George Clarke of Deafheaven Reveals His Biggest Inspirations in Modern Music
Deafheaven recently dropped their latest album, Lonely People With Power, which has been hailed as possibly their best work so far. In a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie, Deafheaven’s lead vocalist and guitarist, George Clarke, emphasized that the album is an ideal introduction for anyone unfamiliar with the band. When asked to pick a track that would resonate with new listeners, Clarke singled out “Amethyst” as a standout choice.
“I think it would come from this record, yeah. I think in that statement I suppose what I really meant was that we kind of do so many things and we’ve experimented so many times over the years that this really felt like that we were at a place where we firmly understood our voice and understood exactly what the mission was.
“And we took all these elements from our career and I think applied them in a better way here. So I would choose an album from this or would choose a song from this record. And I would go with ‘Amethyst.’ I think that it has a really great encapsulation of everything that we do.”
Clarke also highlighted some of the contemporary bands that have inspired him, many of whom are affiliated with The Flenser label.
“A ton. It is especially nice to see people who I consider from, you know, from like our corner of the world having moments, you know, I think, you know, off the top of my head, I think of Flenzer [sic] Records, who is having a huge moment with acts like Midwife and Chat Pile, obviously, just blowing up.
“I would say Blood Incantation would be another one. Seeing a band like that who has so stuck to their vision and just done them have a moment, I think is very telling of where audiences are and what they appreciate. And then larger bands, you know, like Knocked Loose, who have kind of exploded and who are being rewarded for years of hard work and also sticking to an uncompromising vision. I think all of that is hugely inspiring for us.”
Deafheaven is gearing up to embark on a tour this week, with Gatecreeper and Trauma Ray set to open for them. The tour commences on April 19 at The Belasco in Los Angeles, CA, culminating on May 23 at The Nile in Mesa, AZ. Fans can purchase tickets to catch them live at a venue near them.
Deafheaven’s latest album has been received with critical acclaim, and their upcoming tour promises to be an electrifying experience for fans of the band and newcomers alike. So, make sure to check the tour dates and catch Deafheaven live in all their musical glory.