Solarstone & Clara Yates – “Your Sacrifice”
First came ‘shivelight’, then ‘sonata’, and last month Solarstone delivered us his introspective ‘innermost’ with the release of the musician/DJ’s ninth studio album. Into July, and the LP’s singles take on a more vocal nature, as hand in hand with singer-songwriter Clara Yates, he brings us ‘your sacrifice’.
In keeping with the album’s unflinchingly open-book approach, Richard was looking for equally fearless collaborators—and in the English-born/Australian-based artist Clara, he most certainly found one.
“Clara wrote the song about her father, and when I heard the vocals, it struck me immediately,” says Richard.
“Around the time, I’d been thinking a lot about my own relationship with my kids—periods being away from them, on tour, and what that means to everyone involved.“
Clara elaborates:
“I’m a firm believer in songwriting done right. Songs have to mean something and come from the depths of somebody, and not just be words for the sake of them.
As Rich says, ‘your sacrifice’ was written about my father, Frederick, who raised me and my siblings alone back in the late ’80s–’90s.
With a very ill mother, no struggle or sacrifice was too great to ensure we were fed, had a roof over our head, homework done on time—whilst making sure we all had smiles on our faces.
Not enough praise goes to single fathers and just how tough it is for them. They deserve all the recognition and good in the world.”
Talking about ‘your sacrifice’’s production, Richard adds:
“I decided to keep Clara’s voice really soft in the mix. I wanted people to lean into it, to really have to listen close to what she was saying.”
From there, he musically expanded the album’s original vision into a full-length, 12” voyage, embracing its progressive house core to the nth degree. Melting melodies, bass pulse, and cinematically-edged strings all combine to move hearts, minds, and dancefloors in equal measure.
