George Clanton

George Wayland Clanton Jr. (born January 12, 1988), also known by the monikers Mirror Kisses, ESPRIT 空想, CHINA, and Kid's Garden, is an American electronic musician and singer-songwriter that emerged from the vaporwave music scene in the early 2010s. He established his independent record label 100% Electronica in 2015, and in 2019 launched the first vaporwave music festival, 100% ElectroniCON.

Biography George Clanton was born in Ridgeway, Virginia. He grew up going to punk rock shows. His career began when he accidentally downloaded a misnamed Brian Jonestown Massacre song, which led him down an Internet rabbit hole where he discovered "a whole new world of music" which inspired him to write and release his own under the pseudonym Mirror Kisses, and later ESPRIT 空想 (“fantasy” in Japanese). He decided to start using his real name before releasing his 2015 album 100% Electronica, because "[he] didn't want to release one more album as Mirror Kisses", and he "hated saying 'Mirror Kisses' every time someone asked [him his] band name." He tried to make a sequel to 100% Electronica for three years but felt that he failed, because he wasn't able to find the sound he wanted for it. After giving up, he started experimenting and writing stuff for fun and felt that the "songs [were writing] themselves". Eventually, this material transformed into his next album, Slide, released in 2018, where he incorporated electric guitar and acoustic drums as well. In 2020, he would release a collaborative studio album with Nick Hexum, titled George Clanton & Nick Hexum. Prior to headlining a tour in 2021, Clanton would release the track "Fucking Up My Life", which would later become the lead single for his third studio album Ooh Rap I Ya, released two years later. Further, in 2024, a collaborative album with TV Girl would be released titled Fauxllennium.

In 2015 he established his record label 100% Electronica along with his then-girlfriend, now wife, fellow musical artist Neggy Gemmy (Lindsey French). He and 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 streams his live performances regularly on Twitch and YouTube.

Clanton has a degree in anthropology and taught himself computer programming in order to create virtual interactive experiences for his record label.

Songwriting and style George Clanton's music has been described as a fusion of electropop, trip hop, and vaporwave, and hypnagogic pop. Clanton noted that unlike some vaporwave artists, he does not try to be "ironic" or "silly with his lyrics", and prefers to "write great pop songs that are representative of an emotion that [he] actually [feels] when [he's] singing them." Vaporwave is primarily an instrumental genre, which contradicts Clanton's use of vocals. His only conscious attempt at the genre was with the ESPRIT 空想 side project. Clanton collaborated with 311's Nick Hexum on several songs which they released in 2019,

Discography

As George Clanton 100% Electronica (2015) Slide (2018) George Clanton & Nick Hexum (2020; collaborative album with Nick Hexum) Ooh Rap I Ya (2023) Fauxllennium (2024; collaborative album with TV Girl)

As ESPRIT 空想 「Girls Only」 (EP; 2012) Summer Night (EP; 2013) Relax™ (2013) Virtua.zip (2014) 200% Electronica (2017)

As Mirror Kisses Soaking Wet (2008) Dance Decree / Light Hearted (2009) Bad Dreams (2012) Heartbeats (2013)

As Kid's Garden

Further (2007) Lord, Amen (2009) Don't Call Me Yours (2011) DARLING (2014)

As CHINA

Follow Me (2016) Strong (2016)