Perth based acclaimed composer and producer Paul Frazer Clarke has just released his first solo album, “Backstories for a Soundtrack to Life,” marking a significant milestone in his illustrious 38-year music career.
Clarke, whose professional journey spans major label signings and influential roles in shaping the music industry, has crafted an album that draws on his rich and diverse musical background. His career highlights include:
• Signings with Epic Records and Edel Records as a recording artist in the UK
• Writing contracts with Warner Chappell and MCA Music
• Co-writing and producing “On a Quest for Intelligence” under the artist name Fast Floor in 1994, widely recognized as the first album in the Drum ‘n’ Bass genre
• Producing numerous pop artists in both the UK and Australia
• A 25-year tenure as a writer/producer for Sonoton Music, Europe’s largest independent library music company, composing for high-profile shows and networks including The Oprah Winfrey Show, National Geographic, and the BBC
“Backstories for a Soundtrack to Life” showcases Clarke’s ability to blend diverse musical influences, featuring collaborations with artists from Western Australia, the U.S., U.K., and Europe.
The album’s artwork, designed by Dunsborough-based artist Dune Haggar, further emphasizes its strong Western Australian connection.
Clarke describes the album as a musical journey through his career influences: “I’ve simply tried to imagine what it would be like to create tunes with certain artists and then experiment with the outcomes. Sting, George Duke, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Ozric Tentacles, the Deep House genre, PM Dawn and many others, all get a run-out!”
The album features an impressive lineup of collaborators, including:
• Double Grammy Award-winning pedal steel guitarist Lucky Oceans
• Australian Idol & The Voice finalist Sharin Attamimi
• Naim Cortazzi of Fun Loving Criminals
• American EDM star Virginia Slimm
• Emerging artists such as Georgia-based singer/writer Clxrityy and Perth-based singer/writer Castle Hughes
Recorded and mixed by Patrick Carre and Clarke at Artisan Music Studios in Western Australia between February 2023 and March 2024, the album was produced by Clarke with additional engineering by Simon “Lord” Groves.
The album -as anticipated – has a strong WA flavour with several musicians and collaborators being based in and around the Perth area.
“Backstories for a Soundtrack to Life” was released in late September and has already gained positive reactions from all over the world. Check out Instagram Account @paulfrazerclarke
