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ELEPHANT

Elephant, the musical vehicle of Dundalk based multi-instrumentalist Shane Clarke has, over its brief five year life, bounced around the hallways of avant-garde folk, synth pop, soft rock all the way to Eno inspired 80's gothic romance. A balancing act few artists could pull off without being questioned as to what exactly is their style? Yet Clarke has negotiated the arduous terrain by always staying true to his idea that an artist should just get out of the way and let the song become whatever it is meant to become...be that a trashy electronica tune, or a ghostly synth-wave number...never try to mold it into whats considered your genre, genre is a cage. Music is fluid. You are only as old as you feel. Shane Clarke turns 37 this year.

The first album - hypergiant

Elephants first album 'HyperGiant' was released in 2015. It was recorded in the bedroom/studio of Darren Clarke; front-of-house guru of acts like Hamsandwich and Fangclub and assuredly not the golf pro of the same name. It received high praise for its creativity and originality with Clarkes voice garnering the lions share.

"Irish Times Release of the Week" - Nialler9

"As natural and honest an album as we’re likely to hear this year...Elephant’s debut is something very special indeed." 9/10 - The Last Mixed Tape

"..with HyperGiant, Shane Clarke has given the tail end of 2015 an incredible and very welcome shot in the arm." 4/5 - State.ie

"...an exemplary landmark Irish recording" Remys Music & Film

The modest successes of HyperGiant afforded Clarke opportunities over the coming years to perform with the likes of Martha Wainwright, Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Lisa Hannigan, James Vincent McMorrow, BC Camplight as well as getting to perform on the main stages at Body & Soul, Indiependance, Castlepalooza, Vantastival and Electric Picnics 'Body & Soul' area. He played shows in apartments for Sofar-Sounds, in record stores, repeated appearances at Hard Working Class Heroes , was asked to perform on many radio stations as well turning host for a Co-Present HWCH special and was a co-creator and lead in fashioning a tribute to David Bowie entitled "Ain't That Just Like Me" curating Bowie covers from fifteen bands with all proceeds going to cancer research...Wow, this guy sounds like a peach.

https://dundalkbowietribute.bandcamp.com/album/a-tribute-aint-that-just-like-me

the second album - '88'

Elephant made what later became known to him as a "sea-change" with the 2nd album. It was a 180deg pivot from his avant-garde folk beginnings to a darker alternative-pop sound for ‘88’. Coupled by his love of the 80’s new romantics and an aversion to complacency, Clarke, producer Joey Edwards and mixing engineer Marc Carolan created a genre spanning, hour long concept album about a man who travels back in time to all the most important conversations of his past. And, as the fly on the wall, asks the question…what if I had done things differently?

"a bittersweet masterpiece ***** " The Irish Times 5 stars

"88 is an album about life itself" 9/10 - The Last Mixed Tape

"An Irish masterpiece on so many levels" Remy

"album of the month" John Loftus - 8 Radio

Joey Edwards, Marc Carolan, Peter Baldwin & Shane Clarke in the front. Taken at Black Mountain Studios on final mix day of album two '88'.
Inlay of the double LP
Artwork designed by Taine King
Stage concept for the album launch tour for '88.
All going smoothly...
...signs of fatigue setting in...
...nodding off gently...
...and now, fully asleep on the job.
88' included in Hotpress 'Album of the Year'... it did not win.

88 Album Tour

UK dates to promote the 2nd album with Pizza Pizza Records

the third album - ice cream

For the new album Shane has teamed up with long time collaborator, producer Joey Edwards again. Staying clear from any particular stylistic direction and just letting things come out as they do, the sound has once again changed for this new record. It echoes the fun guitar rock of the nineties coupled with the doo-wop sounds of the 40's and 50s & modern hip-hop inspired edits and production style. A major difference for this album is the teaming up with an incredible rhythm section - members of the critically acclaimed and notably handsome Robocobra Quartet. Expected in late summer 2021.

Ryan Burrows, Joseph Edwards, Shane Clarke, Chris Ryan, Nathan Rodgers @ Black Mountain Studios 2020
Elephant - Ice Cream

Ice Cream press:

"‘Ice Cream‘, the dark and delightful new album from Dundalk’s Elephant is our ’album of the week’ " Live95LimerickFM

"Elephant’s comeback is an instant indie-gem." The Last Mixed Tape

"The song has a casual homespun charm to it even though the song has our protaganist losing the plot." Track of the Week - Nialler 9 (Heat Stroke)

"Envy - Track of the Week" The Thin Air

"Elephant - Nova Scotia - Song of the day" Gugai, Strange Brew

"Ice Cream - Track of the day" Hot Press

Envy - debut release from Ice Cream

Envy is the first single from Ice Cream. It's a song about jealously and discontentment. Is the grass always greener on the other side? Or does every success require a failing of sorts? Be it wealth, fame or over indulgence, everything has a cost.

Nova Scotia - 2nd track released from Ice Cream

Nova Scotia is a brag. You're telling that person from your past how well you ended up doing for yourself.

Of course, it's all a front to mask your debilitating insecurity about every choice you've made since you seen them last!

"I've got money now!!"

Ice Cream - 3rd single from the new album

Nostalgia can be a physical feeling. It can be painful, right in your gut.

Ice Cream is a song for the quiet kids who turn into insecure adults.

You just need to find your value.

Find at least one thing you do that makes you happy...then lean in.

Milk - final single from the new album

Routines can be very helpful to people who need some sort of constant balance in their life, lest it get the better of them, I am one of those people I think. A creature of comfort.

Milk is about depending too much on said routines to the point where you stop taking chances, going off book, living life.

Stuck going in circles and being to blind to realise that...you're life is going nowhere and you need to break out of the routine.

Elephant: Songs in the Quay of Life. A Documentary about Elephant, filmed in The Spirit Store & in studio in November 2020 featuring material & conversations about the new record.