News

Wet Wet Wet Co-Founder Releases Debut Album and Single

• 14th Feb 2012

You might not know the name but chances are you know his music.

Graeme Clark is a founder member, bass player and songwriter with the multi-million selling band Wet Wet Wet, the band that during the late 1980’s and through the 1990’s produced 30 hit singles – including 3 number ones – and 4 number one albums. The Wets disbanded in 1999, and having resolved their issues, reformed, toured and continue to discuss future efforts.

Clark’s solo album, Mr Understanding, and the single Kiss of Life, will both be released on 5 March 2012.

In recent years Graeme has decided to write songs for his own use. And while his lyrical and musical influences on Wet Wet Wet music is clear, his recent writing has more of his roots influencing the melodic soul than before. Free from the limitations that a successful band can bring, his music is flourishing and exhibiting the best of his creative seams.

Graeme’s craft of writing and producing wasn’t an easy road. “It took me a long time to compose the material I felt would suit me. I put a lot more into the writing. Not having a deadline made it easier and I could work at my own pace. I’m genuinely excited about the creative processes and have found my love of song-writing once again.”

Along the way Graeme has summoned influence and input from his team in and out of the studio resulting in an acoustic album of great depth and diversity.

“Mr Understanding” was recorded at The Foundry Music Lab in Glasgow in Graeme’s home studio and the G2 Studio London over a 12 month period. It’s a powerful body of work displaying a wealth of variety but with the ever-present soul influences that have been a trade-mark of Graeme’s work. The songs are tuneful, thoughtful and, as you might expect, soulful with an interesting range of influences.

With the exception of one track, all songs were written and produced by Graeme. Naturally there's a hint of The Wets in parts of the music, but there's much, much more to Graeme's musical vocabulary.

Having recently toured showcasing tracks from “Mr Understanding”, he is joined on stage by Wets’ guitarist, Graeme Duffin along with friend and musical collaborator Iain Duff – on accordion and piano. Their UK live dates will include one or two old favourites along with a natural enthusiasm that is evident both on this album and also in all their live shows.

But, as Graeme says, “I love that band and it would be pompous and foolish to turn my back on it”. As a result, their live set includes some old favourites in addition to this new material – a set that aims to welcome everyone to the world of GC.

The move to centre stage has shown Graeme to be a natural and talented performer.

Intimate, acoustic shows provide the perfect environment to see the man and to hear his music in a more natural way. As a well-known music industry insider put it “GC is without ego. He lives to perform and just loves getting close to the audience”.

Live dates, with more to be confirmed, are:

24th February @ Swansea Evening Post Theatre
26th February @ Louisiana, Bristol
29th February @ Islington Garage, London
7th March @ Fibbers, York
10th March @ Birmingham HMV Institute
15th March @ Glasgow King Tuts, Glasgow
18th March @ Brighton Komedia
22nd March @ Liverpool O2 Academy 2