Clare Easdown is an emerging artist from Sydney, Australia, whose music is as boundless and captivating as the ocean she grew up by. With roots in classical cello training and education at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, she blends a disciplined musical foundation with a self-taught, exploratory spirit that makes her sound distinctively her own. Taking inspiration from visionaries like INIKO, FKA Twigs, Grimes, Sevdaliza, Madonna, and CHVRCHES, Clare has carved out a space where her music exists in a kaleidoscope of emotions, textures, and ideas. Her vocals ride over electronic waves with a unique balance of strength and vulnerability, creating music that is both personal and universal. Driven by a deep connection to melody and arrangement, she crafts soundscapes that act as sanctuaries for listeners, reflecting her artistic conviction that music is more than entertainment, it is a home, a protest, and a way to connect deeply with the human experience.
“In Candlelight” by Clare Easdown is an evocative single that was officially released on August 10th, 2025, and it immediately stands out as one of the most poignant works in her growing catalog. The track is not simply a piece of music, but an artistic expression forged from a place of empathy, urgency, and personal conviction. Clare’s approach to songwriting and production here is intimate and raw, reflecting her belief that music can and should be a vessel for awareness and emotional connection. From the very first moment, the single captures attention with its atmospheric tone, setting the stage for a haunting yet deeply human experience that resonates long after the final note fades.
The opening of “In Candlelight” is striking in its simplicity, with brooding piano chords and delicate astral keys creating a cinematic mood that immediately draws listeners in. This minimalist introduction not only establishes the somber emotional landscape of the song but also leaves ample space for the vocals to shine. The careful layering of sound feels intentional and patient, allowing the music to bloom gradually like the slow flicker of a candle in the dark. Instead of overwhelming the listener with excessive production, Clare relies on restraint, letting the natural resonance of each chord and texture linger in the air. This opening is key to the song’s hypnotic pull, inviting listeners to pause and enter the reflective space she has created.
Vocally, Clare Easdown delivers a performance that is nothing short of soul-stirring. Her voice possesses both fragility and quiet power, a duality that makes every line compelling and authentic. The use of subtle reverb enhances her tone without masking its raw humanity, giving her vocals a haunting quality that lingers long after each phrase. What makes her delivery so powerful is the emotional range she manages to convey in a single performance. At times, her voice feels tender and vulnerable, as though whispering a confession. At other moments, it rises with urgency and conviction, carrying the weight of grief, rage, and hope all at once. This vocal balance is at the core of the song’s emotional impact, making it deeply relatable and impossible to ignore.
Lyrically, “In Candlelight” is inspired by the overwhelming reality of ongoing global conflicts, from Ukraine to Gaza, Sudan to Yemen. Clare was moved by the endless stream of distressing images and news reports that often become fleeting in the fast-scrolling world of social media. Her decision to light a candle while composing the song became symbolic, transforming into a metaphor for fragile resilience and the enduring human spirit. The lyrics hold space for grief while simultaneously serving as a protest against apathy, reminding listeners that war is not an abstraction but a lived reality for countless families. The words feel both intimate and global, drawing a line between personal reflection and collective awareness. This lyrical honesty allows the song to serve as both a personal confession and a universal call to action.
The instrumentation in “In Candlelight” complements its themes beautifully by remaining restrained yet purposeful. A subtle groove and grounding bassline provide structure without overpowering the piano-driven arrangement. Sparse keyboard textures create additional layers of atmosphere, evoking a cinematic quality that feels larger than the small space in which the track was produced. What makes the instrumentation particularly compelling is its ability to mirror the lyrical content and emotional tone of the vocals. Each sound seems carefully chosen to reflect fragility, resilience, and the quiet strength embedded in the song’s message. The result is a soundscape that feels simultaneously intimate and expansive, echoing the candle’s flicker while holding the weight of a global protest.
Musically, Clare draws inspiration from a wide range of artists who embody both vulnerability and conviction. Echoes of Dolores O’Riordan’s poignant urgency can be felt in her vocal delivery, while the influence of PJ Harvey emerges in the raw storytelling and unflinching confrontation of social issues. The moody, trip-hop infused atmospheres reminiscent of Massive Attack surface in the production, and the cinematic vulnerability of Sevdaliza weaves through the haunting textures. However, these influences never overshadow Clare’s individuality. Instead, they are reimagined through her unique creative lens, producing a sound that is entirely her own. The blend of trip-hop dynamics, ethereal production, and intimate lyricism results in a piece of music that resists categorization, positioning Clare as a fearless artist with a distinct sonic identity.
The production of “In Candlelight” itself is a testament to Clare’s philosophy of prioritizing emotion over polish. Created in her lounge with nothing more than her iPhone, headphones, and a burning candle, the recording leans into imperfection intentionally. By layering unpolished takes instead of chasing a clean pop sound, she ensures that the raw emotion remains intact. This approach gives the track an authenticity that cannot be manufactured in a high-end studio. Every breath, every vocal inflection, and every wavering note feels real and urgent, reminding listeners that what matters most is the message and the feeling, not technical perfection. It is this very imperfection that makes the track resonate so deeply, as though it is alive with human touch and conviction.
In Candlelight is a Soul-stirring Anthem Of Fragility And Resilience That Transforms Raw Emotion Into A Haunting Protest For Hope And Humanity
Ultimately, the overall feel of “In Candlelight” is hypnotic, reflective, and profoundly moving. It operates on multiple levels, functioning as both a personal diary entry and a global protest song. The fragile yet magnetic atmosphere allows listeners to sit in stillness with the weight of human suffering, while the hopeful undercurrent represented by the candle reminds us that even in darkness, light persists. Clare Easdown has crafted a piece that transcends typical pop or electronic music, delivering instead a timeless work of art that is both relevant to the current zeitgeist and enduring in its emotional resonance. With “In Candlelight,” she not only solidifies her place as a rising artist from Australia but also affirms her role as a voice for empathy, awareness, and change in a world that desperately needs it.
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