Today, rising alt-R&B artist and multi-instrumentalist Forest Claudette announces their forthcoming project Everything Was Green on June 16 with the release of emotional new single “Two Years.” Listen HERE via Warner Records. Funky, understated, and instantly catchy, the track highlights the Australian-American’s unique talents like never before. It is accompanied by a video that finds Claudette grappling with those pesky, life-altering decisions. Watch it HERE.
“I had hesitation but you didn’t, I had reservations from the beginning,” the 23-year-old croons over a white-hot beat, reverberating synths and trippy guitar flourishes, “but I ain’t saying you put me in this position — it is what it is, I wouldn’t do it different.” Claudette then elaborates on the chorus: “I couldn’t commit to two years and a house on the hill,” they sing. “Getting stressed out, looking for my recording deal.”
That tension is reflected in the video, which shows the newcomer moving from one familiar domestic situation to the next—but it’s not all blissful. “I started writing ‘Two Years’ around the same time I wrote ‘Gone Without A Trace,’” Claudette says of the new track. “I remember I was grappling with the idea of how to listen to myself or choose myself, and not feel like a selfish asshole.”
“It was the beginning of understanding my brain better and learning to communicate differently and with more authenticity,” they add. “A lot of time passed between the initial idea and the session that led to it sounding the way it does now. That time really helped me come to terms with the feelings I captured in the initial demo, and with the help of Gabe and JAHS, allowed me to focus on them from a place of clarity.”
“Two Years” arrives on the heels of the delirious “Motor in the Sand” and their throwback R&B anthem “Mess Around.” They were preceded by his debut EP, The Year of February, in 2022. That offering featured acclaimed singles like “Creaming Soda” and “Hologram,” where Claudette wonders if they deserves the spotlight. Matters of the heart were also front and center on The Year of February with gems like “Gone Without a Trace” and “Goodbye.”
Born in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria, Australia, the rising artist also spent time in the US throughout their formative years. Captivated by singer-songwriters like Frank Ocean and Moses Sumney, they honed their craft at an experiential high school and wrote their first song at 16. Soon afterward, Claudette caught the attention of national radio station triple j, which led to co-writing sessions with other artists and songwriters.
The arrival of Everything Was Green ushers in a new shade to the seemingly endless kaleidoscope of sounds that is Claudette’s music.
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