Taking the name from a poem by William Blake, Cut Worms is the vehicle of indie singer/songwriter Max Clarke, who finds inspiration in the bygone traditions of early rock, country, and Americana, fused with a contemporary D.I.Y. spirit and lush arrangements. Born in Ohio and based in Brooklyn, Clarke has a sweet, sometimes mournful sound influenced by any number of acts of the 1960s, from the Everly Brothers to Brian Wilson, with a lyrical outlook that embraces quiet joy as well as subtle resignation. Clarke found critical acclaim with Cut Worms' 2018 debut, Hollow Ground, and 2020's Nobody Lives Here Anymore was an expansive double album that explored the mood of society on the brink of collapse. 2023's Cut Worms saw Clarke aiming for a more concise statement while experimenting with different recording environments and studio collaborators.