Slightly aggressive but wholly tempered in every way that matters, the short, sweet, and surprisingly haunting instrumental introduction that we encounter only instants after pressing play on the new single from Taydem Shoesmith, “Are You Clapping?,” doesn’t last any longer than ten seconds, but despite the briefness of its appearance, it impresses a strong emotionality that will persist throughout the entirety of the song. Shoesmith’s “Are You Clapping?” is, by all critical measurements, a much more immersive listening experience than its competition on the college radio dial was this past summer, but for everything that it asks out of its audience, it rewards listeners with a wealth of melodic treasures not commonly found in modern mainstream pop.
Shoesmith’s vocal is made all the more captivating because of the enigmatic design of her lyrics, and while I think it would have been just as prudent to have gone with a more straightforward breakdown of the narrative here, I appreciate her use of a surreal approach given the wavy, sonically provocative nature of the music in “Are You Clapping?.” She isn’t so reliant on the construction of her verses that we lose sight of the magic her singing can create even without an intriguing strand of poetry, but she’s a lot more focused on the lyrical side of her artistry in this release than I was expecting her to be.
I would love to hear what “Are You Clapping?” sounds like in a live setting. It’s certainly got the potential to be a stadium-shaking anthem in if provided the right venue to erupt in, and my gut tells me that the crooning Shoesmith does in this studio recording would only become more powerful and enrapturing if belted out before a crowded audience eager to hear something fresh from an up-and-coming pop sensation.
Hopefully, I’ll find out in the future, and if the momentum surrounding this artist’s work gets any stronger, I don’t think I’ll have to wait very long at all. The bassline in this track is perhaps the most toned element for us to behold outside of the lead vocal, and based on how handily Shoesmith works around it, I think it’s a fair assumption to say that she has the potential to make some banging club music if she wants to.
Her dexterity as a singer is something all of us can appreciate, regardless of personal taste in genres, and if applied in the right circumstances, it could probably make any smooth beat sound sensuous.
There aren’t a lot of players currently operating out of the American underground with the kind of talent that Taydem Shoesmith is bringing to the table with each of the singles she’s released in her career thus far, and I would rank her as being an artist any and all pop connoisseurs should have on their radar in 2023. “Are You Clapping?” is supple but not free from a couple of rough edges here and there, and whether these edges end up getting sanded down in future recordings from this singer or not, I predict she’s going to be making some effective music in the next few years.
Chadwick Easton