New York isn’t just a city—it’s a way of living. This is probably its most fascinating element, according to Gary Clark Jr., whose slow-burning hit “Bright Lights” proves to be nothing short of a drizzling anthem romanticizing the fast-paced city. “I love New York. I just love the energy,” he casually explains. “It’s busy in a lot of ways, there’s alot of different scenes. I just like wandering and walking around by myself, and just getting lost in it. It’s a little slower here in Texas.”

The Austin native has brought his surging rhythms to the forefront with his EP, also titled Bright Lights. And in a way, Clark–along with other acts like The Black Keys and Citizen Cope–have become frontrunners in the revival of the Blues. But when presented with this statement, he seems a bit flabbergasted. “Blues music is not a fad–I never not listened to it. There’s just been more attention [spent] on the original foundation of it, and that will always be relevant in my work.” And speaking of attention, Clark hasn’t gotten used to all of it being solely on him just yet. “It is all very overwhelming. I wasn’t expecting it, but playing these cities and being shown all the love–it’s cool.”

CATCH GARY CLARK JR. TONIGHT 12.12.11 AT TT’S in Cambridge, MA.

Tix here.