Clancy Pye, Orange-based country singer-songwriter, releases new single 'Sunday Drive' today. The track pairs contemporary country songwriting with traditional instrumentation (banjo, pedal steel, twangy electric guitars) and explores how two different people complement each other in a relationship. Rating: 5 stars.
CLANCY PYE TAKES THE SCENIC ROUTE TO LOVE WITH NEW SINGLE 'SUNDAY DRIVE'
Sometimes the best thing about the journey isn't where you're going, but who's sitting beside you. For Orange based country singer-songwriter Clancy Pye, that sentiment is at the heart of her new single, ‘Sunday Drive’, out today.
A tender tribute to love and the beauty of life's little differences, ‘Sunday Drive’ finds Clancy pairing contemporary country songwriting with a delightfully traditional sound. Rolling banjo, glassy pedal steel and twangy electric guitars provide a fitting backdrop for her honeyed vocal, with an earworm chorus that feels as effortless as a lazy afternoon behind the wheel.
“Clancy Pye, ‘Sunday Drive’ and a little room to escape the everyday? Count me in. There’s always space in my weekend for Australian country music and a new favourite waiting to be discovered ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐” — Markus Hamence, On Your Markus
At its heart, ‘Sunday Drive’ is a song about two people who don't necessarily see the world the same way but wouldn't want to navigate it with anybody else. One's a Friday night, the other's a Sunday afternoon. One's the neon sign, the other's the front porch light. Different in all the right ways, and better together because of it.
“Lyrically, I wanted to explore that idea of ‘yin and yang’ in a relationship - how two people can be completely different yet complement each other in all the right ways as they navigate life’s twists, turns and uncertainties. They say the best part of life’s journey is who you get to share it with, and it was fun to weave that theme throughout the song.”
Written by Clancy, ‘Sunday Drive’ was the final song recorded for her forthcoming debut album, Feels Like Home, and quickly became a favourite among the musicians who brought it to life.
“I was lucky enough to record it with some of my favourite musicians - Pete Drummond, Michele Rose, Sean Rudd and my brother Mickey Pye. They each brought their own feel and ideas to the track.”
A veritable A-list of session players, they brought the track to life at The Vault Studios with Sean Rudd (Lyn Bowtell, Luke O'Shea, Mickey Pye) sitting in the producer’s chair. Together they built an arrangement that balances old-school country charm with a contemporary edge - letting the song's sentiment shine without losing its playful spirit.
“Musically, I wanted this song to feel like a Sunday drive - relaxed and easy-going, but with a few changes of gear along the way that make you want to turn the stereo up and sing along.”
The new single follows the success of Clancy's previous single, ‘My Hometown’, which climbed to #1 on the Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart, reached #17 on the AMRAP Regional Airplay Chart and earned a spot on Apple Music's New In Country editorial playlist. With more than 500,000 global streams to her name, Clancy is finding an increasingly receptive audience for her distinctly Australian brand of country music.
Having spent much of the past two years touring alongside Tania Kernaghan and Jason Owen, Clancy is no stranger to taking her music beyond the Central West. In 2025, she also made her solo debut at the Gympie Music Muster, another milestone in a career that continues to gather momentum.
Now, with a new album on the horizon, Clancy is looking forward to bringing her own songs to audiences across regional Australia, with plans for a tour to accompany the record.
“As a songwriter, there is no better feeling than performing your own songs in front of an audience and being able to build those ‘in-person’ connections, so I’m really looking forward to playing the songs off this album live and experiencing those connections first-hand.”
Warm, unhurried and full of heart, ‘Sunday Drive’ is a reminder that life's most meaningful moments aren't always the ones we plan. Sometimes all you need is an open road, a familiar song and the right person in the passenger seat.
SHOW DATES:
Sunday 1st November – The Millthorpe Hotel – Millthorpe, NSW
Friday 6th November – The Metropolitan Hotel – Orange, NSW
Saturday 14th November – Neville Show and Bullride – Neville, NSW
Friday 20th November – The Millthorpe Hotel – Millthorpe, NSW
Sunday 22nd November - Heiffer Station Wines – Orange, NSW
Friday 27th November - Mortimer’s Wines – Orange, NSW
Saturday 28th November - The Rockley Pub – Rockley, NSW
Friday 4th December – The Wentworth Orange – Orange, NSW
Saturday 5th December – Tooraweenah Hotel – Tooraweenah, NSW
Friday 11th December – Portland RSL – Portland, NSW
Sunday 13th December – Millthorpe Hotel – Millthorpe, NSW
Friday 18th December – The 1880 Hotel – Bathurst, NSW
Saturday 23rd January – Moonshiners Hony Tonk Bar – Tamworth, NSW
