George Clanton aka Esprit Fantasy aka CHINA is an American electronic musician and singer-songwriter born 1988 in Ridgeway, Virginia. He is known for his involvement with the vaporwave music scene and he established his independent record label 100% Electronica in 2015, and in 2019 launched the first vaporwave music festival, 100% ElectroniCON. Growing up going to punk rock shows, Clanton's music career kicked off when he discovered the music of neo-psychedelic band The Brian Jonestown Massacre, whose leader Anton Newcombe is cited by Clanton as being one of his main influences. George Clanton's music has been described as a fusion of electropop, trip-hop and vaporwave, while also using elements of grunge, acid house and shoegaze. His 2018 album Slide attracted rave reviews, with critics noting the music's revival of the dreamier parts of the music scene of the '90s, borrowing mostly from synthpop, but with traces of shoegaze, electro-dance and melodic breakbeats. Standout album releases to-date include 200% Electronica (2017) which was released under the name Esprit Fantasy, 100% Electronica (2015), Slide (2018), and Ooh Rap I Ya (2023). In terms of his musical approach Clanton has explained how he taps into nostalgia to highten the listener's sensory experience. His process involves searching for the right melodies and textures to come upon a sound that strikes a spiritual chord. “I’m looking for something that triggers a memory or an emotion,” he says. His lyrics are direct transmissions from his soul: raw, often off-the-cuff, evocative. When you pair those words with the gauzy textures he's known for, his music feels like a dreamy filter you can put over your own memories. "Every moment feels a little more colorful, a little more comforting." In 2015 Clanton established his record label 100% Electronica along with his girlfriend, fellow musical artist Negative Gemini. He and Negative Gemini aka Neggy Gemmy both hail from Virginia and played their first show together in 2011 along with other artists such as Skylar Spence. In 2019, they launched 100% Electronicon, the first vaporwave music festival. Clanton has a degree in anthropology and taught himself computer programming in order to create virtual interactive experiences for his record label.
Artist Website:
Featured Albums:
Related Artists:
Collections:
