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Live Review: Society's on trial in Chris McClenney's 'Headlines'

14 December 2016 | 9:11 am | Steve Copp

CHRIS MCCLENNEY brings a new breed of heartfelt social commentary in his newest clue to his upcoming release with 'Headlines'.

It seems 2016 was a year in which online culture finally broke the confines of the internet and began to spill into our lives. That didn't go unnoticed by one of Maryland's finest new producers. CHRIS MCCLENNEY's newest release 'Headlines' addresses the impact the current state of society has on our personal lives.

In classic McClenney style, the young producer has created a simplistic yet passively groovy track, with the beat hidden in what he doesn't play. The rest of the accompaniment follows along with his signature 1990's RnB palette. The musical offering's provided the perfect setting for McClenney's honest and very neccessary look into the heart of the monster that is the social media age.

McClenney wastes no time reaching the soul of almost every listener with words that pierce through the facade that were all trying to hide the effect social media plays on us. "When I see you, a vanity lurks in your eyes...You're stressing 'bout people, don't try to deny.McClenney takes his perch above all the commotion of life and, with time to reflect, lays it all out for everyone to see.

The beauty of McClenney's artform in this piece is that he does it without us even knowing. His words hit where it hurts and suggest a feeling that maybe you've been trying to put off, or one you would never have even conceived on your own. You thought it would never happen to you, but your life and times are slowly becoming, 'Headlines'

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The infectious groove McClenney injects into his soulful RnB chord progression continues to find the air in between such heavy lyrics. At every turn a change of tactics as McClenney offers the same groove, only with a different accent. Continuous additions to this track's skeleton sets the tone for the higher perspective he shares throughout.

The attitude McClenney brings to this new track opens up a whole new set of ideas of what his 2017 EP release Portrait in Two could sound like. This new blend of RnB, dance and soul will have no troubles finding the light upon its release. The groove this young producer can manifest is a highlight on its own, but paired with a more honest flavour, there's no telling what 2017 can hold for fans of McClenney's sound.

Until we have the whole project in our hands, vibe out to Mcclenney's newest clue to the sound of 2017 RnB,'Headlines'.

Words by Steve Copp

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