seems to be pushing down feelings and acting in a much different way than his mind is thinking: “Holding steadfast in the night / Doesn’t mean I don’t stress out / Get flooded with self-doubt / Find myself wrapped up in the spiral.” Ultimately, Cleverdon ends up coming to terms with these emotions he can no longer deflect, realizing the issues were streaming from his own mind, and knowing that he will emerge a survivor looking at things with a glass-half-full perspective.
The riveting guitar solo off track three, “Burning Bridges,” makes this song an easy standout on the album that you can’t seem to get off your mind. Cleverdon leans into a country blues appeal accompanied by rather introspective lyrics wherein his inner monologue seems to be fighting with the actions he’s taking. These combined elements make for a nice, smooth, soulful song. “Superman (Late Night Trance)” is another beautiful, pensive confessional based in insecurity showcasing a slower, drawn-out melody. These ballads really connect the artist to listeners by displaying an utmost amount of vulnerability. They allow audiences to see him for who he truly is and relate even if it is a bit dark or self-deprecating, rather than faking the perfect image society may expect.
Overall, this album is brilliant, namely in the production and instrumentation. These elements combined with the genuine lyricism get his message across in a beautiful, soulful manner, tying it all together nicely. It’s impressive to listen to a debut album that does so well holding a niche and showing authenticity while also being catchy, rather than complying with trends within the music world. Working with this level of dedication, there is no doubt that Cleverdon’s potential is limitless.
Stream Survival now!
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