Miami R&B singer Steven A. Clark dropped his sophomore release today, Fornication Under Consent of the King, as in you know, like the F-word. That F-word. The local musician is currently gaining momentum as an emotional voice of his generation alongside crooners like Frank Ocean.
Clark says that he was quiet growing up, reserved, and a 2006 move to Miami from North Carolina offered him the chance to party and let loose. Despite the transition to our cynical corner of the globe, our interview with Clark proved he remains a romantic and an idealist.
He's prepping to shoot videos for "Seashore" and two other singles with photographer and videographer UnkleLuc (the other Uncle Luke). He'll soon start promoting the album with live shows and is recording with the online music video series, Shaking Through. We grilled Clark about his affection for P.M. Dawn, whether he's always in love or breaking up, and Ian Curtis, of course.
Side note: Oddly enough, Steven A. Clark has never been to the Stephen P. Clark Government Center in downtown Miami. We encouraged him to go down there and film a video.
New Times: Are you nervous or excited about your album's release today?
Steven A. Clark: I've been ready for a long time to put this out. I think I'm more ready at this point than nervous. A little bit of that. But I have complete faith in it.
I was just listening to it, and the first song, "F.U.C.K. Pt 1," it has a real P.M. Dawn sound to it, and I think your singing sounds a little like Seal. The album has a nineties sound. Do you remember the nineties?
I grew up in the nineties. That's probably my biggest influence musically. I love P.M. Dawn. P.M. Dawn is one of my favorite acts of all time. I know they didn't have the most glamorous career. Seal is amazing too. Lot of nineties.
Were you in high school in the nineties?
I was a kid.
It's interesting, 'cause, there's a lot of music now that takes its cues from that decade, especially hip-hop and R&B. How do you think your music takes this influence and makes it more modern?
I think what makes it modern nowadays is that influences from R&B from different decades come together. Like eighties, nineties, some artists inspired by the seventies and sixties. I think all of that stuff together is what makes it modern. Pulling from every influence that you have. It's not limited.
