We are inordinately honoured to bring you a premiere of the new track ‘Sweat Equity’ from Scottish band Yama Rama.
2023 saw the return of the highly talented musician (and a favourite of ours here at Backseat Mafia) Charlie Clark with a new project called Yama Rama. This followed a turbulent few years leading to his return to his native Scotland and the release of his fantastic solo album ‘Late Night Drinking’ (see my review here), and then more trials and tribulations following its release with the death of his parents, marital separation and a disastrous music festival that bankrupted him. If there’s one thing about Clark aside from his boundless musical creativity, it’s his tenacity and strength throughout these vicissitudes of life. And if, as they say, great creativity is born from struggle and pain, the work of Clark’s new project Yama Rama is a testament to this.
Clark says of these years, and the inspiration for the new project:
In amongst all of the disasters, I wrote these songs upon my return to the UK. I didn’t drink or have to get messed up, and I cared for both my parents until they died, which really changed my entire perspective on everything.
I’ve been in self-imposed solitude for the best part of a year. This is me finally feeling well enough
to move forward. The new songs perfectly encapsulate hope at the end of an otherwise challenging period – which is something we sadly all need to feel sometimes.
The new single ‘Sweat Equity’ is proof: a spectacular wide screen anthemic track that would easily fit into the same shelf as anything by Spiritualized, Belle & Sebastian or Tindersticks: epic ethereal and statuesque. All with a touch of even the Bee Gees with its melodic strength. Carried on a bed of opulent strings, Clark’s vocals are imbued with a deep yearning, strong and resolute, beautiful layered harmonies with a theme of resilience and fortitude, re-growth and survival.
The accompanying video is suitably pastoral and bucolic, featuring Clark and band members Craig and Gill McIntyre:
This is truly an artist and band at the very top of their game – a lush vibrant release that positively shimmers like stars in the firmament.
And there’s so much more to Clark’s story. Clark is now living back on the Isle of Lewis, focused on recording the music he loves and preparing to tell his story, starting by opening up about a hidden disability caused by a condition called microtia, which caused him to be born with only one ear. Clark says of the condition:
I’ve never spoken about it until now. But that’s something I’ve lived with my whole life,
always covered by long hair. Having one ear means I have no hearing on one side and other
related challenges. Up until I was about four or five, I needed speech therapy and similar support.
Clark first started earning a living playing music in Stornoway before leaving the Isle of Lewis and going to art college in Glasgow. He then founded the cult indie band Astrid – playing, touring, partying and growing up with legendary bands like Belle and Sebastian, Arab Strap, and Snow Patrol.
Clark was a core member of The Reindeer Section with Gary Lightbody and other prominent Glasgow musicians. He went on to found Our Lunar Activities and release a solo single on Alan McGee’s label It’s Creation Baby and EP “Feel Something” on Edwyn Collins’ AED, moving to Hollywood after his wife was deported from the UK.
He signed with Manimal Vinyl in LA and released music under the band names Broken Arrow, Charlie Clark and the Majestic 12 and Sotto, working as a booker at Harvard & Stone on Hollywood Blvd.
After Astrid reformed, recorded a fourth album in LA and played festivals, the BBC Quay Sessions and other tour dates, Clark came back to Scotland full-time to care for his terminally ill Dad, deal with his marriage breakdown and recover from a relapse after 12 years of sobriety.
These years of creativity, heartbreak, challenge and drama beautifully fuel his songs.
‘Sweat Equity’ is out on 7 February 2025 and will be available to download and stream here and through all the usual sites.
You can catch Yama Rama on tour in February:
Feb 7th Market Bar Inverness
Feb 8th Assai Records Dundee
Feb 10th The Leith Depot Edinburgh
Feb 11th Slouch Glasgow
Feb 12 The Washington Sheffield
Feb 13th The Lions Den Manchester
Feb 14th The Spinning Top Stockport
Feb 15th HMV Glasgow
Feb 22nd The Source Carlisle
Feb 23rd Middlesborough
Feb 24th Sneaky Pete’s Edinburgh
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