Singer-songwriter and producer Alex Clare, best known for his 2012 hit ‘Too Close’, is back with a new album and single.
His forthcoming album Tail of Lions will be released on November 11 and the first single to be taken from it is ‘Tell Me What You Need.’ The track looks at how some things in relationships are good, whilst others are confusing, frustrating and difficult. Coming from a family where you shout and scream to make your point, Alex says: “You have to learn to ride the bumps. I talk with my hands, raise my voice and put all my cards on the table, while my wife tends to close up and wait for the storm to pass.”
Alex’s signature sound is ever present in ‘Tell Me What You Need’, although it is evident that his perspective on life has changed since he last released new music. Take a listen to the track below.
‘Tell Me What You Need’ is the first single from new album Tail of Lions, of which the title comes from a Jewish expression. Alex says: “It’s better to be the tail of a lion than the head of a fox…we live in a society where the focus on success and celebrity seem to far outweigh the focus on ability and effort – all the money, limited talent.”
Alex’s history in the music industry is colourful to say the least. Having signed to Island in 2010, he released a single and album before being dropped. In 2012, ‘Too Close’ became an overnight success after being pulled from his album and placed on an Internet Explorer 9 advert. Following that, Alex was resigned and eighteen months later, he made another album. However, the label failed to get behind the album which let to further disappointment. In the end, Alex got married, toured the US, Russia and Europe, before starting a family. In 2015 he removed himself to a narrow boat on the River Lea and started to record Tail of Lions with his good friend and Submotion Orchestra founder member Chris Hargreaves.
The album was written and recorded in a few weeks, and is very different from Alex’s other albums, particularly in terms of life perspective. However, Alex still emphasises the fact that “we’re not trying to make hit records. We’re only interested in making nasty sounding music to play live.”
With complete creative control now, Alex revels in getting his craziest ideas out there. “There were songs on both my last albums that I didn’t like, but the label wanted them on and that means songs I really liked got left off – and that’s crazy. I want to make music that people dance to. I want to build up that energy so people can really let go and that’s my whole focus.”
Alex Clare’s new single, ‘Tell Me What You Need’, is out now. Tail of Lions is available to pre-order and will be released on November 11.
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photo credit: ETC Recordings
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