| "Clearest Blue" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by CHVRCHES | ||||
| from the album Every Open Eye | ||||
| Released | 10 September 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2015 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:53 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Chvrches | |||
| Chvrches singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Clearest Blue" on YouTube | ||||
"Clearest Blue" is a song by the Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches and the third single from the band's second studio album, Every Open Eye .
While talking about the origins of the song on the Song Exploder podcast, Martin Doherty and Iain Cook explained that the trio originally intended "Clearest Blue" to be a laid back song with just two chords, but because they are notoriously bad at sticking to their own rules, they ended up with something completely divergent from those ideas. After coming up with the base sample, they bounced ideas around, with Doherty adding "nonsense vocals" to establish the basic cadences of the song. Lauren Mayberry began writing the lyrics to replace these vocals, but found herself frequently concerned that her pessimism would bleed through into the lyrics of the song in parts intended to be hopeful and optimistic. The song is typically described as building and building until it ultimately explodes at its melodic climax, but Doherty described it as more of an analytical climax, and that the vocal approach is not intended to be "super climactic, like punch[ing] the air" and that it is better described as a "moment of rest". [1]
"Clearest Blue" was debuted at Ottawa Bluesfest on 15 July 2015 as the opening song of Chvrches' first show since the conclusion of the 2013–2014 The Bones of What You Believe tour. [2] The song was further promoted by Chvrches in a number of live appearances, including at the Pitchfork Music Festival [3] and The Late Late Show with James Corden . [4]
"Clearest Blue" received positive acclaim from critics. NME called it "the album's most heart-bursting moment". [5] A review from Stereogum said this "might be the strongest for a simple reason: it builds and builds and builds and doesn’t break down until you’ve nearly lost faith that it will". [6] Spin called the song "earnest and danceable" and praised its powerful opening notes, but "the song really blossoms about halfway through with an absolutely breathtaking breakdown that bursts through the tension they've been building up". [7]
A music video for the song was released on 19 February 2016. [8]
"Clearest Blue" is used in the soundtrack of Forza Horizon 3 , playing on the in-game radio station Horizon Pulse.[ citation needed ] It is also included in the soundtrack to season 1 of The Politician [ citation needed ] and in season 1, episode 3 of Netflix's Heartstopper . [9]
All tracks are written by Chvrches.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Clearest Blue" (Album version) | 3:53 |
| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan (Japan Hot 100) [10] | 74 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [11] | 195 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [12] | 43 |
Chvrches are a Scottish synth-pop band from Glasgow, formed in September 2011. The band consists of Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook, Martin Doherty and, unofficially since 2018, Jonny Scott. Mostly deriving from the synth-pop genre, Chvrches also incorporate indietronica, indie pop, and electronic dance into their sound.
The Bones of What You Believe is the debut studio album by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches, released on 20 September 2013 by Virgin Records and Goodbye Records. Recorded between 2011 and 2013 in Glasgow, the album was written, composed, and produced by the band as a collaborative effort. It was made available as both a 12-track standard edition and an 18-track special version, the latter including two extra songs, two remixes and two live videos. The album was debuted with a launch party broadcast live on music streaming platform Boiler Room.
"The Mother We Share" is the debut single by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches from their debut studio album, The Bones of What You Believe. The song was re-released in the United Kingdom on 15 September 2013 by Virgin Records. The re-release peaked within the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 38 in September 2013. This made it their highest-charting single until 2019 when their collaboration with Marshmello's "Here With Me" reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart in April 2019.
Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches have released four studio albums, three extended plays (EPs), 21 singles, two promotional singles and 19 music videos. Chvrches was formed in Glasgow in 2011 and consists of Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook, and Martin Doherty.
"Gun" is a song by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches from their 2013 debut album The Bones of What You Believe. It was released as the band's third official single on 15 June 2013 via Virgin and Goodbye Records.
Lauren Eve Mayberry is a Scottish singer, musician and songwriter. She is the vocalist and percussionist of the Scottish pop band Chvrches. In Chvrches, Mayberry co-writes and co-produces the songs with Iain Cook and Martin Doherty, and sings as the lead vocalist. She also plays drums and keyboards. Mayberry is a soprano.
Martin Clifford Doherty is a Scottish musician, singer and record producer. He is a member of Glasgow-based pop band Chvrches, with whom he has recorded four studio albums. Prior to forming Chvrches, Doherty was a touring member of the indie rock bands The Twilight Sad and Aereogramme.
Every Open Eye is the second studio album by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches. It was released on 25 September 2015 by Virgin EMI Records and Goodbye Records. Self-produced, it is the band's follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut album, The Bones of What You Believe (2013). The album title comes from a lyric in the song "Clearest Blue". The album received positive reviews from music critics and was listed on several year-end best-of lists.
"Make Them Gold" is a song by Scottish synthpop band Chvrches from their second studio album, Every Open Eye. The song was made available in digital download in May 2016 via Virgin and Goodbye Records.
"Leave a Trace" is a song by British synth-pop band Chvrches from their second studio album Every Open Eye. It was released as the band's first official single on 17 July 2015 via Virgin and Goodbye Records.
"Empty Threat" is a song by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches from their second studio album Every Open Eye. It was released as the fourth single on 19 October 2015 via Virgin and Goodbye Records.
"Bury It" is a song by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches from their second studio album, Every Open Eye (2015). A remix of the song featuring Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams was released on 10 June 2016 as the album's fifth and final single. The remix is included on the extended edition of Every Open Eye. The studio version of the remix premiered on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show on 9 June 2016.
"Los Ageless" is a song by the American musician St. Vincent. It was released on September 6, 2017, through Loma Vista as the second single from her fifth studio album, Masseduction.
Love Is Dead is the third studio album by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches. It was released on 25 May 2018 by Virgin EMI Records and Goodbye Records. The album was co-produced by Greg Kurstin, marking the first time the band have worked with outside producers. The band collaborated with David Stewart from Eurythmics and Matt Berninger from The National during production. The album was announced by Martin Doherty at the start of January 2018, with frontwoman Lauren Mayberry accidentally revealing the album's name in a since-deleted interview that same month.
"Get Out" is a song recorded by Scottish synthpop band Chvrches, co-written and produced by Greg Kurstin, with additional writing from Chvrches themselves—Martin Doherty, Lauren Mayberry and Iain Cook. The song was released commercially for digital download via Glassnote Records on 31 January 2018, as the lead single from Chvrches' third studio album, Love Is Dead (2018).
"My Enemy" is a song recorded by Scottish synthpop band Chvrches, featuring guest vocals from Matt Berninger of The National. Written and produced by the band, it was released through Glassnote on 28 February 2018, as the second single from their third studio album, Love Is Dead (2018).
"Never Say Die" is a song recorded by Scottish synthpop band Chvrches. Written by the band and its producer Greg Kurstin, it was released by Glassnote Records on 29 March 2018, as the third single from the band's third studio album, Love Is Dead (2018). The song is also featured in the soundtrack of the 2018 video game Forza Horizon 4.
"Miracle" is a song recorded by Scottish synthpop band Chvrches. Written and produced by the band and Steve Mac, it was released by Glassnote Records on 10 April 2018, as the fourth single from the band's third studio album, Love Is Dead (2018).
Screen Violence is the fourth studio album by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches. It was released on 27 August 2021 through EMI Records in the UK and Glassnote Records in the US. Lead single "He Said She Said" was released on 19 April. The album was announced alongside the second single, "How Not to Drown", a collaboration with Robert Smith, lead singer of the Cure.
Harmony House is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter and producer Sloan Struble, under his stage name Dayglow. It was released on May 21, 2021, through Very Nice Records in partnership with AWAL. Harmony House was announced in February 2021, following the re-release of Struble's debut album Fuzzybrain (2019) and the success of his single "Can I Call You Tonight?".
