Benjamin Clementine

Composer, pianist and songwriter Benjamin Clementine did not grow up in a musical household. Strictly self-taught, he was inspired by classical music and prior to his 20th birthday, Clementine moved from his hometown of London, England to Paris, France, where he supported himself by busking. An agent discovered Clementine and put him in touch with his future manager. Clementine made his recorded debut in 2013 with Cornerstone, a striking three-track EP of poetic, piano-and-voice ballads to rage reviews. An appearance on BBC Two's Later...with Jools Holland exposed him to a much larger audience. 
 He released At Least for Now, his debut album, in 2015. He was subsequently awarded the Mercury Prize for his effort, which he dedicated to the victims of the Paris terror attacks that took place that year. In early 2017, Clementine was featured on "Hallelujah Money," a single by The Gorrilaz. That summer, Clementine released the dramatic "Phantom of Allepoville," the first single from his follow-up LP. His ambitious self-produced sophomore album, I Tell a Fly, arrived in September of that year. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi