Benjamin Clementine, Southbank Centre

Watch out for newcomer Benjamin Clementime – a supremely talented singer-songwriter -  who will play a Southbank concert this Spring.

Discovered singing on the Paris Metro, it was an unlikely start for 25-year-old Londoner, his piano and his serious soul. He got himself noticed last October on Later With Jools Holland, when he performed his tragedy-tinged paean to home Cornerstone with such gusto (and bare feet) that he floored the studio. His performance was one of those moments on Later when you feel a thrill of discovery (Remember Bon Iver in 2008, Sigur Ros in 2006?). He promptly became Spotify’s most shared artist in the UK for a week. 

So far the self-taught singer and pianist has released only two EPs: Cornerstone and Glorious You: works of seriousness and languor. His move to the French capital, where he found himself homeless and sang covers for change on the metro, has been a strong influence on his songwriting. Clementine has mastered Parisian thoughtfulness, shaped by poetry and melancholy, more heartfelt than the grittier sounds of London. 

Clementine seems destined to do things on a grand scale, despite his humble beginnings. Don't miss this gig.