From stepping offstage last week performing backing vocals at Eurovision: Australia Decides for the revered Kate Miller-Heidke, to stepping out this week with her brand new single You Are (out 19 February), Brisbane folk songstress Monique Clare is counting her blessings and celebrating the relationships that inspire her.

Written last year in Scotland while on tour with The Maes, Monique says You Are was inspired by her relationship at the time, and the enduring connection she feels.

“I was in a relationship at the time with someone who is an objectively fantastic human,” she said.

“The song celebrates that person and how it didn’t matter that we spent the year on opposite ends of the earth, I was still grateful to have them in my life at all. We broke up but stayed friends, and this song is my general ‘thumbs up’ to them.”

A textured piece that features layered strings along with harp, double bass, trumpet and drums, You Are sees Monique indulge her love of composing and arranging, stepping away from the minimalist, stripped back sound of her previous EP By The Stars.

After a jam-packed 2019 that included showcasing at the Folk Alliance International Conference in Montreal, playing renowned festivals and touring the USA, Europe and New Zealand with The Maes, Monique is looking forward to staying put for awhile and working on her full-length album, of which You Are is a stunning preview.

Although there won’t be a music video for this release, Monique is excited to share the colourful single artwork created by her sister Ingrid Bartkowiak, called Moth, Moon, Cockatoo, which has been transformed into three short animations to celebrate the song’s release and it’s heartening message.

“You Are is a reminder to celebrate the people we love for who they are rather than just what the relationship is. It’s about having faith it will all work out regardless of whether you stay in the relationship or not.”

A musical toast to love that endures beyond societal labels, You Are is a poignant piece worthy of repeat listens.

Celebrate the people you love and stream Monique Clare’s inspiring new single You Are exclusively below, before it drops this Wednesday, 19 February.

YOU ARE – MONIQUE CLARE

SONG CREDITS

Production: Liam Malby, Monique Clare
Engineering: Cody McWaters, Luke Woollett
Mastering: Zac Barter

Feature image: Lauren Bartkowiak