Alex Clare
Clare was born in Southwark, South East London, England. He grew up listening to his father’s jazz records and was drawn to blues and soul (Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder), which eventually led to interests in drum and bass, Dubstep and UK garage. Though Clare took up the trumpet and drums as a youngster, he eventually placed an emphasis on guitar and songwriting, playing open mike nights with original material.[citation needed] Clare attended Bishop Challoner School in Beckenham and there after Westminster Kingsway College from 2002 studying an NVQ in catering.
Early life
Clare was born in Southwark, South East London, England. He grew up listening to his father’s jazz records and was drawn to blues and soul (Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder), which eventually led to interests in drum and bass, Dubstep and UK garage. Though Clare took up the trumpet and drums as a youngster, he eventually placed an emphasis on guitar and songwriting, playing open mike nights with original material.[citation needed] Clare attended Bishop Challoner School in Beckenham and there after Westminster Kingsway College from 2002 studying an NVQ in catering.
Music career
A demo earned him a deal with the Island label in the UK. His debut album, The Lateness of the Hour, produced by Mike Spencer and Major Lazer[3] was released in July 2011. The first single from the album was "Up All Night", followed by "Too Close" and "Treading Water".
On 19 May 2011, Reggie Yates made Alex Clare's cover of Prince's "When Doves Cry" his Song of the Day.[4] A day later, the Dutch radio station 3FM announced single "Too Close" to be the '3FM's Megahit of that week.[5]
On 21 June 2011, Clare performed at the Queens' College, Cambridge May Ball.[6] On 14 August 2011, Clare performed at the Summer Well festival in Buftea, Romania.
Following the disappointing performance of the album, Clare was dropped from his record contract with Universal Island in the UK.[7]
In 2012, Clare's song "Too Close" was featured in several Internet Explorer 9 advertisements.[8] Following its use, the song debuted at #68 on the US Billboard Hot 100[9], and later reached #8, becoming his first Top 10 hit. Clare saw success on the German charts too, topping the charts at #1. On 16 May, Clare's song peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart.[10]
Personal life
Clare's upbringing was "very, very secular", and he became more religious during the mid 2000s.[11][12] He is now an Orthodox Jew, and as such will not perform, travel or work on the Jewish Sabbath or religious holidays. He lives in Golders Green, North West London, an area highly populated by Orthodox Jews, but often travels to Jerusalem when his work permits.
Before gaining critical success, Clare dated singer Amy Winehouse for a year. They met while he performed and worked at a bar she frequented, The Hawley Arms in Camden, North London.[13]
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