a gifted intuitive guitarist to a complete performer and songwriter. He has managed the hardest of tasks: crafting a musical identity that lives up to the promise of a precocious talent.” Clay bares his soul through his original music. His songs are authentic to the core, and they expose his very intimate and personal vulnerabilities. Clay is not an imitation – he is unique and his music is crossing genre barriers for good reason. At the 2016 SXSW event in Austin, Texas, Paul Heath, CEO of Radio X Brussels, met with Clay in a busy, bustling hotel lobby and the following interview took place. It was not a rehearsed monologue but rather an all-telling impromptu conversation that reveals Clay in his own words. A very interesting self portrait: I could go on and on about this musical genius but we decided to let you hear some of his music via youtube.
PUBLIC NOISE
CLAY MELTON BAND by Robert Castro
When does inspiration find any of us? For Clay Melton, it was at the tender age of eleven when he listened to Jimi Hendrix playing ‘All Along the Watchtower’ while riding in the car with his father. Clay was mesmerized by Jimi’s sound and style. So he asked his parents for a guitar, and only time would tell if music would become central to this young man’s life. Soon Clay was strapping his electric guitar and amp on his bicycle and peddling his way through the neighborhood to a family garage where he practiced with his good friend, Kyle Tomchesson. His ability with the guitar was growing faster than
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anyone could imagine, and after a year and a half of lessons, his teacher admitted that he couldn’t take Clay any further. Since then, Clay has taught himself, and like Hendrix and SRV, he plays by ear. By the age of thirteen, Clay was playing live in clubs all around Texas. At fifteen years old, his stage experiences as a guitarist and songwriter began to grow: The Dallas International Guitar Festival proclaimed, “Clay Melton one of the TOP 10 Guitar Players in Texas under 20 years old!” The emotional intensity of his live performances at such a young age was incredible to say the least.
PUBLIC NEWS
In October 2016, at 22 years old, Clay approached the world famous SugarHill Recording Studio where such greats as Beyonce’ and the Rolling Stones have recorded. He met with owner, Dan Workman, long-time mentor and fellow member of The Recording Academy (the Grammy’s). Dan assembled the talented team of Steve Christensen (Grammywinning engineer), and Josh Applebee (amazing drum tech). Planning began for Burn The Ships, the first full-length album from Clay Melton, releasing Summer 2017. Dan remarks, “I’ve had the privilege of watching Clay evolve from
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PN: When did you start preforming and where? Clay: I’ve been performing here in Houston since I was about 13, my first perfomance was at a place called Main Street Crossing in Tomball. PN: How old are you now ? Clay: I’m now 23 PN: How would you classify your music. (genre) Clay: We really explore man genres through out our new album, from rock to groovier soul and ambient rock - I would say overall we have a guitar driven rock sound. PN: Who are your biggest influences (musically ) Clay: Hendrix kicked everything off for me, then I grew a big love for SRV & Zeppelin, naturally. The Beatles and John Mayer have been big influences as well. But I love to listen to all kinds of things, music is so interesting to me in that way, theres no way anyone could ever explore everything there is to explore with music through out time, it makes me excited about exposing myself to different styles. PN: What does music mean to you ? Clay: In complete honesty it’s one of the deepest and dearest passion in my life. Right when I picked up a guitar I was really smitten with the instrument and all of the possibilities and just the world it introduced me too. Growing up playing music and trying to create and gigging out a lot brought so many friends and different experiences into my life I would never change. It’s always been my dream but there was definitely