London-based singer/songwriter Alexander George "Alex" Clare grew up listening to his father’s jazz records, was drawn to blues and soul (<a href="spotify:artist:0HU0U9kdXEHZVxUNbuQe8S" data-name="Donny Hathaway">Donny Hathaway</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7guDJrEfX3qb6FEbdPA5qi" data-name="Stevie Wonder">Stevie Wonder</a>), and eventually to drum‘n’bass and U.K. 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. A demo earned him a deal with the spotify:search:label%3A%22Island%22 label in the U.K., and he was set up with producers <a href="spotify:artist:5fMUXHkw8R8eOP2RNVYEZX" data-name="Diplo">Diplo</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:273A7R9wiZyELSDRw8HvIj" data-name="Switch">Switch</a>, who contributed to the making of Clare’s first album, The Lateness of the Hour, released in July 2011. Despite the producers’ reputations for creating busy, bass-heavy club music, the album did place something of a spotlight on Clare’s soul-searching songwriting and deep, rich voice. "Too Close" -- the dubsteppy lead single from Lateness -- turned out to be a huge hit for Clare. The song became a Top 10 hit in five countries, was certified double platinum in the United States, and nabbed Clare an ASCAP award for 2014 Songwriter of the Year with Jim Duguid.
https://x.com/alexanderclare?s=21&t=pviKjalSUg2JQ3A2Hoa8oA