Alex Clare facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alex Clare
Clare performing at Capitol Offenbach in 2013
Background information
Birth name	Alexander George Clare
Born	(1985-09-14) 14 September 1985 (age 39) Southwark, London, England
Origin	Golders Green, London, England
Genres	Alternative rock electronica pop blue-eyed soul drum and bass R&B dubstep soul
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Island Republic Universal Republic ETC Recordings
Associated acts	Diplo Switch Mike Spencer Don Diablo Rudimental John Newman Decco

Alexander George Clare (born 14 September 1985) is a British singer and songwriter. He is known for his unique mix of soul, dubstep, and electronic music. He now lives in Jerusalem, Israel.

Clare's first album, The Lateness of the Hour, came out in 2011. His most famous song, "Too Close", became a huge international hit. It reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was even nominated for a Brit Award.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Alex Clare was born in London, England. When he was young, he listened to a lot of jazz music that his father loved. This led him to discover soul singers like Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder.

As he got older, he became interested in modern music styles like drum and bass, dubstep, and UK garage. Clare learned to play the trumpet and drums, but he focused on playing the guitar and writing his own songs. He would often perform his music at local open mic nights.

Music Career

The Lateness of the Hour

After a record label heard his demo music, Clare signed a deal with Island Records. His first album, The Lateness of the Hour, was released in July 2011. It was produced by Mike Spencer and the electronic music group Major Lazer.

At first, the album did not sell very well, and Clare was dropped from his record label. However, things changed in March 2012. His song "Too Close" was used in a popular TV commercial for Internet Explorer 9. Suddenly, millions of people heard his music.

The song became a massive hit. It climbed to the top 10 charts in the United States and the United Kingdom. It even reached number one in Germany. Because of this success, Clare signed a new record deal in America, and his album was released there.

Later Albums and Songs

In 2014, Clare released his second album, Three Hearts. The main single, "War Rages On," was used as the theme song for the BBC drama Our Girl.

His third album, Tail of Lions, came out in 2016. In 2018, he released an acoustic album called Three Days at Greenmount. This album featured simpler, "stripped-back" versions of his older songs and some new tracks.

After a five-year break, Clare returned in 2021 with a new song called "Why Don't Ya." He said he wrote the song for his wife.

Clare performing in 2013

Working with Other Artists

Clare has worked with many other musicians throughout his career.

• He worked with Diplo and Switch on his first album.
• He was a featured singer on the song "Not Giving In" by the group Rudimental.
• He sang on the album Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation.
• He has also recorded songs with DJs like Bakermat and Don Diablo.

Personal Life

Clare was raised in a family that was not very religious. In the mid-2000s, he chose to become an Orthodox Jew. This is a very important part of his life.

Because of his faith, he does not work or travel on Shabbat (the Jewish day of rest) or on other Jewish holidays. This has sometimes made his music career challenging. For example, he once had to turn down a big concert because it was during a holiday. However, he has found ways to balance his faith and his career.

In late 2015, Clare moved from London to Jerusalem with his wife and daughter. He and his wife now have three children.

Discography

Studio albums

Acoustic albums

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Alex Clare para niños