Clayton Chaney Looks Ahead with His New Single “Too Far” [Premiere]

Songwriting as an art form can mean so many different things to different people; you just have to discover what it means to you. For Clayton Chaney, songwriting is something very meaningful and cathartic. It’s a time when he can connect with himself and discover that balance between the light and the dark.

Chaney is in a reflective mood today with the premiere of his new single “Too Far.” It’s the title track to his forthcoming album (due out February 27th via Rock Ridge Music), which promises to be full of different sounds, moods, and influences. “Too Far” is the album closer, a classy, laid-back, meditative song where you feel like you’re sitting by a fireplace, hearing Chaney pour his heart out. The song grapples with the idea of dreams not coming true, but at the same time, not letting that consume us or bring us down. It is like an honest moment where you feel bad, but you’re able to see the glimmer of light within the clouds above. For the most part, the song is just Chaney stripping things down to vocals and guitar, a nice way to close out an album full of different sounds and tones.

Discussing the song and its purpose, Chaney tells us:

“‘Too Far’ will be the closing track and title track on my upcoming album. It is a stark contrast to my last single and opening track, ‘When the Light Comes In.’ While the album begins with an upbeat and optimistic gospel tune, it closes with a song saturated with sadness and uncertainty. ‘Too Far’ was written in an afternoon on the heels of a depressive episode where I had come to a realization that I spend a lot of time wishing I was somewhere else doing something else. I am prone to thinking that I missed a connection in life somewhere that would have sent me down a more successful path. There’s often this nagging feeling that I’m supposed to be doing more or doing better. I think this is a common feeling for a lot of people that is usually suppressed.

“Writing ‘Too Far’ allowed me to acknowledge, confess, and confront that feeling. Rather than getting stuck in that emotion of longing to be elsewhere, I am able to stay grounded in the present moment when I sing the lyrics. I relinquish what is beyond me and embrace what is directly in front of me. I’m especially proud of ‘Too Far’ because it does not heavily rely on production, arrangement, or other players. It’s just me and my guitar with a bit of fiddle and organ in the distance. The song came out of a very sad place, but it somehow gives me hope for a better one.”

Chaney’s songs come in so many wide varieties. His songs feature themes of love, loss, faith, humility, humour, and most of all, honesty. Originally from Arkansas, Chaney has been writing songs professionally for nearly 20 years. Rather than try to reinvent the wheel, he chooses to keep his process simple. His songwriting is driven by his heartfelt approach, with songs based on real life and real human experiences. There’s a universality to them, which makes him a musician who is easy to like.

As an album, Too Far will feature moments of humour and wit, along with more serious ones. The theme of the album is about growing older and the things you learn along the way. Now a husband and a father approaching his 40th birthday, his songs often represent specific life lessons. Too Far is also cautionary, warning about living life too far in the past or the future. It’s best not to dwell on mistakes or look too far ahead to what we can’t know for sure is coming. It’s important to keep things realistic and measured, lessons Chaney knows from experience and ones that he is eager to share with his audience.

Clayton Chaney “Too Far” single artwork