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United States Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, founded by Alec Ounsworth, transitioned from an indie blogosphere phenomenon to an internationally recognized musical act, consistently delivering acclaimed albums while maintaining independent control over their music.
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Request A ShowClap Your Hands Say Yeah partnered with The Orchard for North American distribution. This collaboration aimed to expand the band's reach and distribution network for their music within the region.
The band signed a U.S. distribution deal for one of their albums with ADA, a division of Warner Music Group. This partnership provided them with broader access to physical and digital retail channels across the United States.
After independently releasing their debut album in the US, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah licensed the album to Wichita Recordings for distribution in other parts of the world. This allowed the band to maintain direct distribution in the US while expanding their global presence.
The song "Sunshine and Clouds (And Everything Proud)" from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's debut album was featured in advertising for Microsoft Xbox.
The song "Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood" was used in a Visa advertisement.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah released their fourth album, "Only Run," directly in the US and through Xtra Mile Recordings for the rest of the world. This arrangement supported their independent model while ensuring international distribution.
Alec Ounsworth released his solo album "Mo Beauty" through Anti- records. This collaboration supported his individual artistic endeavors outside of the band's primary releases.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah entered into a distribution and administration deal with Secretly Distribution for their album "New Fragility," consolidating worldwide rights.
The band also secured an administration deal with Domino Publishing for their album "New Fragility," managing the publishing aspects of their music.
Kid Koala collaborated on the album 'Only Run', contributing to its distinct sound.
Matt Berninger, vocalist for The National, collaborated on tracks for the album 'Only Run'.
Improv pianist-composer Mike Garson (known for work with David Bowie, NIN) contributed to the track 'Adam's Plane' on the album Hysterical.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah toured the US with The National early in their career, helping to establish their live presence.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah toured the US with Dr. Dog, another indie rock group.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah went on US tours with Architecture In Helsinki, and also released a joint EP.
Alec Ounsworth participated in Walter Martin's Parents' Choice award-winning album "We're All Young Together", promoting alternative music for children.
Alec Ounsworth contributed backing vocals to The Walkmen's album 'Lisbon'.
Alec Ounsworth collaborated with German electronic artist Claptone as a featured vocalist and co-writer on tracks 'Ghost' and 'Animal'.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah emerged in the early 2000s as an American indie rock band, originating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Brooklyn, New York. The original lineup included singer-songwriter Alec Ounsworth, Sean Greenhalgh, Robbie Guertin, Lee Sargent, and Tyler Sargent. Ounsworth now performs under the band’s name as a solo artist. The band gained early attention through online music blogs, becoming a prominent act in the “blog rock” era. Their independent approach involved self-releasing their self-titled debut album in 2005, hand-delivering copies to stores in New York and Philadelphia. This grassroots strategy, coupled with early social media presence and favorable reviews from outlets such as Pitchfork, helped them cultivate a dedicated following and achieve commercial success without traditional label support. Their debut album peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200 and was later licensed to Wichita Recordings for international distribution.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah continued to release music, including six studio albums. Their second album, “Some Loud Thunder” (2007), produced with Dave Fridmann, reflected Ounsworth’s evolving perspective on the music industry. This album received positive reviews and debuted at #47 on the Billboard 200. Ounsworth explored solo projects and collaborations, including “Mo Beauty” (2009) under his own name, which featured New Orleans musicians, and Flashy Python’s “Skin And Bones.” In 2011, the band released “Hysterical,” produced by John Congleton, which garnered critical acclaim for balancing early exuberance with maturity and led to appearances on television shows such as those hosted by David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, and Jimmy Fallon.
The band’s career demonstrates a consistent trajectory of musical output and independent strategy. “Only Run” (2014) involved fan participation and marked a continued collaboration with David Fridmann. In 2015, they re-released their debut album for its 10th anniversary with a supporting tour. “The Tourist” (2017) further solidified Ounsworth’s role as the central creative force, with production by Nick Krill and mixing by Dave Fridmann. Their sixth album, “New Fragility,” released in 2021, explored personal themes and received widespread critical praise. Throughout their career, songs from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah have been licensed for use in various television shows, films, and advertising campaigns, reflecting their enduring presence in popular culture.
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