Vancouver’s Slightest Clue is like the secret after-school project of four kids who would have passed each other without a glance in the hallway at school, but once they’re plugged in and ready to play their distinct blend of post-punk, alternative rock, and dark pop, all bets are off. 

Produced by Matt Di Pomponio, their new EP, Carousel, is inspired by the beginning, middle and end of a formative romantic relationship, spanning the trajectory from love to this loss of connection.

The closing track “Carousel” marks the ultimate bittersweet reflection with unique harmonic layers to portray those contrasting emotions, shifting between grand and quiet tones.

Each member—Malcolm McLaren, Hannah Kruse, Sean Ries, Nick Sciarretta—brings distinct influences and experiences: a stage actor whose playlists go from Talking Heads to Sonic Youth to Björk, a hook-obsessed recovering choir girl, an electrical engineer whose personal idol is John Bonham, and a guitarist who played for (and left) 10 other bands before deciding this was the one for him.