Charlie Clark’s Yama Rama beautifully cover ‘Smoky Mountain’ with a haunting delivery. – Backseat Mafia

We are very proud to bring you the new track ‘Smoky Mountain’ from Scottish band Yama Rama, a trio consisting of Charlie Clark (ex-Astrid) and Gill and Craig McIntyre.

‘Smoky Mountain’ was originally written by American songwriter Matthew Teardrop from Los Angeles Punk Rock band Manhattan Murder Mystery. Matt was a regular at Clark’s long running acoustic night, ‘Mad For Sadness’ that he hosted in Echo Park during his time in LA.

It became a set staple on the most recent Yama Rama UK tour so the trio, fresh from the tour, recorded their version with Jason Shaw producing at Fuzzface Studios in Largs, Scotland, Spring 2025.

The track positively bleeds with a burning melancholy, swept on weeping strings: raw and visceral, brutal and heartbreakingly beautiful. Clark imbues every note of his delivery with pain and emotion:

The video to accompany ‘Smoky Mountain’ is footage taken from traditional puppet film called ‘The Pearlman’ using classic round puppet technique made in 2006 by Estonian animator and film director Rao Heidmets.

As usual Clark and his fellow musicians deliver the most intense and beautiful music that reverberates deep in the soul.

The single follows on from the rebirth single ‘Sweat Equity’ released earlier this year after a tumultuous hiatus for Clark (see my review here).

Yama Rama is the project of the highly talented musician (and a favourite of ours here at Backseat Mafia) Clark. It follows a turbulent few years leading to his return to his native Scotland from LA and the release of his fantastic solo album  ‘Late Night Drinking’ (see my review here). There were more trials and tribulations following its release with the death of Clark’s parents, marital separation and a disastrous music festival that bankrupted him.  If there’s one thing about Clark aside from his boundless musical creativity, it’s his tenacity and strength throughout these vicissitudes of life. And if, as they say, great creativity is born from struggle and pain, the work of Clark’s new project Yama Rama is a testament to this.

Feature Photograph: Simon Weller

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