In the wake of the emotional depth explored on his 2021 debut album Deadpan Love, and streamlined on its jazzier 2023 follow-up KARPEH, Cautious Clay’s newly released third album seems impossibly simple. The Hours: Morning is precisely what its title suggests: an hour-by-hour breakdown of the songwriter’s daily routine as Clay took root in his new hometown of Philadelphia, with each of its eight songs doubling as abstract interpretations of how the hours between 5 a.m. and noon differ on a molecular level.
The record cover’s orange gradation feels like an apt introduction to the hazy sounds of Morning, which develop like the sun’s position in the sky and the lighting job it gradually does on the Earth. Clay’s mission on these songs was to explore how these different shades of daylight affect our mental states—the way each hour feels, let alone how they make us feel. “Every hour of the day has a distinct feeling to me,” he explains. “Some of the hours feel calm and some of the hours have more energy, but I wanted them to play off of each other based on different experiences I’ve had during those times of day. The particular color of amber used for the album artwork also felt like it encapsulates both the calm early morning and the energy/warmth of the rising sun.”
With the project out today via Concord Records, stream The Hours: Morning below, and read on for a track-by-track breakdown of the record—and an hour-by-hour breakdown of Cautious Clay’s morning.
1. “Tokyo Lift (5am)”
“Tokyo Lift (5am)” is a song I wrote about a time I spent out at a karaoke bar until 5 a.m. Karaoke, for me, is super hit-or-miss because it’s completely dependent upon everyone leaning into their performances and people picking good songs. This particular night was perfect: the music was perfect, the drinks were flowing, and everyone was completely losing track of time. The energy and sonics of this song are something I really wanted to have match the feeling of one of those nights.
2. “No Champagne (6am)”
I was really trying to set an image around defining the difference between expectation versus reality. Being in a space with someone that you care about and understanding what they want out of a relationship versus what you want out of a relationship and getting to the heart of that. When we’re at our worst, how are we translating with that person in a room? When there’s no champagne, when there’s no real reason to celebrate, how are you actually connecting to me? How are we actually connecting to each other? I think that’s the heart of it thematically. In terms of the setting, I wanted it to feel like the morning, kind of warm and bright even though the subject matter might not be—I really like that juxtaposition.
3. “Traffic (7am)”
I wrote this song about blocking out the noise of everyday life for right when I get up. The “traffic” in my head that keeps me from being decisive and clear-headed is what I want to avoid if I have to get up at 7a.m.
4. “The Plot (8am)”
Most mornings I wake up moving pretty slow. So I wrote this song about not losing “the plot,” or the theme, of what I find important to get going. Making sure you have those people in your life you can rely on from time to time. Someone who wanted to change their perspectives on what they valued every day
5. “Promises (9am)”
I wrote this song nine years ago, and it’s been through probably 59 different versions before we got to this one. I felt like I really had to sit with this song to see how it really fit into my creative journey as an artist. I don’t want my morning to be too dramatic, but a lot of times they do end up that way from whatever is going on in my life.
6. “Father Time (10am)”
I feel like by about 10 a.m. everyone is fully locked in on whatever’s going on that day—even if it’s relaxing, you’re doing it at the highest level. I wrote this song about acknowledging how important it is to act and live presently. Father Time is often associated with the aging process, so saying “Father Time is gone” is like saying all of the things one thinks is a part of getting older cannot and should not apply to the life we want to lead or the life that makes us feel most at home.
7. “Amber (11am)”
Amber is a morning color to me, specifically when I’m in London. It reminds me of the time of year in London—specifically in the winter—where it’s sunny but the sun doesn’t go all the way up in the sky, but it’s still morning and people are out.
8. “Smoke Break (12pm)”
Wrote and played this song live. The twelfth take was the one. Plus, I feel like we all need a break, especially when we’re irate or upset about something. Hopefully it’s not that serious, but the afternoon is a perfect time to blow off some steam.
