Young Clancy Something Something Tape

Canadian producer Young Clancy has today released his self produced lockdown album SOMETHING SOMETHING TAPE via Black Box. Gathering eleven of the most distinctive voices in the city's thriving independent R&B and hip-hop scenes, Clancy distills a unique and tangible perspective on "The New Toronto Sound," a version that truly vibrates on the deep, unifying heartbeat coursing through its artistic community.

Speaking on the project, Young Clancy says: "I hope this project further illustrates what I'm sure many are beginning to realize, that there's so much more beneath the surface here. This was a dark year. I'm happy and lucky to have made something I like. I think it's a fun project with some very anxious undertones. Mostly I'm so grateful to all the artists who worked with me on this. I didn't feel super inspired this year but this is something and it's thanks to them."

Every track on SOMETHING SOMETHING TAPE feels like a vivid snapshot of some day in some corner of an ever-spreading but still tight-knit Toronto. These tracks entwine the electric creative frequencies bounding around the city at eye-level, between Clancy's basement brain and the eloquent minds congregated right on this tape – some of whom, due to the distance, he has still yet to meet. Featuring artwork sourced from mixed media collages of visual artist Tessar Lo, SOMETHING SOMETHING TAPE is the picture of Young Clancy locked down and reveling in his daydreams with an interconnected web of like minds. However fleeting in length, and to wherever each path leads from here, the magic that Young Clancy has incited will endure.

SOMETHING SOMETHING TAPE was produced by Young Clancy in his basement over lockdown, explores the idea of creating around the times, rather than for the times. This remote collaboration showcases Clancy's lithe production touch, flashing a genre-fluent ability to corral any sound, and inspire visionary artists. The eleven "minutesongs" – sonic explorations in brevity, were inspired by the miniature masterpieces of J Dilla's "Donuts" and Tierra Whack's "Whack House". They are brought to life by vocal talents and wordsmiths from across Toronto, like visionary rapper Clairmont The Second, mainstay soul singer Chris LaRocca, conspirators like rapper-filmmaker Matthew Progress, and more.

As a high school student in Toronto, Young Clancy played in a handful of bands, usually on bass but occasionally guitar or drums. Nothing stuck. In university on Canada's east coast, where he studied creative writing, Clancy quietly dabbled in songwriting with voice and guitar. He gave nervous performances at open mics and posted loosies to SoundCloud where his heartfelt ballads racked up tens of plays by the few friends who knew they existed.

As a graduate, Clancy found himself somewhat stagnating, bartending full-time at a sleazy steakhouse in Toronto's financial district. Unsure of what was next, he began taking vocal lessons and teaching himself production on Ableton live and gradually began making the music he truly wanted to hear: thoughtful, lyrical songs inspired by Neil Young with gritty, inventive production inspired by Kanye West. This culminated in an EP - "The Yung Prince of the Basement"- that finally saw the light in 2017. Clancy steadily toiled away on what would be his next move: a collaborative EP "Friends EP" featuring several of Toronto's most exciting up-and-comers, followed by "Vol. II" in 2019.