ALEX CLARE: SINGER/SONGWRITER

          Alex Clare

The 28 year old British singer/songwriter released his debut album 7/11/2011 in the United Kingdom. 

THE LATENESS OF THE HOUR, was released to iTunes in May 2012. The album produced three singles of which the second ‘Too Close’ peaked at #4 in the UK and #7 on the USA Billboard Top 100, and it has lots of radio play on alternative music radio stations to this day. 

I love the tune, the melody, the voice, the quality of the song. I am not sure if this is a ‘One Hit Wonder’, but the quality of Clare’s voice makes me think he has staying power.

The first released single from the album is ‘Tightrope’ and the 3^rd is ‘Treading Water’.

Probably the highest claim to fame was his link to Amy Winehouse, whom he dated for about a year before it fizzled out. I think he has an interview or book about the relationship somewhere, I’ve heard, but have not actually read, which is really irrelevant, when talking about his talent.

Clare is very secular and does not perform or travel on the Jewish Sabbath, or religious holidays, which has cost him a gig or two.  A man of conviction, but will it have an unfavorable effect on his career?  Only time will tell. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYXjLbMZFmo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4wiPneqVyU&list=RDzYXjLbMZFmo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwWjPO0PhyI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOsl5wOsQRM

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JOHN NEWMAN: SINGER/SONGWRITER

John Newman released his debut album “TRIBUTE” October 14, 2013 in the UK and 1/7/2014 to iTunes.

 ‘LOVE ME AGAIN’ his single is hitting the charts at record rates. It was released in May 2013 in the UK and became number one by July.  He also had success as the featured artist on the 2012 Rudimentals album which he had 2 chart topping hits before his own single, The British pop singer is neo-soul to the core. He blends R&B with club music, infused with gritty vocals and danceable melodies.  Similar to the orchestration of Avicci, but Newman sings/performs his own stuff.

The idea of Tribute is that nothing is really original and his music is a blend of what he grew up with listening to his Mom’s music by Otis Redding, Led Zeppelin and Marvin Gaye, and the music of today by Adele, and other great artist.

At the age of 23, the baby-faced, tall drink of water not only writes his own music, but he produces, performs and remixes it and, and he designs his own clothes. 

Read Review of TRIBUTE by Johnny Biggs of Sputnik 

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/60183/John-Newman-Tribute/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfihYWRWRTQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ7dpIwrs2w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiNhXjkFVpo

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SERENA RYDER:SINGER/SONGWRITER

Serena Ryder released her 5 th studio album ‘Harmony’ 11/27/2012 and on iTunes in August 2013. With her single’ Stompa’ earlier in 2013. The Canadian born Serena Ryder has been around since 1999, releasing 6 EP’s,  4 Live Performance Albums and now her 5^th Studio album.  The Folk/Indie Rock singer is currently getting a lot of radio play right now with her catchy single ‘Stompa’.

Ryder has a 3-Octave range, and is considered a mezzoo-soprano (middle female voice),  with a slightly raspy lower register, who has toured with Areosmith, Melissa Etheridge, and the first time I saw her in concert , she was the opening act for Paolo Nutini in 2008, where I purchased her EP ‘Told You In A Whispered Song’ .

Honestly I forgot about her until I kept hearing ‘Stompa’ on the radio and decided I needed to look her up, and was pleasantly surprised she was the same person I saw in 2008, who I thought at the time was very entertaining. Her last hit was from here previous album “IS IT OK” with the song ‘Weak In The Knees’ , which was released on her EP ‘Told You In A Whispered Song’

Ryders voice is not unique, but her song writing is, and I think we will hear from Ms. Ryder for years to come, with her catchy lyrics and the know how when delivering a memorable tune.

Review by:  Matt Collar of ALLMusic

Serena Ryder's sixth studio album, 2013's Harmony, showcases the Canadian singer/songwriter's soulful and bluesy music mixing Dusty Springfield-esque '60s R&B with a contemporary pop aesthetic. Ryder has a huge following in Canada, where her albums have gone gold and platinum and earned her several Juno awards. Prior to the release of her single "Stompa" -- included on Harmony -- she was not as well known in the United States, but the release ofHarmony will probably go a long way toward raising her profile outside of Canada. Ryder possesses a powerful voice with a throaty timbre and a nasal resonance, making her the perfect vehicle for her brand of soulful rock. Not surprisingly, she's drawn favorable comparisons to both Melissa Etheridge and Adele, and Harmony will do nothing to dissuade such allusions. Admittedly, Ryder fits snugly into the post-Amy Winehouse crew of female vocalists with songs that oscillate between moments of Southern soul, contemporary R&B, and mainstream melodic rock. If Ryder's voice weren't so engaging, or if she weren't so emotionally believable on Harmony, some of the Winehouse/Mark Ronson-esque production via Jerrod Bettis and Jon Levine might cause the average listener, bombarded with a slew of Winehouse-wannabes, to tune out. However, Ryder is such a compelling singer and her songs are, by and large, so catchy that such generalities are easy to dismiss. Primarily, Ryder avoids the retro-tag by delivering a handful of gutsy, organic torch songs like "Please," "Heavy Love," and "Mary Go Round," all of which owe far less to the stylized production and more to the unique sound of her voice and the quality of her songwriting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzsWJ8Ub_D4

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppi1uDvc44w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5weM0ATrdY

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