In her new single, titled “Are You Clapping?,” pop songstress Taydem Shoesmith expands on the melodic framework outlined in the millennial singer/songwriter movement with smashing results, delivering a soft rhythm-powered number that makes use of her vocal skillset wonderfully. “Are You Clapping?” pushes boundaries on several levels, starting with its blend of tones found in both electronica and R&B against the backdrop of a conventional pop hook. Though steeped in a somewhat traditional concept, this track isn’t as easy to categorize as a lot of the other indie pop singles I’ve listened to lately have been, and while some critics might view this as being negative in today’s overeager culture of labels and branding, and I think it’s what makes Shoesmith such a unique and multidimensional character.
There’s a great use of texture on the bassline that defines the bottom-end tonality of “Are You Clapping?,” and as I hear it, I don’t think the song would be as much of a stinger were it mixed any differently than it was here. It’s not necessarily overindulgent, but to suggest that it’s somehow aesthetically stingy would be an outright lie; truth be told, a little bit of liberalism on this end of the track makes the vocal all the more lush and directive at the forefront of the master mix. This comes as one heck of a contrast to many of Shoesmith’s peers, who in recent times have taken to adopting more of a minimalist style of attack when it comes to making crossover tunes like this one.
The chorus here has one of the sleekest hooks I’ve heard this December, and it’s another element that is undeniably built on the back of our singer’s incredible vocal range. “Are You Clapping?” doesn’t demand as much out of her abilities as it could have, granted, but for what it was likely designed for, I think it serves the purpose of exposing us to Shoesmith’s artistic approach just fine. She’s got all the time in the world to come into her own both in and outside of the studio, and at this juncture of her career, she’s wise to stick with recording material that highlights specific attributes within her sound. That’s the best way to get your name into the headlines, as has been proven with the release of this track.
She’s still a relative rookie in this game we call contemporary pop music, but I think that it’s safe to say Taydem Shoesmith is coming along like nobody’s business after hearing her latest single. “Are You Clapping?” is a deceptively simple composition that asks us to abandon any interest in commercial trends in favor of embracing something a little more versatile both structurally and sonically, and these days, it’s a song that would qualify as a gem in any serious pop fan’s book. This is an interesting time for the history of the genre, but if you’re looking for talent that isn’t about to go digging through the past in hopes of making a cool, futuristic melody they can call their own, Shoesmith is the songwriter to go see.
Troy Johnstone