Review: Clara Hill x Crackazat - Better / I Want You to Know (My Heart Beats Slow) (Sonar Kollektiv)

They say in surfing that you need to get behind the wave in order to get ahead of the curve and you can kind of apply that to this combo of Clara Hill and Crackazat as they can only get 'Better' after this new single release on Sonar Kollektiv!

Hot on the heels of the STREETON single, 'Where We Started' (see review HERE), the label have got long time favourite singer Clara Hill from Berlin and Bristol-exile, Crackazat to get modern jazz-funky together.

Ben Jacobs (aka Crackazat) couldn't have been better timed the release his album 'SUN' (in May! see review HERE) and it's clear that a partnership steeped in mutual respect and long-standing admiration as, we're told, Clara first discovered Crackazat’s music via Instagram on her birthday in 2022 and was immediately captivated.  Whilst Ben has been a long time fan of Clara's even before he started producing music having been a fan of her work with Jazzanova (see review here of the 'In-Between' reissue(s) that came out last year - HERE).

So ahead of an EP, 'Harmony', the first single, 'Better', explores the internal battle between self-doubt and self-belief. Inspired by the tendency to overthink and hesitate, the song encourages listeners to move beyond their mental barriers and trust themselves. “Better is a hopeful song,” says Clara. “It acknowledges the chaos of doubts inside our minds but ultimately encourages us to trust ourselves and keep moving forward.” Driven by uplifting keys, warm grooves and Clara’s velvet vocals, Better is an elegant blend of electronic soul, jazz-infused house and timeless songwriting.

The second single, 'I Want You To Know (My Heart Beats Slow)' (out August 21st), turns towards a different kind of emotional reflection. Rather than focusing on uncertainty, it explores mature love, gratitude and the quiet strength of relationships that deepen over time. “My idea of the song was to explore the sentence of ‘I love you because of him’ through a long-term relationship,” Clara explains. “It’s a poetic and emotional confession from someone who loved someone else in the past, but now loves another person in the present because of that past love. Not with overwhelming passion or burning intensity, but with something quieter: consistency, gratitude, trust and a love that continues to grow over time.” The phrase “my heart beats slow” became a symbol of that enduring connection. Sonically, the track embraces the duo’s shared love of deep house, combining a sturdy 4/4 groove, shimmering keys, Benson-inspired guitar licks and Clara’s unmistakably soulful delivery.

  

Release dates are as follow:
26.06.26 Clara Hill x Crackazat - Better (SINGLE 1)
21.08.26 Clara Hill x Crackazat - I Want You to Know (My Heart Beats Slow) (SINGLE 2)
04.12.26 Clara Hill x Crackazat - Harmony EP

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:  https://sonarkollektiv.lnk.to/Better

Artist: Clara Hill x Crackazat 

Title: Better / I Want You to Know

Release date: 21st August, 2026

Label : Sonar Kollektiv

Catalog Number: SK576-S1/S2

Format:  Streaming / Digital / Bandcamp