February 2021 – Singapore – Lauded singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Cautious Clay (AKA Josh Karpeh) has released his third single, “Roots,” off his highly anticipated debut album. The artist, who has collaborated with Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, John Legend and John Mayer, previously released three EP’s; ‘Table of Context’, ‘RESONANCE’ and his debut, ‘Blood Type’, which included his breakout song “Cold War,” which received accolades from Time, NPR, The New York Times, Complex and The New Yorker.
About the new track, Cautious Clay shares, “‘Roots’ is about having an established history with someone and coming to the often-difficult realization that things ultimately will not last because of elements in the relationship that are toxic. I tried to make that sentiment known in the first verse, ‘from atoms up to comets, life is never promised, you could make me wanna lie and be dishonest.’ It’s about wanting to put yourself out there and be emotionally vulnerable to a fault, however ultimately knowing what’s best is for both people to separate and move on.”
“Roots” follows the release of “Dying in the Subtlety” and “Agreeable,” his first two singles off his upcoming debut album, which together have been streamed over seven million times. Also released during the pandemic, Cautious Clay participated in the collaborative single “Cheesin” with Remi Wolf, Still Woozy, Sophie Meiers, Claud, Melanie Faye and HXNS to raise money for Covid-19 relief. Just prior, he released “Reaching (ft. Alex Isley),” which was featured within the Season 4 premiere of Issa Rae’s “Insecure.”
Taking time for select acting work, Cautious Clay is currently in production on the second season of the critically acclaimed Forest Whitaker drama, “The Godfather of Harlem.” Reprising a role from the first season, he plays the band leader, for which he also records music.
Music by Cautious Clay combines R&B, hip-hop and experimental indie with bold, honest and soulful vocals; a voice The New Yorker says “seems to emote and connect without effort; it burrows warmly into acoustic guitar melodies and floats atop more maximalist backdrops.” Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Cautious Clay currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.
Listen to “Roots” here: orcd.co/roots
