As a vehicle for the work of multi-instrumentalist, writer, and activist Claire Wellin, Youth in a Roman Field provides her with various avenues to channel the complex folk and indie impulses that seem to constantly echo within her subconscious. Her music is riddled with ornate string arrangements, clever folk interpolations, and an emotional density that belies its sometimes gossamer execution. At a time when genuine sentiment is often overruled by leaden sentimentality, Wellin crafts pointed narratives of heartfelt reflection that can be both ferocious and gentle within the same breath. Through a singular sense of composition, she layers all these musical and lyrical harmonics without sacrificing their individual strengths.
She’s spent time as a member of Brooklyn indie rockers San Fermin and touring mate of Delta Rae — she’s even clocked time as part of the cast of Once the Musical. Wellin draws upon all these experiences in shaping her own sound under the Youth in a Roman Field moniker. And we’re going to be able to hear more of her exquisite stylings as she’s just announced the forthcoming release of a new record, Get Caught Trying, which is due out in November.
She offers lead single “Nightswims” as mantle bearer for the new album. Filled with gently coaxed strings, acoustic guitar, and subtle percussive flourishes, the track is a gorgeous late evening exploration of anger, frustration, and the fading hope of emotional connection in a world saturated by digital footprints. But there is a light here, dim though it may be, that calls out to us, beckoning us to come close and share in its glow. Wellin looks at the ways in which we have become separated by technology and seeks out how we might overcome this physical disconnect.
“I wrote ‘Nightswims’ in the fall of 2016 and winter of 2017, in my apartment in Queens,” explains Wellin. “It explores the difficulties of creating and sustaining intimacy in a digitalized world, expressing the disappointment, rage, and sadness I was, and still am, feeling about the realities of life in America. I am a heavy yet restless sleeper and have had absolutely insane dreams for as long as I can remember, many of which involve water in various creative and terrifying ways. These dreams intensified during a deep, dark heartbreak that happened to coincide with the general timing of the 2016 election (haha) and have continued ever since. This is by far the darkest song from our new record, and is special as it was the breaking point from which my writing, and the rest of the album, transformed into an exploration of the thread between myself and the women who came before me, bringing healing and lightness in the process. We are now once again in a ‘darkest before the dawn’ moment, and releasing the song now is an acknowledgement that we are in pain, we are in trouble, and we will only get through it together.”
She continues: “This is the only song on the new album that was recorded before the pandemic, and therefore the only song we recorded live as a band. It’s also special because there was a significant amount of structural input from each member of the band. We gathered at Virtue & Vice studios in Brooklyn, NY with my co-producer and dear friend Allen Tate and played it live for pretty much the first time that day, recording in a few hours in one room. Little did we know it’d be the last time we would record together for a very, very long time.”
Listen to the song below.
We had chance to speak briefly with Wellin about the work that went into the creation of her new song and how past experiences have shaped her perspective as a solo artist. You can read our conversation below.
You’ve had such an interesting and eclectic background in music, writing, and activism. How have your past musical experiences affected the way you approach music as a solo artist, specifically with regards to your time performing with San Fermin, Delta Rae, and in Once the Musical?
Wellin: Oh wow, I have been influenced by these things in so many ways! The first is that I’ve been made such a better musician by these opportunities, both technically and from a performance standpoint. Being around other creatives is illuminating and inspiring, and I’ve written a lot of music while being surrounded by others who do the same because of it. The most fun and challenging thing has been to learn, both through playing/singing other’s songs and talking about music with past and current collaborators, is how others approach songwriting and arranging. Hearing about and experiencing other perspectives firsthand has stretched me as a musician overall – and I’ve had to practice and work towards playing and singing things that I would never write for myself or think I’m capable of nailing. And in the end, it’s always at least a valiant effort! It’s also been fun to see the ways in which these communities intertwine and continue to build on & support one another. It’s a small world in the end, which is nice.
We’re premiering your new song, “Nightswims”, today, and it’s a gorgeous bit of ambient-leaning acousticism — a folk-pop song lost in the blurry margins of its own memories. Can you tell us a little bit about the song and what inspired you to write it?
Thank you!! I wrote “Nightswims” in the fall of 2016 and winter of 2017, in my apartment in Queens. It’s about the difficulties of creating and sustaining intimacy in a digitalized world, expressing the disappointment, rage, and sadness I was (and still am) feeling about the realities of life in America. I am a heavy sleeper and have had absolutely insane dreams for as long as I can remember, many of which involve water in various creative (and terrifying) ways. These dreams intensified during a deep heartbreak that happened to coincide with the general timing of the 2016 election (haha) and have continued ever since. So that’s the place I was in while writing it. I would basically sit on my balcony every night for weeks and play it, because it’s the only thing that made me feel better. It’s the darkest song from our new record, and is special as it was the breaking point from which my writing, and the rest of the album, transformed into an exploration of the thread between myself and the women who came before me, which thankfully brought healing and lightness in the process. It feels like we are in a prolonged ‘darkest before the dawn’ moment, though I’m still not sure there’s a dawn, I guess. So it was relevant then and is relevant now – releasing it as the first single feels like an acknowledgement that we are still in pain, we are still in trouble, and we can only get through it together.
Who are some of your biggest sonic influences?
Oh boy, so many. I happened to see Andrew Bird play recently (for the fourth time) and it’s hard to imagine where I’d be as a musician without his influence & example. The other artist that has majorly influenced me is Laura Marling, whom I’ve seen half a dozen times and has brought me the closest to a ‘spiritual experience’ as I believe I’m capable of having! Other major folk influences are Nick Drake, Anais Mitchell, Bon Iver, Joanna Newsom, and Punch Brothers. In terms of the broader influence on my writing and sonic palette, Kate Bush – I mean, none of us who create in this weird genre-bendy world would be here without Kate Bush!! Radiohead, The Beatles, and The Books are also up there at the top. I’ve also had so much jazz influence over the years – Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, and Ella Fitzgerald specifically, and I don’t think Youth in a Roman Field exists without my classical and choral background. The music of Ravel, Debussy, Bartok, Dvorak, and Eric Whitacre shaped and inspired me from a very young age … it’s all in there somewhere! I have also begun to learn more about and realize how influenced I am by folk musics from around the world that have shaped so many of us – Klezmer, Mariachi, Hardanger, Celtic, and of course so much of American Folk Music and the Blues came directly from black folks who built our country.
Youth in a Roman Field’s new album Get Caught Trying is due out November 11 via Better Company Records/The Orchard. Follow the band on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
