South Africa’s Jesse Clegg has been making music most of his life. His 2008 album, “When I Wake Up” brought a number one to the charts. Clegg uses his SA Rock to bring a unique and truthful sound to listeners. Be sure to check out his latest single, “Sinking.” Keep reading to catch the full story.
Current Single
” Sinking”
Why/how did you start to play music?
I have grown up in a musical family and so I was exposed from a very young age to the power of music. When I began to play guitar at the age of 13, I realized that there was not only joy in the technical act of playing but also in using your instrument to say something about the world. Songwriting became an outlet for me – a way to make sense of my life. I wrote every day for a period of three years, experimenting with my style and studying my favorite artists’ work as I found my own voice. Eventually I had enough material to make up my first album and I went into studio when I was 18 to record it. That was how my career began.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
There have been so many highlights. Perhaps my top 3 are:
– My first top ten radio hit – It came as a shock and it gave me a boost in confidence and motivation. It’s an amazing feeling to know that people are connecting to your music and your message.
– Performing at Radio City Music Hall as part of the 46664 Mandela Day Concert with international acts such as Stevie Wonder, Black Eyed Peas, Nora Jones etc. This was a memorable experience because it broadened my horizons in terms of what I thought was possible in the music industry. And watching Stevie Wonder jamming on stage with his musicians in the sound-check was awesome!
– Working with David Bottrill – He is a Grammy winning producer and has worked with some of my favorite artists (Muse, Tool, Placebo, Silverchair). I learned a lot from him in terms of song-presentation and arrangement and we became good friends.
Why should people listen to you? What makes you different?
I am a South African artist and so I am writing from a unique perspective. SA Rock has come a long way in the last few years and there is a lot of exciting stuff happening. My work reflects my experiences within this context. I also write from a very personal perspective – I like music that is deeply honest and says something about the world. My influences range from Alternative Music, World Music and Folk and I try to incorporate these influences in subtle & interesting ways in my style.
Keep in touch with this amazing South African by connecting with him on his socials!
Official Site // Facebook // YouTube // iTunes // Twitter // SoundCloud
