Jean Clark

The Brits' passion for California has been undying since the sixties, a decade urban cowboy
Matthew Oliver aka Jean Clark looks like he hails from. This young Londoner's debut EP is a
love letter to the Byrd who flew alone, aka Gene Clark.
They share the same sartorial style and love for retro rides as the sleeve to the EP pays tribute
to the unsung hero's Roadmaster, with an added touch of English brownstone.
Besides the visual aspect, Jean Clark has his own vocal signature, a very manly and husky
voice and his songwriting is in the vein of late 60s psychedelic pop meets grumpy crooner, but
there's a more modern and garagey twist to his sun-laced melodies.
Clark has retained the holy grail in terms of inspiration and has crafted a stripped down triptych
of tunes that sounds authentic.
Like the Missouri born former Byrd, he wears his heart on his sleeve, sings of unrequited love in
poetic lyrics, embracing his lonesome nature and disclosing mental health issues and
self-growth progress, perpetually torn between light and darkness.
Jean Clark has a solid knack for words that cut like a knife and vivid metaphors that linger in
your mind.
These poignant words and spirited vocals convey the kind of vulnerabilty that speaks to the
listener's soul and lets tormented and underrated songwriters win their spurs.
Let's hope this promising EP will give way to a full length record as timeless as No Other.
'Lady Godiva - Moof magazine, May 2021'