- Clare Maguire
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Clare Maguire 
Background information Born September 15, 1987
SolihullGenres Trip-hop, electropop Occupations Singer, songwriter Instruments Vocals Years active 2008–present Labels Polydor, Universal Republic[1] Associated acts The Streets, Chase & Status Website claremaguire.com Clare Rita Mary Maguire (born 15 September 1987) is a British singer-songwriter. She was signed to Universal Music Group Polydor Records in 2008. She was rated in fifth place in the BBC Sound of 2011 list of the top 15 most promising new artists.[2] Maguire was also singled out as one of MTV's Brand New: For 2011 Acts.[3] Her voice has been compared to Stevie Nicks and Annie Lennox.[4]
Maguire's debut album, Light After Dark, was released on 28 February 2011.
Contents
Career beginnings
When she was 17, Maguire began travelling regularly to London to establish music contacts and also began posting demo songs on MySpace. One of these tracks, Strangest Thing, recorded with Joe Flory (Primary 1) approached 500,000 plays,[5] leading to interest from a number of major recording companies. Maguire was also invited to Jay-Z's restaurant to meet the American rapper and millionaire businessman[6] and other well established recording artists, including Jarvis Cocker, who was impressed and offered her one of his songs.[5] Maguire signed a recording contract with Polydor Records in 2008 and then worked on her debut album Light After Dark with producer Fraser T. Smith, who has previously worked with Kylie and Adele.[2]
History
2009–2011: Light After Dark
Maguire began a European concert tour in October 2010 supporting Plan B and Hurts.[7] She has also written a song with fellow Birmingham rap artist Mike Skinner entitled Lock the Locks which will feature on his last Streets album, Computers and Blues.[8] Maguire also features on the track Midnight Caller which appears on Drum and Bass-duo Chase & Status' second studio album, No More Idols.
Maguire released her debut single Ain't Nobody in the United Kingdom on 18 October 2010 through Polydor Records, where it debuted at number 78 on the UK Singles Chart. A remix of the song was used in Renault's 2011 Clio commercial entitled "What is Va Va Voom?".[9] Maguire's song You're Electric was selected as the iTunes single of the week and was available for a free digital download from 28 December until 3 January 2011.[10] The song also appears on Light After Dark, but was released as part of an iTunes-exclusive EP entitled Let's Begin. In March 2011, Maguire began supporting The Script in their UK tour.[citation needed]
On 31 December 2010, the song Lucky appeared as another free promotional download on Amazon. She then released her second official single, The Last Dance. The single was said to have been written by Maguire the day after the death of music legend Michael Jackson in response to a series of unjustified comments. The official video that accompanied the single was first premiered by The Sun on 7 January 2011 and was directed by AlexandLiane.[11] The song was 4Music and TheBox's 'VIP Track of the week' and was also 'Record Of The Week' for BBC Radio 1 DJs Fearne Cotton and Dev. BBC Radio 1 added the song to the B-List on its playlist.[citation needed]
Light After Dark went in at Number 7 in the official UK top 100 album chart (refer to previous link). The album was released on the 20th February 2011. The last single to be released off the album was 'The Shield & The Sword'. It peaked at #91 on the UK Music charts.
2011-present: Second Studio Album
During 2011, Maguire has been working with various songwriters and producers for the second album. During her debut headline tour, she premiered new song titled 'Mess You Around'. She has also premiered 2 new songs during festivals over the summer of 2011, titled 'A Change In Me' and 'Lights Out'. Maguire has described the second album as more of a "bluesy/soul record" with influences from Johnny Cash among others.
Personal life
Born in Solihull,[12] on 15 September 1987,[13] Maguire comes from a large musical Irish family, the middle child of three born to Caroline (née Deehan) and Francis Maguire Sr.[14] and started singing and writing music from the age of 7.[15] She went to school at the independent all-girls school, Saint Martin's. She includes among her significant influences Johnny Cash, Prince, Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac and Sister Rosetta Tharpe,[2] the pioneering 1940s gospel singer, songwriter and recording artist who popularised mixing spiritual lyrics with rock and roll accompaniment.[16]
Discography
Main article: Clare Maguire discography- Light After Dark (2011)
- Second Studio Album (TBA)
Touring
Maguire has supported Hurts and Plan B tours in the past, and was supporting The Script, 17–29 March 2011, as part of their Science & Faith Tour. On 3 February 2011 Maguire announced details of a UK and Ireland tour, set for March and April.[17]
Maguire performed at Pride Bristol 2011 on 16 July.[18]
Awards and nominations
Year Organisation Nominated work Award Result 2010 BBC Sound of 2011[19] Clare Maguire Sound of 2011 Nominated
Fifth placeMTV Brand New[20] Clare Maguire New for 2011 Nominated Q Awards[21] Clare Maguire Next Big Thing Won 2011 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards Clare Maguire UK Solo Artist/Musician Nominated PANDORA Breakthrough Artist Nominated References
- ^ Clare Maguire signs to Universal Republic Records, Retrieved 2011-01-31.
- ^ a b c "Sound of 2011 Clare Maguire". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/soundof/2011/artists/claremaguire/. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- ^ "MTV Clare Maguire". MTV. http://www.mtv.co.uk/events/brand-new-for-2011/news/247971-brand-new-for-2011-acts-announced. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ "One To Watch : Clare Maguire". http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/features/One+To+Watch+Clare+Maguire-13654.html. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ a b Lester, Paul (2010-10-13). "New Band of the day: Clare Maguire". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/13/new-band-claire-maguire. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ Cochrane, Greg. "Introducing…Clare Maguire". BBC Newsbeat. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/11418960. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ "Tour dates". Clare Maguire. http://www.claremaguire.co.uk/tour. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ Sullivan, Caroline (2010-12-23). "Clare Maguire, Katy B and the Pierces: pop's new queens in waiting". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/dec/23/clare-maguire-katy-b-pierces-2011. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ TV Ad Music » Renault Clio – What Is Va Va Voom?
- ^ "You're Electric – Single of the Week". iTunes. http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/youre-electric-single-week/id410149562. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ Clare Maguire - Last Dance. thesun.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-01-07.
- ^ http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/01/12/ birmingham-singer-clare-maguire-named-star-of-2011-97319-27970199/
- ^ Clare Maguire set to be a 2011 star with her electro-pop - mirror.co.uk
- ^ "Clare Maguire". Last FM. http://www.last.fm/music/Clare+Maguire. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ s_cid=294&source=google_adwords&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=294&gclid=CPypzvqTlqYCFQ1O4Qod00_DZw "Clare Maguire". MTV. http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/clare-maguire s_cid=294&source=google_adwords&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=294&gclid=CPypzvqTlqYCFQ1O4Qod00_DZw. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ "Sister Rosetta Tharpe". Livin Blues. http://www.livinblues.com/bluesrooms/sisterrosettatharpe.asp. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ Clare Maguire announces UK and Ireland tour – ticket details | News | NME.COM
- ^ "Clare Maguire Performs at Pride Bristol 2011". Pride Bristol. 2011. http://www.pridebristol.org/news/. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
- ^ Youngs, Ian. (2010-12-06) BBC News – BBC Sound of 2011: Clare Maguire. Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-01-04.
- ^ MTV's Brand New: For 2011 Acts Announced! | Brand New For 2011 | News | MTV UK. Mtv.co.uk (2010-11-30). Retrieved on 2011-01-04.
- ^ "Q Awards 2010: Winners List And Photos". 2010-10-25. http://www.gigwise.com/news/59137/Q-Awards-2010-Winners-List-And-Photos. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
External links
- Official website
- Clare Maguire's BBC Sound of 2011 page at BBC Online
- Clare Maguire interview in the Virgin Red Room
Studio albums Light After DarkSingles "Ain't Nobody" • "The Last Dance" • "The Shield and the Sword"Related articles Polydor Records • Sound of...Categories:- 1987 births
- English people of Irish descent
- English singer-songwriters
- Living people
- People from Birmingham, West Midlands
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