CLAVVS (pronounced "claws") is an independent

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

-based

synth pop Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a music genre that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s b ...

duo originally formed in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

. Composed of four-time

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist

Graham Marsh Graham Vivian Marsh MBE (born 14 January 1944) is an Australian golfer. In 1968, Marsh turned pro and won several tournaments on the Australasian circuits early in his career. He joined the PGA Tour in the mid-1970s and won the 1977 Heritage ...

(

Gnarls Barkley Gnarls Barkley is an American soul music, soul duo composed of singer-songwriter CeeLo Green and producer Danger Mouse (musician), Danger Mouse. They released their debut studio album, ''St. Elsewhere (album), St. Elsewhere'', in 2006. It contai ...

Kid Cudi Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (born January 30, 1984), also known by his stage name Kid Cudi ( ; formerly stylized as KiD CuDi), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer. Born and raised in Clevelan ...

Lauryn Hill Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American musician. She is celebrated as one of the most influential musical artists of her generation. Hill is credited with breaking barriers for female rappers, contributing to the popular music, m ...

) and writer/vocalist Amber Renee, CLAVVS was formed in 2013 in East Atlanta Village after the pair met at a house party.

History

2013–2015: Formation and first release

Graham Marsh
and Amber Renee met in August 2013 at a house party. They were introduced by a mutual friend and formed the band at the end of 2013. They began working on their first songs in Marsh' home studio in 2014. CLAVVS released the single "Sit You Down" in September 2015.

2016–2017: ''halfblood'' and ''World Underwater''

CLAVVS released the first singles from their debut EP ''halfblood'' on a monthly basis before its release on April 4, 2016. "Sit You Down" was picked up by several

Hype Machine Hype Machine is a music blog aggregator created by Anthony Volodkin. History Hype Machine was originally a music database created in 2005 by Anthony Volodkin, then a sophomore computer science major at Hunter College.Heilemann, JohCapturing the ...

blogs and was also featured on PBS' international series The Music Voyager. With each monthly release, CLAVVS gained more attention, ultimately landing their single "Spectre" in MTV's Teen Wolf. CLAVVS was name
Best Progressive Pop Act
by

Creative Loafing Creative Loafing is an Atlanta-based publisher of an arts and culture news and events newspaper/magazine. The company historically published a weekly publication that once had a 160,000 weekly circulation. While Creative Loafing is no longer p ...

, who also ranked ''halfblood'' the #17 Atlanta album of 2016. CLAVVS released their sophomore album ''World Underwater'' on March 24, 2017. ''World Underwater'' peaked at #60 on th
NACC college radio chart
garnering spins at stations across the country, including Austin's

KVRX KVRX (91.7 FM) is a student-run radio station owned by the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts. KVRX's studios are based in the Hearst Student Media Building on the university campus, while its ...

and L.A.'s

KCRW KCRW (89.9 FM broadcasting, FM) is an NPR member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, where the station is licensed. KCRW airs original news and music programming in addition to programming ...

. Several songs from World Underwater were featured in episodes of

MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...

's Teen Mom: Young and Pregnant. They released a standalone cover of

MGMT MGMT () is an American rock band formed in 2002 in Middletown, Connecticut. It was founded by singers and multi-instrumentalists Andrew VanWyngarden and Benjamin Goldwasser, Ben Goldwasser. Originally signed to Cantora Records by the nascent ...

's "Electric Feel" on June 19 via Earmilk. A second standalone single "Like Daggers" was premiered wit
Ladygunn
on November 13, 2017.

2018-2020: ''No Saviors''

In September 2018, the duo released single "Lay Back" which reached #1 on the

chart. CLAVVS released two more singles at the end of 2018, "Slow Dive" and "Echo." "Slow Dive" and "Lay Back" were both featured in

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

You (Season 2) The second season of the American psychological thriller television series ''You'' was ordered by Lifetime on July 26, 2018. On December 3, 2018, it was announced that the network had passed on the second season and that the series would move t ...

. "Devils I Know" debuted on November 18, 2018 during episode six of

the CW The CW Network, LLC (commonly referred to as The CW or simply CW) is an American commercial broadcast television network which is controlled by Nexstar Media Group through a 75% ownership interest. The network's name is derived from the firs ...

Charmed ''Charmed'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Constance M. Burge and produced by Aaron Spelling and his production company Spelling Television, with Brad Kern serving as showrunner. The series was originally broadc ...

reboot. In early 2019, CLAVVS announced that the singles would be part of their EP ''No Saviors'' which was released on March 22, 2019. Songs from the EP have been featured on

Younger (TV series) ''Younger'' is an American comedy-drama television series created and produced by Darren Star. It is based on the 2005 novel of the same title by Pamela Redmond Satran. The single-camera series premiered on TV Land on March 31, 2015, and has re ...

and

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

Grand Hotel (TV series) ''Grand Hotel'' is an American mystery drama television series developed by Brian Tanen, based on the Spanish television series '' Gran Hotel'' created by Ramón Campos and Gema R. Neira. The series aired in ABC on June 17, 2019, and stars D ...

, and

Locke & Key (TV series) ''Locke & Key'' is an American fantasy drama television series developed by Carlton Cuse, Meredith Averill, and Aron Eli Coleite, based on the Locke & Key, comic book series of the same name by Joe Hill (writer), Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez ...

. On July 17, 2019 CLAVVS released a double single ''Keeps / Fade''. The 405 premiered lead single "Keeps," describing it as "equal parts poignant and euphoric." "Keeps" was featured on episode 31 of

's Catfish: The TV Show, which aired on June 26, 2019. CLAVVS released No Saviors (Extended) on February 25, 2020 alongside a video for featured single "Half Moon" which premiered via

on February 20, 2020.

2020 - 2021: ''O''

CLAVVS premiered a video for new single "Dance in Place" with

Under the Radar (magazine) ''Under the Radar'' is an American music magazine that features interviews with accompanying photo-shoots. Each issue includes opinion and commentary of the indie music scene as well as reviews of books, DVDs, and albums. The magazine posts we ...

on Monday, October 12, 2020 ahead of the full release on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Under the Radar described the song and video as "infectious ndjoyous." In November 2020, CLAVVS followed up with a second single and video for "Heyi." On July 29, 2021 CLAVVS released their sophomore album O, which included 2020 singles "Dance in Place" and "Heyi" as well as 2021 single "Stay Forever". "Dance in Place" is featured in the season finale of

Mindy Kaling Vera Mindy Chokalingam (born June 24, 1979),Additional archive on June 25, 2015. known professionally as Mindy Kaling (), is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Known for her work on television, she has received a Tony Awa ...

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...

series

The Sex Lives of College Girls , creator = {{nowrap, Mindy Kaling & Justin Noble , showrunner = {{Plainlist, * Mindy Kaling * Justin Noble , starring = {{Plainlist, * Pauline Chalamet * Amrit Kaur * Reneé Rapp * Alyah Chanelle Scott ...

. CLAVVS released the O remixes on November 19, 2021, featuring tracks by WHY?'s

Yoni Wolf Jonathan Avram "Yoni" Wolf (born April 30, 1979) is an American alternative hip hop and indie rock musician and co-founder of the record label Anticon. From 1997 until 2004, Wolf released music under the stage name Why?. In 2004 he transferred ...

, Treasure Fingers, and Marsh's electronic solo project .

2022 - Present

On October 2023, CLAVVS released the stand alone single "Interference". The track was followed up by an official remix by Treasure Fingers, which released on November 30, 2023. Shortly after, CLAVVS released "Get Down" on December 21, 2023. The track was a collaboration with Chico Mann of Antibalas and was featured in a

Michael Kors Michael David Kors (born Karl Anderson Jr. August 9, 1959) is an American fashion designer. He is the chief creative officer of his brand, Michael Kors, which sells men's and women's ready-to-wear, accessories, watches, jewelry, footwear, and f ...

ad campaign. On January 31 of 2024, the band released the single "House on Fire". CLAVVS released a collaborative EP titled ''A Dream Away'' with Graham Marsh’s solo project, draigh on December 12, 2024. It featured the songs "Daydream", "Radio", "Clouds", and "It's Coming Back Around".

Sound

CLAVVS' sound combines elements of

world music "World music" is an English phrase for styles of music from non-English speaking countries, including quasi-traditional, Cross-cultural communication, intercultural, and traditional music. World music's broad nature and elasticity as a musical ...

and

electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that came to prominence in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mos ...

with indie dance and vapor soul. The 405 describes CLAVVS as "indie hitmakers" for their use of pop and indie elements.

Consequence of Sound ''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television. History ''Consequence of Sound'' was founded in Septem ...

praises the duo's "natural chemistry," calling their sound "swirling and wistful."

NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...

calls CLAVVS "sleek and suitably mysterious...a pop sound that straddles spacey trip-hop and ingratiating pop, with notes of psychedelia to keep the mix feeling ever-so-slightly off balance."

Pop Matters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fil ...

says, "Since their inception, the duo have carved a niche for themselves with richly-produced, hook-laden indie pop."

Members

Graham Marsh
– instrumentals, production *Amber Renee – lyrics, vocals

Discography

Albums & EPs

* ''Halfblood'' EP (2016) * ''World Underwater'' (2017) * ''No Saviors'' EP (2019) * ''No Saviors'' (Extended version) (2020) * ''O'' (2021) * ''A Dream Away'' EP collaboration with draigh (2024)

Standalone Singles

* "Electric Feel" (June 2017) * "Like Daggers" (November 2017) * "Interference" (October 2023) * "Get Down" (December 2023) * "House on Fire" (January 2024)

Remixes

* "Sit You Down
Bombassic
Remix (2016) * "Serpentine
Daily Bread
Remix (2017) * "Lay Back
Bad Tuner
Remix (2019) * "Dance in Place
Treasure Fingers
Remix (2021) * "Dance in Place" Treasure Fingers Dub Remix (2021) * "Heyi" Yoni Wolf Remix (2021) * "Put it Down" Remix (2021) * "Interference" Treasure Fingers Remix (2023)

Live performances

CLAVVS has performed with

Ibeyi Ibeyi is a French musical duo consisting of twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz. The duo sings in English, French, Spanish and Yoruba, In Yoruba, Ibeyi (''Ìbejì'') means "twins". Their music has elements of Yoruba, French and Af ...

Kevin Garrett (musician) Kevin Garrett (born March 25, 1991) is an American musician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based out of Brooklyn, New York (state), New York. He has released two EPs, as well as a full-length album, and was nominated for a 59th Annual Grammy Awa ...

, and

Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend are an American Rock music, rock band formed in New York City in 2006 and currently signed to Columbia Records. The band was formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Ezra Koenig, multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, drummer Chr ...

Chris Baio Christopher Joseph Baio (born October 29, 1984) is an American musician, best known for being the bassist for the New York City-based indie rock band Vampire Weekend. He also releases as a record producer under the mononym Baio, and his debut so ...

, among others. The duo performed at Sweetwater 420 Fest in 2017 following a tour of the United States' East Coast from Atlanta to Brooklyn. CLAVVS opened for

during

Canadian Music Week The Departure Festival + Conference, formerly known as Canadian Music Week, is an industry conference and music festival held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.David Friend"Canadian Music Week buyers rename event Departure Festival, expand its scope" ...

in Toronto, Ontario in 2019 as well as The Underground Music Showcase in Denver, CO the same year. CLAVVS made their

SXSW South by Southwest (SXSW) is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and Convention (meeting), conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas. It began in 1987 and has conti ...

debut in 2019, where they were named one of

's Austin 100 Artists to Watch. The duo played their debut LA show on March 17, 2019 at

The Echo (venue) The Echo is an American music venue and nightclub, located in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. For 14 years, it hosted Funky Sole, an all-vinyl 1960s funk-and-soul dance party. The venue is also known for their punk rock s ...

, followed by a ''No Saviors'' EP release show on March 29, 2019 at

Knitting Factory The Knitting Factory is a nightclub in New York City that features eclectic music and entertainment and is co-owned and co-operated by Knitting Factory Entertainment. After opening in 1987, various other locations were opened in the United Stat ...

in Brooklyn, NY. CLAVVS played one show in 2020 opening for Siames at Gramercy Theater in Manhattan, NY. In 2021, the duo played their O album release show at Our Wicked Lady in

Bushwick Bushwick is a neighborhood in the northern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bounded by the neighborhood of Ridgewood, Queens, to the northeast; Williamsburg to the northwest; the cemeteries of Highland Park to the southe ...

, NY ahead of a Sultan Room headline show later that year.

References

External links

Website

Facebook

All Music
{{Authority control Musical groups from Atlanta Musical groups from Brooklyn American indie pop groups Indie pop groups from New York (state) American synth-pop groups American musical duos American electronic music duos Electronic music groups from New York (state) Trip hop groups Musical groups established in 2013 American feminist musicians Indietronica music groups 2013 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)