Biography
CLINARK - THE REGGAE TORCH
Bermuda born reggae artist Clinark, has finally achieved a lifetime goal – a self penned album ‘Journey to Foreign’ Nurture Projects (2008). It’s almost 4 years in the making, that saw him make a difficult journey from paradise (Bermuda) to sing in the UK in 2004. Now fast forward to 2008 and we find Clinark launching his album on a beautiful beach (Snorkel Park) in Bermuda with the support of featured artist Gramps Morgan and Peetah Heritage of the worlds top Reggae Band Morgan Heritage serenading the event with the lead collaboration ‘Life in the Ghetto’.
Clinark, often compared to Garnett Silk with his abilty to span all ranges extending to tenor, coupled with the captivating spiritual stage presence reminiscent of Marley has, brought together this classic work and also feat. Richie Spice, Luciano, Maxi Priest, Kofi, Brinsley Forde (Aswad) and Irie Love, Troy Anthony, Fantan Mojah. Clinark said 'Wow, it’s been a great 4 year struggle to bring the album out, Mafia & Fluxy and Dillie at Stingray, helped me to produce something so amazing, with all the musicians and artists that believed in me and worked on the project, I feel that they really understood my work and brought it out at its best.' The official video for Life in the Ghetto is featured on You Tube and set be on rotation on Tempo and on Reggae Top Ten Video Alley and various network channels.
So what has happened to lead this artist from Bermuda to the heights of Roots & Culture & Lovers Rock, Reggae Music? Why was his journey so difficult than most? What we are sure of is that Clinark, as humble and as talented as he is, certainly possesses the gift of composing music and song.
Bermuda is a group of small island in the Atlantic ocean several hundred miles from birth of Reggae in Jamaica, however even though Bermuda remains a British Colony, the most favoured music is predominately reggae, although R& B is having a major impact. Recently we have seen the rise of another Bermudian artist, Collie Budzz and so too rising Reggae Gospel star Troy Anthony, who also features on the ‘Journey’ Album. So how did a son of Seven Day Adventists get to have such a driving passion for Reggae? Clinark says ‘From an early age, I used to have a recurring dream of conversing with Bob Marley on a mountain top, with his children by his side.
Clinark sang and played keyboards and drums in Youth Creation Band from he was 15 years. The band gained much recognition and a single was released called 'Come in de land'(1985) culminating in an album in 1987 called 'Jah is on our side.' Clinark wrote and sang lead and backing vocals, played key boards drums on some of the tracks: 'The love that I feel', 'We must fight against Apartheid', Worldwide Problems' and ‘'Drug Population. ’Coincidently the band also opened shows with Aswad, Third World, Steel Pulse, Dennis Brown and more and we find that he lists these performers in his repertoire of covers and cites these artists as his main influences for his music today.
He later joined the Studio Six Band in 1990 to 1993 performing as a singer and keyboard player in Jahstice Band. In 1997, the band began work on an album. Clinark wrote some of the songs 'Strugglin,' 'Give Thanks & Praises' and ' More and More.' A couple of other songs 'One Love One Destiny, (which became an anthem for the band) and 'Can't Let Go' Unfortunately, the album remained unfinished as the other lead vocalist/songwriter left the band shortly after the initial recording.Clinark decided to leave the band at the end of 1999.
The year 2000 was a more desperate time for Clinark. He was suddenly struck down with a mysterious debilitating illness. This left him incapacitated with sudden bouts of nausea & dizziness and inability to walk. He was bed ridden and unable to work for several months. Doctors were baffled. Eventually, in 2002, Clinark was finally diagnosed as suffering with a severe vertigo symptoms. Clinark sought relief from a naturopath and eventually he saw a gradual decline in his symptoms. He was then able to run a small import business called. Riviera Roots Wear which sold wholesale and retail cultural goods and herbal products.
Astonishingly, Clinark's voice remained in full form. In 2003 he was asked by his lifelong friend, and former Jahstice keyboard player and songwriter, Antwon Pitt, to form a duo called African Descendants. The duo created a large catalogue of songs, (some as yet to be released and recorded). Clinark took the stage name of Dill-in-Jah. Offers from producers in Jamaica, and the reggae fraternity in Europe and USA came in, but Clinark was not yet fully recovered. Despite this, Clinark was still able to put out a sell out single in 2004. Clinark released for the hit single ' Dem Come' (10") which he sang under the name of 'Dill-in-jah' on the 'Dread Unity' label. It caused a great stir with sound systems in Europe, fans called him the 'The New Garnett Silk.'
In 2004 planned trip for the Clinark & Pitt to record in Jamaica was postponed. So Clinark decided to take up an invitation from his new manager, Juliet Edwards to go to London, England. The plan was for Clinark to record a couple of tracks with her brother's drummer and producer, 'Tony 'Technical- T' Edwards and Rob Edwards Jnr. Clinark travelled to the UK in December 2004. Miraculously, Clinark's symptoms reduced further, the cooler climate suited his condition. This team eventually came together to form the independent record label, Nurture Projects Music. Clinark also reverted back to his real name ' Clinark'.
Clinark's visit produced a buzz of excitement in the studio, producers .These short sessions in the studio proved that the fire was just been lit on this talented artist. Clinark says ' We just got together and everything just worked. It was something I had been waiting for, for so long and all the ingredients were there.' A plan was hatched to record an album. This became the ‘Journey’ album project Clinark and Juliet immediately got to work on writing songs for the project. Technical –T taught Clinark how to build his tracks digitally. By 2006 Clinark teamed up with UK recording with producers, Mafia and Fluxy in April 2006. Shortly after a live recording of Clinark at the prestigious Dutch venue 'Groene Engel ' in Oss, Miraculously his recording captured the first performance perfectly by sound engineer Sander Hartman., This became ‘Clinark Live in Holland with PMF band the first product under the Nurture Projects Label. So now we have 2 classic works from this talented artist.
Nurture Projects Music
Artist Website: www.clinark.com
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