Singer/songwriter, producer Cautious Clay has shared “Wildfire,” a track off his debut album Deadpan Love due out on June 25 via The Orchard. The song explores the fact that people’s intentions sometimes get lost in translation,” says Cautious. “Good intention is not always enough to prevent people’s emotions and insecurities from spiraling. Subtle signals or cues can unintentionally ignite emotions—like a brush fire.”

Deadpan Love, which includes previously released singles “Karma & Friends,” “Roots,” “Dying In The Subtlety,” and “Agreeable,” wraps influences from R&B, hip hop and indie pop in Cautious’ trademark sophisticated songwriting and jazz- and blues-inflected instrumentation. The album finds Cautious collaborating with a host of notable co-writers including Tobias Jesso Jr. (Adele, HAIM), Jim-E Stack (Caroline Polachek, Empress Of), Daniel Nigro (Olivia Rodrigo, FINNEAS), Jesse Shatkin (Sia, Kelly Clarkson), Ammar Malik (Maroon 5, Halsey) and Sir Nolan (Shawn Mendes, Selena Gomez), plus a collaboration with Chicago rapper Saba.

“Deadpan Love explores the ways I cope with the worst of what humanity has to offer,” says Cautious. “It’s about opposites—having an outer layer that’s tougher, this ‘deadpan’ state, and an inner layer of compassion, where you’re open to being there for the people you care about. It’s this warring compassion and cynicism that has empowered me to express myself through this medium.”

Cautious Clay is currently in production on the second season of the critically acclaimed Forest Whitaker drama “Godfather of Harlem.” Reprising his role as the leader of the Geechee Band from the first season, he will appear throughout the season and is working on original music for the show.

Cautious Clay’s recent single “Cheesin’” saw him team up with Claud, Remi Wolf, Still Woozy, Sophie Meiers, Melanie Faye and HXNS—to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Cautious Clay
Deadpan Love
Tracklist

1. High Risk Travel
2. Shook
3. Karma & Friends
4. Strange Love (feat. Saba)
5. Box of Bones
6. Agreeable
7. Dying In The Subtlety
8. Why Is Your Clay So Cautious?
9. Artificial Irrelevance
10. Whoa
11. Wildfire
12. Spinner
13. Roots
14. Bump Stock