Half A Chance don’t want to talk about their Little Problems in their intimate and personal new pop-rock single — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
For married music partners Joey Clarkson and Peter Dixon, trying to bring a little bundle of joy into the world has been challenging. While the discourse, attitudes, and sensitivity towards the issue remain sadly problematic, the duo have addressed the issue head-on with this smart and engaging single.
Clarkson, who has been trying to have a child with Dixon since 2019, says Little Problems was originally a cathartic means to address their own situation. “It was a therapeutic exercise in the midst of a brutal year for my physical and mental health,” she says. “The song fell out quickly, and so did my tears. I somehow made it through cohesively enough for Peter to tell me that it can’t just be a song for us — the very reason that I didn’t want to share the song was the reason it was so important to do so — and that we needed to finish it and release it.”
“Moments in, I knew it was special; the context of the lyrics was out there, but I felt the honesty needed to be conveyed,” says Dixon, who co-wrote the song. “Singers always sing about heartbreak or gloss over negative feelings with a happy, ‘fluffy’ song, so I thought it was right to go ahead and be honest, even if it is a bit awkward putting it all out on the line.”
Clarkson says the song is the perfect reply by those who are constantly asked questions about when or if a couple is having children from friends or family who don’t consider the ramifications of what they might consider thoughtful questions.
“In the heat of the moment, we’re faced with a really difficult question: Answer the question and out ourselves, or make the person asking the question feel incredibly uncomfortable by telling them how inappropriate it is to ask,” she says. “The people making these comments rarely do so from a place of ill intent, but that doesn’t change the negative impact they can have when they are thrown around so carelessly.
“This isn’t just a song about infertility; it’s a song about taking back control and challenging the entitlement people feel to conversations surrounding infertility and family planning, through the lens of lived experience. This song is for anyone who’s ever felt like they were stripped of their own right to share information about their fertility or family planning on their own terms, and for the people in their lives who have taken that autonomy away from them.”
Little Problems was produced by Tyler Spicer at Namm Studios in Trowbridge, mixed by Todd Peterson in Nashville, and mastered by the Grammy-nominated Sam Moses at Nashville’s Moses Mastering. Clarkson provides strong vocals reminiscent of Chrissie Hynde and Stevie Nicks, while Dixon adds backing vocals and plays bass and sax. Little Problems is fleshed out by cornet Catriona Christie and trombonist David Huntriss.
Clarkson was born in Comox Valley, B.C, while Dixon hails from England. He was a saxophonist for the Band Of The Scots Guard while also a bassist in the group The Blue Highways. Clarkson, meanwhile, has been a singer-songwriter with 17 years under her belt releasing music that’s aired on the CBC, BBC Radio and London Live TV.
Check out Little Problems above and below, and join Half A Chance on their website, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
