When you think of Nashville, country music is the first thing that comes to mind. Yet Cowboy Mughshot’s (aka Cory Clark) musical artistry couldn’t be further from the familiar twang of a George Strait song.
As a child, Cory was always around music. His dad was a singer and drummer, who in later years went on to manage bands.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Cory also pursued a career as a drummer– studying music until he dropped out to tour with rock bands. Formerly, he was the drummer for Flora Cash and toured AJR. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he began learning how to sing and write songs. A year and a half later, his solo career started to take off. He then moved to Nashville to further advance his career, where he found himself a pop-punk/alt artist in country music’s epicentre. Providing more insights on his unique experience he shares, “It’s tough. No one in this town sounds like me, which is both negative and positive. Impossible to get a show here” (Clark, Cory).
In October of last year (at the time of writing), Cory released his vulnerable breakup track, “Cloudy”. As he shares, “I’ve been sitting on this song for a year before releasing it. It’s a different vibe. My producer picks out most of the songs, sometimes the ones I like the least. But I see the potential. I got out of a recent relationship and this song tells that story” (Clark, Cory).
Produced by Ben Zelico and written by Cory himself, “Cloudy” chronicles the end of a relationship, as well as demonstrates how one processes the leftover feelings of love that come with it. Learning to let go is a central theme, as the vocalist & songwriter reflects on what’s working and what isn’t through memories of their time together.
In regards to sound, the track prominently features the drums & guitar (with some distortion). It’s punchy, with an upbeat, fast-paced tempo that accelerates as the song progresses.
According to Cory, the ideal setting to listen to the song is, “Using headphones. It sets the vibe, and you can fully zone out listening to it. Just get lost in the music.” He adds, “Fans will get a little insight into my life, as the song shows a different side of love” (Clark, Cory).
Overall, Cory adds a unique voice to the pop-punk/alt space, and Cloudy does a good job of demonstrating that.
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Clark, Cory. Interview. Conducted by Kyla Pearson, Sept. 2022.
DILL Photos. “Featured: Official cover art for Cowboy Mugshot’s single, “Cloudy”. Credit: DILL Photos.” Graphic courtesy of Cory Clark. Accessed Sept. 2022.
