Clelia, the artist, emerges from the salt air tranquility of Cape Charles, Virginia, with the makings of a musician whose road to the recording studio has all the earmarks of a masterclass in perseverance and the inspirational discovery of a voice that was meant to be heard. On January 23rd, Clelia announced her arrival with the release of “holy water,” a single that serves as both baptism and confessional. It is not often that one discovers a debut single with the ease and poise of this one, and the spiritual weight of the music. I invite you to step aside for a moment of quiet contemplation, set aside the burdens of the world, and let me guide you through the crystal depths of a journey that has been worth every step of the way.

The composition starts with a fragile and skeletal theme that is reminiscent of sunlight passing through glass, but it is immediately and viscerally real in its sharp and rhythmic breathing. This is the human element that provides a bridge of pure vulnerability before music is fully present. As this initial music recedes into the background, Clelia’s performance is present with a soft and undeniable authority. Her voice is a soft and fluttery instrument that is both otherworldly and grounded all at once. Her voice has a magnetic pull that draws one in with the weight of a whisper. It is a performance that does not have to be loud to be heard, but its very softness demands one’s complete and undivided attention from the very first note.

For many years, Clelia has been on a journey through a personal wilderness, emerging from the darkness of cult recovery and the daily dedication to sobriety and personal healing. In the solitude of that experience, often unseen and misunderstood by a world too consumed with its own noise to pay attention, Clelia has come to realize that she has found solace and purpose through one thing: the music. Not only has writing and making music given Clelia an outlet for artistic expression, but it has also given her life purpose.

In a world where the aspiration to become a recording artist feels more and more like a mirage on the horizon, Clelia’s tale is a much-needed dose of fresh air and reality. Her own journey began in a way she never could have expected, in a corner of Nashville, Tennessee, all the way back in 2017—no stage or microphone in sight, but behind a camera for a photographer at a local Airbnb event. In the marrow of a music-driven metropolis, she discovered that the route to artistry wasn’t only possible, but alive and breathing. While modern industry might focus intently on the spectacle of sold-out stadiums and armor of large entourages, Clelia’s path was decidedly quieter, decidedly more radical. For her, it was never really about the chase of grandeur or the fleeting glow of fame; it was always about the chase of intimacy. She was drawn to the sacred space between the speaker and the everyday listener, those seeking small moments of genuine human connection in the static of everyday life. This personal vision was her guiding light, and in 2019, she found her anchor in taking a cross-country journey that redefined sacrifice in the name of craft.

So if you are looking for music that embodies the spirit of wanderlust, the ruggedness of self-discovery, and the untamed splendor of self-expression, then you are in the right place with Clelia’s latest release. There is something quite untamed and pure about the track “holy water” that rises above the din of the music industry, giving the listener a glimpse of the soul of this artist, who has clearly traversed great distances both physically and emotionally to tune in to her own wavelength. I have instantly connected with the sincerity of this track, and it is an absolute privilege to work with someone of this caliber of skill and determination. This is just the beginning of what promises to be an incredible journey, and I look forward with great anticipation to hearing the rest of her story.

Stream “Holy Water” on Spotify

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