Evelyn Gray shares whimsical debut single ‘Clotheslines’
The ex-Tapir! frontperson’s first single is an enchanting introduction to her solo world.
Photo: Holly Whitaker
As Evelyn Gray opens the door to a world of oddities and intrigue on her whimsical debut single Clotheslines, there’s an immediate sense of stepping into a room humming with quiet secrets, its past lingering in every dusty object. Marked by the gentle swirl of delicately picked guitar, the song acts as an invitation to explore – to hear the restlessly ticking clocks, to brush past the hanging wires, and to watch the tired cogs turning endlessly in the corner.
Clotheslines is the first single to be released from Gray’s upcoming project I Am Building A House, a body of work born from her efforts to document the rooms of an abandoned apartment block. In this particular track, the space belongs to an inventor drowning in their own useless machines.
With gently observant, detail-rich lyrics, Gray’s storytelling is lush yet light on its feet, painting an incredibly vivid picture of exploration and discovery. There’s a real sense of innocent adventure throughout, as if Clotheslines were soundtracking a child roaming the halls of a strange place, finding joy in the ordinary objects left behind.
As the song unfolds, each musical element emerges like another intriguing detail uncovered during the starry-eyed inspection. The bass grounds the track like sturdy floorboards beneath your feet, steady despite the room’s decaying appearance. At the same time, the violin lines flit around the melody like dust motes caught in sunlight, adding a playful, folkloric charm to an already evocative space. With the scene turning from eerie to enchanting, the room’s clutter becomes a source of wonder for all who dare to look, guaranteeing that Clotheslines is the first unlocked door in a building you’ll want to explore fully, room by room.
Clotheslines is out now.