CONWAY — Arlington-reared musician Josh Clauson — the producer of Darrington’s Summer Meltdown music festival and leader of the band Flowmotion — has a new solo album out.
This time, however, his wife and Meltdown production partner, Genevieve, is the lyricist.
Their collaboration has resulted in “Driftless,” which will be released at a party Saturday on her family’s farm near Conway. All fans and those who supported Clauson’s CD project are invited to attend.
Backing Clauson will be a 10-piece band comprised of friends and members of such bands as Polecat, Tellers and Flowmotion.
The concert takes place out by the barns that overlook the fields of Fir Island, where many of the album’s songs were written.
The music starts at 7 p.m. underneath what Meltdown fans know as the Late Night Tent. Clauson’s long-used concert tent has a new moniker now: the Sunset Tent, especially since the weather forecast calls for a nice evening.
Clauson describes “Driftless” as “dream folk.” Think ethereal soundscapes, introspective lyrics and ambient acoustic music. But if you are a Clauson fan, you know his music crosses many genres.
“I think people will find the songs heartfelt and evocative,” Clauson said. “We were inspired in part by where we live, with imagery of the bay and the mountains and the fields, the big moons and the sunsets, the snow geese and so much more.”
Genevieve Clauson is a poetry fan. She earned a degree in English before landing in law school, where she studied to become an immigration lawyer.
“Genevieve wrote the lyrics for all the songs. It’s her first time,” Clauson said. “The process was a lot of fun. Sometimes she would come first with a poem and sometimes I would introduce a melody with some mumbled lyrics that she would refine. This collaboration developed after we were married. It just kind of took shape.
“We feel so fortunate to have done this.”
Following a successful Kickstarter fundraising campaign by Clauson last fall, the album was recorded at Bell Creek Studio near Bellingham with production help from Michael Iris and Aaron Guest.
“It was quite the project, but we are done just under a year from starting,” Clauson said. “It feels like a milestone.”
Clauson said he hopes lots of people come to celebrate the release of “Driftless.”
“Bring your own blanket and beverage and get cozy,” he said.
If you go
Josh Clauson’s “Driftless” CD release party starts at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at Hayton Farm, 16494 Fir Island Road, between Conway and La Conner. Tickets are $20 each. Children get in free. Get tickets in advance at www.eventbrite.com. CDs will be available for sale at the party. Listen to the title track at https://soundcloud.com/joshclauson/driftless. Starting Saturday, the album will be available online at iTunes, Spotify, Amazon or through Clauson’s Facebook page. More at www.joshclauson.com.
Josh and Genevieve Clauson will host their “Driftless” album release party on Sept. 23 at Hayton Farm near Conway.
Josh and Genevieve Clauson sit on the front steps of their home near Conway. (Mark Mulligan / Herald File)
