ben clemo – “Everything Looks Strange On TV”
Reality Through Static: Ben Clemo’s “Everything Looks Strange On TV”
Ben Clemo’s Everything Looks Strange On TV feels less like a traditional single and more like a snapshot of a moment where everything stopped making sense. There’s an immediacy to it that comes from necessity rather than ambition, as if the song existed before the decision to release it was even made. It captures that unsettling sensation of watching the world unfold from a distance, aware that something is deeply wrong but unable to fully process it.
The track was shaped alongside Clemo’s closest collaborators, Spiritparty and Blakey, who took on production duties and helped transform an initially fragile idea into something fully formed. Their contribution is subtle but essential. The production never overwhelms the core emotion, instead giving it space to expand, adding depth and clarity without sanding down its rough edges. What emerges feels intentional yet instinctive, guided by trust rather than overthinking.
Everything Looks Strange On TV balances cool synthpop textures with a vocal performance that leans firmly into rock territory. The synths create an eerie, almost detached atmosphere, while Clemo’s voice cuts through with urgency and tension. There are echoes of The Cure and The Smiths in the emotional tone and melodic choices, but the track avoids nostalgia. It feels rooted in the present, shaped by anxiety, confusion, and a need to respond creatively to what’s happening right now.
The recording process adds another layer of intimacy. Much of the song was captured while Clemo was lying on the floor of a bedroom in Barry, a detail that somehow makes perfect sense when you hear it. There’s a closeness and vulnerability in the performance that feels unfiltered, as if the song was recorded in the exact emotional position it came from.
Ultimately, Everything Looks Strange On TV doesn’t try to explain itself or offer comfort. It simply reflects a distorted reality back at the listener, trusting that the feeling alone is enough.