Another one of the Clegg clan makes it big time

PETER FELDMAN

But in the beginning Clegg was unsure whether to follow the same musical path as his father and become a professional musician. “I have a BA law degree and an honours degree in English literature,” he said. “I was sceptical about becoming a professional musician and I enjoyed academia.

“But I think when I started writing my own songs and fell in love with music as a form of personal expression, I knew I had found my calling.” 

Over the years, Clegg has gone from strength to strength in all facets of his work and this year has been a “whirlwind” and one of the most hectic ever. 

He recently spent two-and-a-half months on tour in the US where he did 35 shows across 34 states. It was “hectic but rewarding” as he showcased his work to new audiences.

“My new album, ‘Things Unseen’ is also about to be released, so that’s kept me very busy. W’ve just shot the new music video for the third single entitled ‘Breathing’, and I’m currently on tour in Cape Town.

Clegg describes his music as “a mixture of pop, rock, electro and folk, but at my core I am a singer-songwriter”.

Talking about his new CD, Clegg told Jewish Report that it was a shift in style for him. “I wanted to move away from guitar-oriented productions and utilise synthetic elements to make this album. There is a whole world of possibilities with the technology that is available to artists now and I was excited to experiment with it.

“I still wrote the songs in the same way – a very organic process just sitting on guitar or piano – but the production was what sets the album apart from my others. Its more pop/electro which is a very exciting genre at the moment for me.

“The songs are written based on my own personal life and my observations. There is a lot of songs about seeking, as well as the complexity of human relationships.” 

On the state of South African music, he feels it is growing, but he believes there are aspects that need improving. “I see more and more support in the live scene and there seems to be an increased interest in local music generally. It’s getting there, I believe.” 

Asked what advice he would give a budding artist who wants to enter a tough industry, he responded: “Before you think about fame, money and success, start with the song writing. It’s the most important part of what we do. You have to love it, and have a lot of passion for music in and of itself. A great song will find its audience.”

In a competitive and often fickle business Clegg has managed to keep interest levels high and his career on track. He said: “I just do what I do. I’ve been fortunate that my audience has followed me throughout the years. I think my music has always been honest and that means something to people. I also have a fantastic management team in Real Concerts. I give them a lot of credit for steering me in the right direction.” 

Clegg is based in Johannesburg and his downtime, he said, is spent “hanging with friends, playing video games, squash, watching movies. It’s the normal stuff.”

His favourite artist he is listening to at the moment is a female performer from the UK called NAO. “I love her work. Her song ‘Bad Blood’ has been on repeat in my car for the last few days.”