When “Too Close” Became a Life-Turning Song: The Story of Alex Clare

A London Soul Raised on Jazz Records

Alexander George Clare — known worldwide as Alex Clare — was born on September 14, 1985, in Southwark, London, into a family where jazz, blues, and soul colored everyday life. As a child, he gravitated toward instruments like trumpet and drums, later shifting his focus to guitar and songwriting.  Those early musical influences — a father’s vinyl collection of bebop and “cool jazz,” and later idols like Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder — would deeply shape the soulful, genre-blending sound that would define his career. 

While studying at Westminster Kingsway College (training in catering), music remained his true calling. During his late teens and early 20s, he frequented London’s open-mic nights, playing original material and honing his voice and songcraft. 

From Open-Mics to a Global Breakthrough

Clare’s persistence paid off when a demo caught the attention of major producers, leading to a contract with Island Records. In July 2011, he released his debut album, The Lateness of the Hour, produced in collaboration with the likes of Major Lazer, Mike Spencer, Diplo, and Switch — a bold blend of soul, drum-and-bass, dubstep, and electronic textures layered over Clare’s rich vocals. 

Yet the album’s initial commercial performance was modest, leading to Clare being dropped by his label.  Then came a twist of fate that changed everything: in early 2012, his track Too Close was licensed for a commercial of Internet Explorer 9. Almost overnight, the song exploded — reaching number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while topping charts in Germany. 

This unexpected broadcast — “while I was sitting and learning,” as Clare once put it — turned the once-struggling musician into a global name. 

Riding the Highs — and Staying True to Faith

With newfound success came opportunities. “Too Close” earned a nomination for Best British Single at the 2013 Brit Awards.  Clare went on to release more work: his second album, Three Hearts, dropped in August 2014, featuring the single “War Rages On,” which was used as the theme for the BBC drama Our Girl.  In October 2014, he — along with co-songwriter Jim Duguid — was recognized by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) as Songwriter of the Year for “Too Close.” 

But what really distinguishes Alex Clare among pop-soul artists is how he handles success: with faith and integrity. Raised secular, Clare embraced Orthodox Judaism in his early 20s — becoming what many call a “baal teshuva.”  This shift had real professional consequences: he refused to perform, travel, or record on Shabbat or Jewish holidays — a stance that once cost him a concert deal. 

In interviews, Clare has said that for every opportunity he lost because of his religious observance, another unexpectedly emerged — often in ways that simply wouldn’t have worked had he compromised.

A Quiet Life of Roots and Family

Away from the neon of stage lights and chart rankings, Clare’s life pivoted toward personal values. He married and, as sources note, is a father to three children.  He relocated from London — first living in the Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green — and more recently settled in Jerusalem, Israel, with his family.

Despite stepping back from aggressive commercial pursuits, Clare hasn’t abandoned music. According to his official site, since the global pause triggered by COVID-19 he’s been writing and recording again, crafting songs not for hits but for sincere expression.

What His Success Looks Like — Net Worth and Legacy

According to publicly available estimates, Alex Clare’s net worth sits at around US$5 million, a figure that reflects his global hit, catalogue streaming, and continued musical work. 

Yet numbers only tell part of the story. Clare’s journey — from London open-mic nights to sold-out concerts, from secular upbringing to Orthodox observance — offers a rare template: a mainstream artist who didn’t trade his convictions for fame. In that sense, his legacy isn’t strictly chart-based, but principled.

In an industry often driven by compromises, Alex Clare’s story shows that with talent, timing — and faith — it’s possible to win both success and self-respect.

Quick Facts (for SEO & Reference)

• Full Name: Alexander George Clare 

• Birthdate / Birthday: September 14, 1985 

• Estimated Net Worth: US$5 million

• Family / Relationships: Married, father of three children; previously dated the late singer Amy Winehouse in the mid-2000s.

• Residence: Jerusalem, Israel (after moving from London)