Keeping travel dreams alive and setting goals has never felt more important. We can all agree that 2020 has been an unfortunate year so far, and almost every facet of daily life has been wrought by this ongoing global pandemic, the start of which now feels like forever ago. The arts has been one of the hardest hit areas, so The AU Review has kickstarted a Q&A series “looking past the pandemic”, encouraging creatives from around the world to share their travel hopes, dreams, and the thoughts or things that are getting them through 2020, while also highlighting essential experiences in their own country.
Mcclendon (Nashville, Tennessee)
Former Painted West member Mcclendon has powered into his solo career with single “Your Love”, setting an exciting stage for forthcoming EP Room 33 with a lovingly crafted, raw and soulful showcase of atmospheric production anchored by vivid, deft lyricism.
We caught up with Mcclendon to look past the pandemic.
When travel opens up completely, the first place I’m going is…
Weirdly I’ve been relatively content, mainly I think because I’m most comfortable in my “cave”
I visited Brooklyn for the first time at the start of the year before everything went chaotic and ever since then I’ve had a major itch to return.
So probably Brooklyn.
Three spots in the USA I think everyone should visit at least once in their life…
I’d be remiss if I didn’t suggest visiting New York. New Orleans for the soul, and of course Nashville for the music.
Whenever I have a visitor in my city and I want to show them a good night out, the first place I take them is…
It definitely would depend on if they’ve been here before. I love this dive bar over in east Nashville that’s been around forever called Dino’s, good drinks and the perfect drunk food i.e. burgers and fries and a Dolly Parton cutout which you can never go wrong with.
The last place I take them is…
Honestly probably down Broadway. Again, unless they’ve never been before then you’d have to walk through Broadway at least once. The boots, the cowboy hats and glitter are a wonder that must be seen lol.
The one international venue I’ve always wanted to play…
Very hard to pick just one but the Paradiso in Amsterdam and the Sydney Opera House have always been at the top of my mind. I remember seeing a video of Nirvana playing the Paradiso from the 90s growing up and it’s forever been stuck in my brain.
The one international destination I’m yet to visit but have always dreamed of…
Anywhere in France honestly, I’ve been trying for the longest time to learn the language adequately enough to record a few songs in French and I’m a ways off I must admit but the goal and dream is still alive.
The three things or thoughts that are getting me through this pandemic…
Definitely the perk of being able to play and make records at my house has kept me sane and focused during the shifts that have happened.
It’s also extremely therapeutic, it’s always the safe place I can turn to when observing the world around me.
I can jump on a certain feeling or thought and I have the means of exporting it so it doesn’t just rattle around in my brain for a few days or weeks.
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For more on Mcclendon follow him on Twitter here and look out for the new EP, Room 33, releasing September 18th 2020.
