Hamilton Clarington

!Though 22 year old singer/songwriter/producer Hamilton Clarington has been making music for more
than half his life, it’s clear that he means to shape sounds for many more years to come. His milky melodies,
eloquent harmonizing, and interesting, introspective lyrics seek to speak to his listeners' souls, and he hopes to
leave his mark on R&B music by respecting its legacy while pushing the genre forward.
! Throughout his early childhood, it became increasingly clear that young Hamilton had a passion for
music."He"started"taking piano lessons in second grade, and discovered his love for singing through choir
classes in fourth grade. By high school, he was well-known among his peers for his vocal abilities, winning
talent competitions like the State Attorney's Office of the 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida's Rap Against Violence
contest (for which he recorded the song "Don't Cry Now" for the first volume of the initiative's promotional CD)
and garnering plenty of accolades, including ‘Most Musical’ of his"graduating high school class. He soon came
to realize that it was time to take his talent to the next level. With"the help of his family, who he says have always
played a large part in his love for music and burgeoning music career ("My family nurtured my music. Without
them, I wouldn't be at the point I am today"), Hamilton began shopping his sounds to record"labels and
management companies. "
! Intent on becoming a better musician,Hamilton enrolled at Boston’s Berklee College of Music in 2006,
where he currently studies Business/Management and Music Synthesis. Now in his junior year, he recognizes
how studying at the world-renown music conservatory has refined his sound. “I’ve learned how to mix, arrange,
and produce my music better, not just from taking the classes, but from my fellow students [too],” he observes.
“I’ve also learned different vocal techniques that helped bring strength and maturity to my voice.”
! And for any singer, it’s all about the voice. Hamilton’s vocals resonate with a clear, rich sound that
demonstrates"his ability to float almost effortlessly between ranges, not simply making the most of"each song,
but making more of it. His masterful melodies reflect his reverence for the classic R&B and soul music of some
of his inspirations, like Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, and the Temptations. “Old school R&B
music is real good with its melodies, so I put a lot of emphasis on that in my own music,” he reflects. In a time
when many musicians depend on production to power their musical projects, Hamilton, who wrote, produced,
and engineered over fifty original compositions by age 20, has developed an understanding of how to make his
voice and the song’s production happily co-exist. What’s more, he strives to be a thoughtful songwriter who
uses everyday experiences in life and love to craft lyrics that are as earnest as they are honest. “Seeing how
people feel and hearing things they say are a big influence on my music,” he maintains. Born in Grand Rapids,
Michigan and raised in Germany, Hawaii, Arizona, and Florida, his encounters, experiences, and interactions
with many different people, places and things lend his lyrics a sense of truth and creativity.
! Hamilton’s pursuit of a career in music has not only helped him make use of his talents and introduced
him to the obvious but invaluable skills necessary to become a professional, but it's led him to learn more about
other aspects of the entertainment industry as well. “I’ve been working a lot with film, photography, and website
design,” he says. “But all of it connects back to furthering my music career.” With his passion, purpose, and
plan, Hamilton is well on his way to watching his star rise and shine.