Recommended Tracks: “Sebastian,” “If I Want In,” “Big One”
Artists You Might Like: Ella Hooper, Sinead Burgess, Kezia Gill
Last year, Imogen Clark turned her life into a beautiful masterpiece with The Art of Getting Through. The album focused on different moments in the singer-songwriter’s life and the lessons that she learned from them. Whether she was giving into the desire to break away or accepting heartbreak, Imogen found that all can be done artistically, in a way that makes the most out of the whatever she faced. She then performed these songs out on the road, sharing these stories with new audiences night after night. Naturally, people were drawn to Imogen’s stage presence and the flair she brought to each show. So, after hearing that the fans wanted an album that contained this transcendental performance energy, Imogen created Choking on Fuel. Here, she transforms eight songs from The Art of Getting Through, arranging them for live band or acoustic settings and performing them with a gusto that brings listeners back to the venues where they first heard these songs live.
The album begins with “All Hard Feelings” and “The Art of Getting Through,” which both acknowledge the strain of keeping it together and getting through the day. In “All Hard Feelings,” Imogen sings, “Say I’m fine but I’m not doing well / Perpetually overwhelmed / Every cruel thing they ever said / Living rent free in my head,” which reflect various thoughts and feelings that we all have experienced at some point. Yet, she sings with a sense of freedom, as if these words will not hold her down. As she lets go of them, she is accompanied by Blake O’Connor, Sinead Burgess, and Mickey Raphael, who bring uninhibited vocal and instrumental work to the track. Mickey continues to flex his skills on “The Art of Getting Through,” where he bursts into a heartfelt harmonica solo. The solo, along with the hopeful acoustic guitar lines and anthemic choruses, make this a celebratory track despite its conflicted lyrics.
Even though it is great to have hope and a belief that things will pass, there will come a time when action needs to take place. On tracks like “The Last of Me” and “If I Want In,” Imogen is determined to be who she is meant to be. To the soothing sounds of the piano, Imogen gives us a ballad about living on your terms and showing the haters that “they haven’t seen the last of you yet.” Meanwhile, with “If I Want In,” she gives us a very visual song about small town life and the limits that can be found within. Her voice blends perfectly with Ella Hooper’s rich vocals on the track, inspiring anyone who listens to be known as more than someone who “sings her little songs on the weekends.” In fact, this could have very well been Imogen’s reality if she chose to stay, and she reflects on how different things could have been on “Squinters.” As she sings over the gentle acoustic guitar strums, she imagines that she would be living in the suburbs and hanging clothes out on the line. She would be a mom, tending to her baby and trying to get some sleep. All the while, a part of her would have liked to have followed her dreams, to not have to ask, “Why did I take a left turn?”
It is normal to have doubts and questions about your life, especially if they pertain to love. On “Sebastian,” Imogen teams up with Australian bluegrass band Midnight Chicken for a playful rendition of this tortured love song. It maintains the lively rhythms and jovial melodies heard in the original, along with that longing for Sebastian to be her lover. You can feel the energy of the song flow out of Imogen and the band, from the impressive fiddle work to the powerhouse vocal moments. The mood then shifts on “Big One,” where Imogen is backed by cryptic guitar lines and piano. She still wants a commitment, like we heard on “Sebastian,” but she wants to be taken seriously. She sings, “I wanna be the love you can’t stop / I wanna be your big one,” opening her heart up to the consequences. This concept expands on “If Your Heart Never Breaks,” a slow and steady ballad that takes its time. Each verse and chorus is meant to instruct and inform, with words that anyone can live by. With support from Tommy Emmanuel and Jim Lauderdale, Imogen sings about finding love, losing love, trying and failing, and how life is not supposed to be a journey of perpetual happiness. In the end, she leaves us with, “You won’t know how love is made / If it never breaks your heart,” confirming that you cannot have the light without the dark.
Overall, Choking on Fuel showcases Imogen’s in-concert side, complete with fierce vocals and lively accompaniment. The versions of these songs are more stripped-back in comparison to the originals, but this enables them to take on an intimate charm that can be felt in a live setting. They also maintain the emotion and the messages heard on The Art of Getting Through, so they won’t be too foreign to fans. The only real new song on the album is a cover of Shania Twain’s “If It Makes You Happy,” which Imogen sings with Kezia Gill. But still, this song is in-line with the themes of the songs on Choking on Fuel, so it is a fitting way to close the album. In the end, Imogen Clark gives fans an album that they have been asking for while exceeding expectations.
You can listen to Choking on Fuel here.
Catch Imogen on tour here.
Keep up with Imogen Clark: Instagram // X // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube // Website
