Patti Zlaket’s new single ‘Clock Keeps Tickin’ marks a triumphant return for an artist whose career has spanned decades of live performance, commercial work, and now a rejuvenated recording chapter. Emerging from a period of reflection and catalogue reissues, Zlaket reasserts herself with a track that balances emotional depth, melodic sophistication, and an unmistakable sense of purpose.
Produced by the accomplished Tariqh Akoni (whose credits include Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, and Weezer) and anchored by the legendary Lee Sklar on bass, ‘Clock Keeps Tickin’ is a masterclass in collaboration. There’s a clarity to the production that allows every element to breathe, from the nuanced guitar flourishes to the subtly driving rhythm, making the track both equally intimate and expansive.
Lyrically, the song captures the tension of passing time with a blend of wistful reflection and hopeful urgency. Penned by long-time collaborator Gary Hyde, it explores themes of anxiety, anticipation, and resilience, wrapped in a melody that lingers in the heart. Zlaket’s voice, honed over years of performing and recording, carries a weight of experience with a quiet authority that makes the song’s hook feel simultaneously comforting and insistent.
Credit: Taylor Ballantyne
This new single stands as a bridge between her storied past of piano-driven roots, theatrical training, and commercial success, and a present defined by artistic freedom and clarity of vision. Every note, phrase, and arrangement feels deliberate, a testament to her meticulous approach and the confidence that comes from experience.
In essence, she has crafted a piece that resonates on multiple levels, inviting us to reflect on the passage of time, the persistence of hope, and the beauty of embracing the present. ‘Clock Keeps Tickin’ signals the arrival of Patti Zlaket’s most assured work yet, delivering a single that sets the stage for the highly anticipated ‘Dance Again’ album.
