slothtrop's artists
Clay Bell
Smart PowerPop
clay - [kley]-noun- a natural earthy material that is plastic when wet, consisting essentially of hydrated silicates of aluminum: used for making bricks, pottery, etc.
bell - [bel]-noun- a hollow instrument of cast metal, typically cup-shaped with a flaring mouth, suspended from the vertex and rung by the strokes of a clapper, hammer, or the like.
Clay Bell - [kley-bel]-noun- a songwriter and guitarist of remarkable skill from Northern California who has enjoyed a wide variety of success in his career. He performs what Billboard Magazine calls, "Smart Powerpop" and, Unsigned Music Magazine raved about his CD 'she and i' comparing the songwriting to Bob Dylan mixed with the feel good vibe of the Monkees.
Clays upcoming release on Slothtrop records “Above the Heavens and Moonlight” is a stripped down affair mostly featuring Clay's beautiful voice and his stellar guitar playing. Produced by Clay and Shea Scott and recorded in gorgeous analog at Scott's Klickitat Band Camp in Portland, Oregon this CD is an intimate look into the heart of songwriting and a strong example of how effective and affecting great songs can be.
Born into a musical family Clay Bell first toured the United States at age 5 playing the spoons in his parents folk band. Before he could legally drive he was singing and playing guitar in nightclubs. Bell's first CD was picked up by Polygram/Ardent (home of Big Star among others) and nationally distributed. He has enjoyed national airplay, and has seen music supervisors place his songs on MTV and Much Music. In 2006 he was featured in a National print ad for Taylor Guitars.
Though Clay has toured extensively through North America and has played the most prestigious music festivals including: SXSW in Austin, NXNE in Toronto, NXNW in Portland, Crossroads in Memphis, International Pop Overthrow in LA and CMJ in New Orleans. These days he prefers to stick closer to home stating, "I love to play places like the Cannery, here the World comes to you". That doesn't mean you won't be seeing him at venues across the country, he's just a little more picky these days. With skills and music like this he can afford to be.
