DayClean music offers self therapy
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 7:24PM By Anna Douglas
douglasa@thejohnsonian.com
Photo courtesy of DayClean.
Marcus Thomas describes his music as therapy for himself.
However, the socially-aware lyrics and warm strings of DayClean, Thomas’s duo, make for therapy for the listener.
DayClean will play Sept. 4 at 10:30 p.m. at McHale’s in downtown Rock Hill. Thomas, who plays guitar and sings, and Idris Chandler, who plays cello, are from Columbia.
Songs, such as “Talk to You,” reflect on being black in a predominately white school and have an R&B feel that showcases Thomas’ rapping.
The vocals are a little bit of Drake, a little Jay-Z and a lot of Wyclef Jean (only not as heavily produced).
Lines, such as “They leave me out they history books but then they try to make it up by cramming it in a month,” give listeners insight into how Thomas felt growing up.
Other songs, such as “Why Not Try,” have a slower, more spiritual feel with lyrics such as “Push all that hate to the side, we’re just people, and at the foot of the cross, we’re all equal.”
Chandler and Thomas are both middle school teachers and formed their musical alliance after meeting in church.
Chandler said he’d always been drawn to Thomas’ style of playing, and adding in cello just seemed to work.
The classically-trained cellist brings something to the duo’s music that other neo-soul and R&B groups simply don’t have.
The cello “speaks to your heart,” Chandler said.
Fans can pick up “Morning Comes” at the McHale’s show or on iTunes. The duo will play cover songs and tracks from their summer release “Morning Comes.”
