Alex Clare

Alexander George "Alex" Clare (born 14 September 1985) is a British singer and songwriter. Clare adopted his current stage name, Alex Clare, in 2010, replacing Alexander G. Muertos, a pseudonym he first used whilst still at school. His debut album, The Lateness of the Hour, was released in the UK on 11 July 2011 on Island Records and was produced by Mike Spencer and Major Lazer.

The biggest hit from the album, "Too close", peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Single at the 2013 Brit Awards.

Early life
Clare was born in Southwark, London, England. He grew up listening to his father’s jazz records and was drawn to blues and soul artists like Donny Hathaway or Stevie Wonder, which eventually led to interests in drum and bass, dubstep and UK garage. Though Clare took up the trumpet and drums as a youngster, he eventually placed an emphasis on guitar and songwriting, playing open mic nights with original material.

Clare attended Bishop Challoner School in Bromley and thereafter Westminster Kingsway College from 2002, studying for an National Vocational Qualification in catering.

Personal life
Clare's upbringing was "very, very secular", and he became more religious during the mid-2000s. He is now an Orthodox Jew, and as such will not perform, travel or work on the Jewish Sabbath or religious holidays. Clare has said he lost one record deal opportunity due to his Sabbath observance, but has found other ways to continue his career successfully. Clare also keeps kosher and travels with his own sets of pots and pans. While on tour, Clare maintains a schedule of learning Jewish topics in the Talmud.

In 2006, before gaining critical success, Clare dated British singer Amy Winehouse, but the relationship lasted less than a year. They met while he was performing and working at a bar she frequented, the Hawley Arms in Camden, North London.

He lives in Golders Green, an area in northwest London, but often travels to Jerusalem when his work permits.