Let’s be honest, life is quite the lady, she constantly throws us puzzles, especially when we have to choose between what’s familiar and safe, and what the heart says, even if it goes against everything we were taught as children. In those moments, a real storm brews inside, on one side the voice of tradition, the expectations of family and society, on the other the quiet but persistent whisper of one’s own truth. Hannah Rooth, the lead singer of the trio highly sensitive gays, found herself at such a turning point when she was nineteen.
She stood on the threshold of an adult decision: should she confess her feelings for a girl she couldn’t resist with her heart, or should she continue living by the rules that had been instilled in her since childhood? Her upbringing, evangelical and fundamentalist, left no room for such doubts. But creativity had always been her way of speaking with herself and the world, and it was precisely then that the song “clean” was born. Hannah suggested adding the song to the group’s repertoire, and now, everyone can listen to it.
But before that, let’s get to know highly sensitive gays a little better. Their name might sound a bit delicate at first, but if you stay, even for just one song, something inside will shift. Highly sensitive gays is a trio of guitarists and close friends: Hannah Rooth, Mark Charles Smith, and Reilly Brown. They live and create in Los Angeles, and met in the support group Inner Oasis, where they learned to speak honestly, feel deeply, and trust the inner flow of inspiration. Their music is subtle, alive, and sincere. And the single “clean” is vivid proof of that.
There isn’t a trace of showy gloss in this song. The trembling opening chords and soft, gentle vocals create the atmosphere of a warm conversation between two friends. Gradually, other instruments join in, as if more guests are quietly entering the room one by one. And just when it seems everything is in place, a guitar solo breaks out, sharp and piercing, like a flash of light in the darkness, tearing through the silence and leaving behind a shiver. “clean” is quiet confidence born of experience, an honest conversation, just voice and guitar, something stubbornly alive can be felt. Turn on “clean” if you want to go through the full spectrum of emotions.
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