A few years ago, Andrew Shaver directed the musical Once in Montréal. Eva Foote walked in to audition for “Girl,” the female lead, and blew him away. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and musical collaboration, now known as Clever Hopes.

The duo’s new single, “Shadow Waltz,” is a gentle piece of Americana featuring Shaver and Foote’s soft vocal harmonies, woven together by a reflection on Shaver’s time spent in Australia following the dissolution of a relationship.

“It’s about that conflict you can feel when you know things are changing and you need to say goodbye to who you were without fully understanding who it is you are becoming,” explain Clever Hopes.