Alex Clare
Great BritainBiography of Alex Clare
Alex Clare is a singer and composer who rose to fame with his debut album, The Lateness of the Hour, released in the UK on July 11, 2011. The album was recorded at Island Records studio, with producers Mike Spencer and Major Lazer.
Early Life and Musical Influences
Born in Southwark, London, England, Alex grew up listening to jazz songs performed by his father. He also developed an interest in soul music, inspired by artists like Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, which eventually led him to explore genres such as garage, drum and bass, and dubstep. Although Alex had skills in playing the trumpet and drums, he ultimately focused on the guitar and started writing songs, performing them at open mic nights with his original material.
Musical Career
Alex's demo caught the attention of Island Records in the UK, leading to a record deal. His debut album, The Lateness of the Hour, produced by Mike Spencer and Major Lazer, was released in July 2011. The first single, "Up All Night," was followed by "Too Close" and "Treading Water." On May 19, 2011, Reggie Yates covered Alex Clare's rendition of Prince's song "When Doves Cry," making it the song of the day. Shortly after, Danish radio station 3FM previewed the single "Too Close," which became a mega-hit on 3FM within a week. On June 21, 2011, Clare performed at Queens' College, Cambridge May Ball. On August 14, 2011, he performed at the Summer Well festival in Buftea, Romania. However, due to underwhelming album sales, Universal Island terminated its contract with Clare in the UK.
In 2012, Clare's song "Too Close" was featured in several Internet Explorer 9 commercials. As a result, the song reached number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later peaked at number 7, becoming his first Top 10 hit in the UK. Clare also achieved success in Germany, reaching the number one spot on the charts. The song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart.
Personal Life
Clare's upbringing was described as "very very secular," but he became more religious in the mid-2000s. He is now an Orthodox Jew and, as such, does not perform, travel, or work on the Jewish Sabbath and other religious holidays. He resides in Golders Green, a heavily Orthodox Jewish area in northwest London, but often travels to Jerusalem whenever his work allows. Before gaining critical success, Clare dated Amy Winehouse for a year. They met when he performed and worked at The Hawley Arms, a bar in Camden, North London, which she frequently visited.
