THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Claire Davis is a musical time traveller. Known for her mighty and expressive vocals, Davis authentically and effortlessly brings the sounds of ‘60s and ‘70s soul into the present.
Recorded directly to eight-track tape, her debut LP Get It Right combines vintage-sounding soul grooves with some of Claire’s most personal writing to date — drawing from the reflective nature of the pandemic, her compositions and lyrics examine themes of self-worth, relationships, and even family dynamics. From the very personal cycle-breaking anthem Times Have Changed to Long Gone, a track about walking away from situations that don’t serve you, Get It Right is as empowering as it is groovy.
“The concept behind the album is about knowing your worth and putting the work in,” Davis says. “I think this is a poignant message for many people as we emerge from a tumultuous time. We have had the opportunity to assess what we actually want to return to, what’s truly for our benefit and for the greater good. Much of the lyrical content in the album is inspired by my own personal journey of struggling to break toxic cycles within my family and learning to forge my own path.”
The first song written for the record was the title track, which began as a jam between Davis on guitar, producer Scott McCannell on bass, and drummer Chino deVilla. “The lyrics were inspired by my relationship with my partner and the intention that we both have to work on healing ourselves in order to make our partnership work,” Davis says.
“I’d like to think that it’s a love song with a strong sense of maturity and understanding to it. And the whole record was really shaped around that idea of my relationships and experiences stemming from my own sense of self-love and my desire to live and create from an authentic place.”
The albums feature co-writes from McCannell, Kyla Charter and Toronto production house Safe Spaceship Music, in addition to horn and background vocal arrangements by composer La-Nai Gabriel. Musicians include Heather Crawford on guitar, McCannell on bass, Adrian Hogan on keys, de Villa on drums, Juan Carlos Medrano on percussion, Aphrose, Tegan Michelle Gordon and Chynna Lewis on background vocals, and brass by The Northern Soul Horns.
The album was recorded in one week, live off the floor to a tape machine by engineer Braden Sauder in a converted garage studio in Toronto owned by the renowned instrumental jazz/hip-hop group BadBadNotGood. “Using an analog process is all about capturing the vibe of a performance, it’s a practice in giving up the idea of perfection and tapping into the moment when you’re recording.”
Carving out her reputation as a powerhouse frontwoman and background vocalist in the Toronto scene, Davis previously fronted retro-funk ensemble Yuka, sharing the stage with The Dap-Kings, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Treme Brass Band and The Souljazz Orchestra. She has also established herself as a go-to background vocalist for all things soul, performing with Martha Reeves, Sharon Jones, Jully Black, Charlotte Day Wilson, Jessie Reyez and Daniel Caesar. Stepping out on her own as a solo artist, Davis teamed up with producer and Yuka bandmate McCannelll to write and record her debut EP Thrive in 2021.”
