There’s a lot of pessimism in pop right now – some would argue a little more than our society really needs, but that could be part of the reason why Clay Joule’s new single “O’Dream” feels as refreshing as it does this June. Rather than sticking to a conventional rock ballad format, Joule explores lingering harmonies that drag against the groove just enough to make friction in the chorus, allowing for an almost orchestral-like release that is both empowering and richly cathartic. The mood is quite immersive and the vibe is one of triumph over evil, which is a message that needs to be spread at a time like now perhaps more than ever before. To this end, “O’Dream” isn’t a protest song but a love letter to humanity.
The narrative constructed out of Joule’s lyrics in this track is backed up by the driving hook, which, as noted previously, creates an inspirational feeling for just about anyone who happens to be within earshot. There’s a limited presence for the bassline that I would have changed had I been in charge of the mix, but I can understand and actually appreciate what the producer was trying to achieve here. With less of a bottom-end recoil, this vocal can really cut through every instrumental facet in the mix, which gives us all the more emphasis on the lyrics that he’s belting out like nobody’s business. It’s all about presence and, moreover, how you facilitate it in a song like “O’Dream.”
This rhythm feels very natural, like we’re listening to a band having a jam session that happens to feature a poet with a good voice at the front of the stage. The drums are crashing down on the strings pretty hard in a couple of different instances, but these guitar parts have enough sonic depth to handle it, which is hardly the product of preprogrammed handiwork behind the glass. Contrarily, I don’t think a professional nor a serious critic can listen to “O’Dream” without acknowledging the altogether seamlessness of the structure and the final product here, which is something in itself taking into account that Clay Joule is working from the underground rather than with the resources of a major label at his disposal.
“O’Dream” is a fantastic song and I imagine it would make for a fun music video as well, and for the benefit of a good cause no less, but I think it’s giving us more insight into this player’s potential than it is anything about where he artistically stands at this stage of his career. There’s still a lot that I want him to experiment with as a composer, and although this is a somewhat formulaically built pop single, it’s got enough edge to where I can see Clay Joule doing something very unique a lot sooner than later. This is a lovely springboard, and perhaps one of the best kinds of ballads through which we can get to know its songwriter and what he cares about.
Chadwick Easton