Top Buzz Trends
No Result
View All Result
  • Netflix
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Amazon Prime
  • HBO Max
  • Disney+
  • More
    • Entertainment
    • Celebrity News
    • Movies
    • TV Shows
    • Paramount+
    • Hulu
    • Apple TV
    • Google TV
  • Netflix
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Amazon Prime
  • HBO Max
  • Disney+
  • More
    • Entertainment
    • Celebrity News
    • Movies
    • TV Shows
    • Paramount+
    • Hulu
    • Apple TV
    • Google TV
No Result
View All Result
Top Buzz Trends
  • Netflix
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Amazon Prime
  • HBO Max
  • Disney+
  • More
Home Entertainment

Alex Clare: The singer who chose his faith for Adele’s tour

by BBC News
October 27, 2021
in Entertainment
Reading Time: 11 mins read
0

Ten years ago, fledgling singer-songwriter Alex Clare received an ultimatum from his record label: devote himself completely to music or follow his faith.

He chose to follow his faith.

The Londoner, who emerged from the same scene as his ex-girlfriend Amy Winehouse and Bastille, had recently pulled out of a life-changing spring tour in support of new superstar Adele because some of the concerts fell during the Jewish Passover holiday. , as well as on Saturdays.

Island records were “very tolerant” in this regard at the time, Clare recalls. But when it happened again in October, as he hadn’t been able to record a radio concert for the BBC during Sukkot week, something had to give. And following a difficult chat with the label’s bosses, the promising performer was dropped after just one album.

“They said, ‘You seem to be more interested in your religion than your career,’ and it really wasn’t,” says the 36-year-old, who grew up in a secular Jewish family before turning to Orthodox Judaism in his early 1920s. .

“I was really focused on my career, but personal life choices, whatever they are, have not always been so tolerated. I’m not the only one – historically this has been a recurring theme, not just for Jews but for anyone who makes commitments. somewhere else”.

He adds: “When I signed up, they knew it was happening, but they didn’t quite understand how serious the rules for keeping the Sabbath were. [resting from Friday sunset until Saturday sunset] I’m. And for some reason every piece of promo that came in seemed to fall off on a Friday night or Saturday morning, and I was turning down opportunity after opportunity. “

When it came to turning Adele down, as she couldn’t do at least five of the tour dates, Clare laughs: “They thought I was crazy.”

A spokesman for the island this week told the BBC that he had “contacted to apologize directly to Alex”.

“What he was told 10 years ago was wrong and in no way represents our views or policies.”

Image caption, He performed at the Reading Festival in 2013

Over the years there have been many famous musicians who have turned to God, from Cat Stevens and Bob Dylan, to Kanye West and Sinéad O’Connor. But after being dropped from her label, Clare practically gave up on music altogether.

Until several months later, when the singer just left the label suddenly found himself with a hit on his hands. Too Close, his friend zone anthem from his debut album, began making its way into radio playlists and approaching the top of the UK singles chart in April 2012, thanks largely to an appearance in a commercial on Microsoft’s Internet.

At the 2013 Brit Awards the song was nominated for Best Single, a category which was won by, you guessed it, Adele with Skyfall.

Caption, Warning: Third party content may contain advertisements

“We have a Hebrew saying called Gam Zu L’Tovah, which means ‘This is good too,'” says Clare. “Let’s say when something really goes wrong. It’s like the craziest statement to have enough faith and say, ‘This is a really bad situation right now, but in the end God is good and life is good and that’s for a good. bigger ‘- whatever it may be.

“And in my case it really worked like that. I was dropped by the label, but months later I had a top 10 hit around the world, selling [double] platinum, and obviously got a much bigger record deal the second time around! “

The record deal in question once again came courtesy of Island Records – a subsidiary of the Universal Music Group – which Clare says “apologized very much” for what happened when she re-signed it.

Nine years later, Clare talks to us about the release of her new single, Why Don’t Ya – another booming ballad that marks the end of her five-year hiatus from the “soulless” music industry she was from. become disenchanted, despite its relative success.

The song, distributed through the digital distributor ONErpm, is an ode to his wife, with whom he “escaped” to Israel in 2015, with their eldest son (now they have three children) to “focus on spirituality” and study the Torah and the Talmud.

The song was his way of encouraging her to “recognize her feelings correctly” after her grandfather died around the same time one of their children was sick in the hospital.

“[It was] just to say, “It’s okay to feel like you were allowed to feel emotions, you were allowed to be a sensitive person,” he explains.

“Some people aren’t necessarily taught how to express those feelings or have those feelings validated for whatever reason. Life is complicated and emotions are complicated.”

Caption, Disclaimer: Third party content may contain advertisements

The musician – plays bass and some drums on the new track, as well as providing his usual soulful voice – these days is moving between his home in Jerusalem and the UK on music-related engagements. Although recent work with collaborators, including songwriter and producer Jamie Hartman (Rag’n’Bone Man, Celeste, Lewis Capaldi), was done online during the lockout.

He plans to release an EP of six or seven equally “single worthy” songs early next year, which he will once again bring to the live stage – the place he feels most that he’s “fulfilling my mission of life”.

While Judaism has “a huge influence on my worldview,” he notes, the songs themselves are not traditional Jewish songs – they are sad bangers, told from personal experience.

“As a songwriter you have to channel your emotions or your empathy or your pathos, whatever it is, unfiltered,” he says. “The song is the filter.”

Image source, Shai Franco
Image caption, Clare says he stopped listening to music at some point during his hiatus, but lately he’s been digging into the Beach Boys, Paul Simon and Wu-Tang Clan, as well as Vulfpeck and David Bowie.

Clare’s “scary” return, as he puts it, obviously coincided with that of his near-old tour partner Adele.

Fingers crossed, they are both returning to a more understanding and flexible music industry than they were when they were first arriving.

“I hope it has changed significantly,” he says. “I’m sure it has happened in the last 10 years [he notes how recording performances remotely and at different times is now easier] but it is very fickle. It really is the flavor of the month and just like someone can be out of favor a minute later they can come back.

“I hope people are more sensitive. Everyone really wants to have their sense of unity and homogeneity – this is what people refer to and what people connect to. And the more we can see our similarities to each other. other, contrary to all the divisions and things that separate us, the better.

“We hope to create a better world”.

Why Don’t Ya by Alex Clare is now available.

Related topics

  • Music
  • Adele

More on this story

  • Huge numbers bring Adele back to the top of the singles chart

    Published
    4 days ago
  • The stuffed animals parents hope for connect children to their faith

    Published
    3 days ago

Read More about Entertainment News here.

This Article is Sourced from BBC News. You can check the original article here: Source

ADVERTISEMENT
ShareTweetShareSend

BBC News

Related Posts

Entertainment

Winona Ryder admits she had a hard time breaking up with Johnny Depp

July 3, 2022
Entertainment

The 19-year-old daughter of model Kate Moss took to the catwalk as part of the Jacquemus Show

July 2, 2022
Entertainment

Megan Fox wears a latex blouse without underwear and a bodycon skirt

July 2, 2022
Entertainment

Megan Fox has really changed her image

July 2, 2022
Entertainment

Pale Waves provided the single and video for ‘Jealousy’

July 2, 2022
Entertainment

Megan Fox supported her boyfriend at the premiere of the documentary Machine Gun Kelly: Life in Pink

July 1, 2022

Popular - Posts

    • Trending
    • Comments
    • Latest

    Minecraft Patch Notes 2.45 Update Today on July 27, 2022

    July 27, 2022

    What to Watch on Hulu Right Now: Top Movies to Watch This Week – August 06, 2022

    August 7, 2022

    PUBG Patch Notes 19.1 Update Today on August 06, 2022

    August 6, 2022

    COD Warzone Patch Notes 1.61 Update Today on August 09, 2022

    August 9, 2022

    The Division 2 Patch Notes 1.42 Update Today on August 09, 2022

    August 9, 2022

    MLB The Show 22 Patch Notes 1.13 Update Today on August 09, 2022

    August 9, 2022

    Elite Dangerous Patch Notes 1.68 Update Today on August 09, 2022

    August 9, 2022

    Elden Ring Patch Notes 1.06 Update Today on August 09, 2022

    August 9, 2022
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Editorial Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Use Of Cookies


    Top Buzz Trends is not endorsed, moderated, owned by, or affiliated with TopBuzz or any of its partners in any capacity. Top Buzz Trends is an independent news website for Entertainment, Movies, TV Shows, Netflix, Games, and Gadgets, Software, Computers, Smartphones, and more. All promotional material including but not limited to trailers, images, and videos, are all copyrighted to their respective owners. TopBuzz is a registered trademark of ByteDance Ltd.
    © 2022 Top Buzz Trends - All Rights Reserved.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Netflix
    • Gaming
    • Tech
    • Amazon Prime
    • HBO Max
    • Disney+
    • More
      • Entertainment
      • Celebrity News
      • Movies
      • TV Shows
      • Paramount+
      • Hulu
      • Apple TV
      • Google TV


    Top Buzz Trends is not endorsed, moderated, owned by, or affiliated with TopBuzz or any of its partners in any capacity. Top Buzz Trends is an independent news website for Entertainment, Movies, TV Shows, Netflix, Games, and Gadgets, Software, Computers, Smartphones, and more. All promotional material including but not limited to trailers, images, and videos, are all copyrighted to their respective owners. TopBuzz is a registered trademark of ByteDance Ltd.
    © 2022 Top Buzz Trends - All Rights Reserved.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
    Exit mobile version
    We use cookies for various purposes including analytics and personalized marketing. By continuing to use the service, you agree to our use of cookies. - Cookie Policy
    Protected by Patchstack