Jon Ian Clarke
Harlow, United Kingdom | Established. Jan 01, 1997 | SELF | AFTRA
Music
Press
“Artist: Jon Clarke (guitar/vocals) From: Harlow Sounds Like: A doleful Richard Ashcroft cloud-hopping with John Squire. Website: www.myspace.com/jonnclarke25 "Music that really gets the creative energy flowing in me are people like John Lennon, Richard Ashcroft and Lee Mavers - all classic songwriters" he told sound check. "The beauty of creating music as an individual is a blessing in disguise. I'd like to be remembered as a genuine, honest English songwriter" You can catch Jon live tonight (Thursday) at the Half Moon Pub, in North Street, Bishop's Stortford at 9:30pm. Tickets are £3” - The Harlow Star
“FILTERING the rumbling psychedelia of Northern Soul-era Verve and the acute pop sensibilities and catchy hooks of John Squire's under-rated vanity act the seahorses, 25-year old dreamer Jon Clarke is on a one man mission to reinvigorate the lost art of classic British songwriting. After a number of years playing in local bands Aqualung and Blue-baker, Clarke has reinvented himself as a solo artist armed only with a guitar, a battered drum-machine and an ear for melody. His brooding take on sky-scraping Brit-rock is surprisingly epic in scale - weaving reverb-drenched mountainous riffs with planetary vocals and straight forward percussion to create a spiraling wall of sound similar to what the music achieved in the early noughties.” - The Harlow Star
“BRIGHTER DAYS Jon Clarke (EP, Independant) Hats off to Clarke who has certainly not done too badly to produce what are four generally like-able tracks from his flat in Harlow. 'Home bound' & 'A Man With No Hope' are a good mixture of contemporary and middle of the road indie, although the sound tends to overtake the soft vocals to a large extent. 'The Hot, Hot Sun' suffers slightly from a lack of originality but it's 'Brighter Days' which lets the side down a little with poor backing vocals spoiling an otherwise commendable song.” - The Harlow Star
Bio
I was brought into this world ; with a natural & understanding ear for melodies , contemporary & popular music . Early memories of listening are ; watching a VHS of Elvis Costello music videos , listening to the top 40 chart countdown , on BBC radio 1 ; & hearing artists like Annie Lennox & The La's . The first guitar I was given , belonged to my father in the 1970's ; it was a replica of a Gibson SG , in a dark maroon colour ; with a jet black scratch board & machine head . The first thing I learnt how to play on guitar , was an open e - minor chord on a cheap Hohner acoustic , which never belonged to me originally ; until I eventually claimed it as my own . I’ve been making music since the age of twelve. The first song I ever wrote was on the Hohner acoustic guitar, with vocal melodies & a set of lyrics, it’s called ‘Listen to me’ It shares the same title as a Buddy Holly song; which I can honestly say didn’t even know existed . The first thing I published was a five track E.P titled ’90’s Four Track Demos’ I recorded it on an old analogue portastudio back in the 90’s. There’s some real early recordings out there as well, which I can’t F*****G stand!
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