EP Review: 'Out of Towners' - Clara Bond

Country music purists often argue that there is no place for pop in the genre. Of course, this is merely opinion but there has been many an artist who has tried to mix the two genres, creating an end product that sounds incredibly gimmicky, almost validating these arguments. But there has also been many an artist who has successfully managed to play with these two genres. Take Kelsea Ballerini, Taylor Swift and, now, Clara Bond.

On her new EP, Out of Towners, Clara blends pop and country effortlessly. There's no gimmicks and there's not one single moment at which it seems as if she's trying to be something that she's not. Whilst she may be leaning closer to pop, there's definite country influences on this four track release, a release that she has stated is 'so close to [her] heart'.

The title track is bittersweet, a track about feeling out of place and like a fish out of water, and was written during Clara's solo trip to the States. The following song, 'Tambourine' is the sort of number that I would expect from the aforementioned country pop powerhouses Ballerini and Swift. It's so elegantly written and beautifully sung and if given the right exposure, could easily be a huge song.

'Love Can't Stay' is a catchy track about a love that just wasn't meant to be, another track written based on her trip to America, and closing number 'Flashbacks' is a stunning conclusion to the EP, a fantastic showcase of a powerful and faultless voice.

All in all, this release is very strong. Definitely an artist to watch out for and definitely worth a purchase.

For more information on Clara visit clarabond.com. Out of Towners is available now.

Clara Bond Releases Video For 'Out of Towners' - WATCH

Country/pop singer-songwriter Clara Bond has released the video for her latest single 'Out Of Towners' via Vevo.

The single is from her forthcoming EP of the same name, which is out 23rd September, and is available to pre-order now via iTunes.

Clara is a country-pop artist from the South-West of England. Although so far, Clara has described herself as a pop artist, her songwriting style and experimentation with the blending of elements from different genres produces something that stands outside of traditional pop, and over the last year this has taken her in the direction of some of her country influences. Having had the good fortune to work with chart topping writers, Clara has made waves as a songwriter since the release of her first EP The Chase, which has pushed her to new levels of media presence. A busy couple of years has included appearances for The Telegraph, one of her songs being featured in a film at the Cannes Film Festival, and being invited to play the iconic stage at Ronnie Scott’s.

Travelling to London from her native Devon for gigs, writing sessions and media appearances has become second nature for Clara, all the while continuing to grow her fan base on YouTube and social media with cover songs, attracting the interest and support of Ryan Seacrest who described her as having “one of the best covers on YouTube”. To coincide with the release of her new EP Out Of Towners, Clara was invited to record and film an exclusive full band live version of the EP for BBC Introducing.

The EP is extremely personal. "Every single person who had anything to do with this record is a close friend," Clara reveals. "This includes anyone who played on the record, anyone who filmed anything and all the campaign photos and website design. That’s why this project is so close to my heart; it’s a group effort from everyone that I love. We didn’t record this EP in a professional studio but in several locations, including a boathouse, a church, my own home and even a garden shed. Two of the songs on this record are my way of closing the book and getting closure on a relationship that I spent many years in, the other two songs are me moving on from that relationship. 'Out Of Towners' was written during my trip to the States; the first time I had travelled by myself and feeling like a fish out of water - exactly what I needed. 'Love Can’t Stay' is about the man I met whilst I was out there who made me feel a little more at home, but if you’ve heard the song, you know it was not meant to be!"

For further information about Clara, visit clarabond.com.