Dan Clews
Daniel Clews (born 21 March 1980) is a British-born singer/songwriter from Sevenoaks, Kent, England.
Dan Clews | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Daniel Clews |
| Born | 21 March 1980 |
| Origin | Sevenoaks, Kent, England |
| Genres | Folk, folk-rock, acoustic pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, record producer |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Associated acts | Dan Clews and the Stars Above |
| Website | danclews |
Musical career
After spending years honing his craft on the UK's live circuit, Clews moved to Sweden and began collaborations with local artists, resulting in two sold-out releases with his backing band The Stars Above. This recording helped Clews to secure a publishing deal with George Martin Music.
I was introduced to Dan Clews by a friend. I have always tried to support young musicians and Dan's music impressed from the first listen. He is too great a talent to ignore and it's a great pleasure to be his publisher.
— Sir George Martin on Dan Clews.[1]
Clews's first solo album, the eponymous Dan Clews, was released on 15 December 2009. The album received support from national and regional radio;[2] most notably in the form of several spot plays on the Bob Harris Radio 2 show. The album was also to receive very favourable reviews in the December 2009 issues of Mojo, Uncut Record Collector[3] & The Guardian.[4]
The single, "Move Too Fast" spent five weeks on the BBC Radio 2 playlist from 3 April 2010.
Clews has recorded over 20 sessions for BBC regional radio stations culminating in an appearance on the Bob Harris Radio 2 show broadcast 10 July 2010.[5]
Clews continued to support the album with a series of well-received live dates across the country, before returning home to his studio on the family farm in Kent to record a new album. Over Christmas 2011, Dan was invited to accompany Tim Minchin for various charity shows at Shepherds Bush Empire, Hammersmith Apollo and a live session on XFM.Kent
The new material was debuted live in 2012 with a slot at the Hop Farm Festival, swiftly followed by an 18 date UK tour supporting Level 42, culminating in a performance in front of set 5,000 people at a sold out Royal Albert Hall. To top it all off Dan was once again paired with Tim Minchin to perform on BBC’s ‘Children In Need’.
Clews is co founder of "We teach Music" a company set up and run by him and a team of supporting qualified teachers which provides inspirational private tuition and music workshops with a range of instruments. Lessons are conducted at their premises and at local schools in Kent.
In late 2013, Clews composed and performed the soundtrack to the short horror film Exile, directed by Zac Moss. The soundtrack, inspired by the work of drone metal bands such as Earth and Sunn O))), would be a departure from Clews's singer-songwriter background. Moss, a former guitar student of Clews's, had previously directed the music video for "Take One Away" from Clews's second solo album Tourist in My Own Backyard.
His single "That's Enough For Me" was released on 3 March 2014. The follow up single "Edge of the World" was released on 28 April 2014, as was his album Tourist in My Own Backyard. Clews performed at the Hop Farm Festival 2014 and Glastonbury 2014.
Discography
- Dan Clews and the Stars Above
- The Good Mile (2005)
- Dan Clews
- Dan Clews (2009)
- Tourist in My Own Backyard (2014)
References
- "Bio -". Danclews.com.
- "Dan Clews - New Songs, Playlists & Latest News - BBC Music". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- "Dan Clews - Record Collector Magazine". Recordcollectormag.com. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- Neil Spencer. "Dan Clews: Dan Clews | CD review | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- "Dan Clews Session, Bob Harris Sunday - BBC Radio 2". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
