Clinton Edward is one of CFM’s newer local artists. We decided to find out some more about him.
You are currently working at Thames Hospital. What was your connection with the Coromandel before that?
I succumbed to the siren song of my now wife Aroha, who has been living here in Thames for a good portion of her life. We met when I played a gig with my brother at the Rocker Box in Thames. No particular connection to the Coromandel prior to that, other than my uncle Steve living up the coast.
Your family moved to Japan when you were younger and were involved in a television show where you performed live covers of pop songs viewers requested …
Yes, we moved to Kyoto in 1990. It was so rare at the time for ‘gaijin’ (outside people) to move to the area that we were often stopped in the street for photos and made the local newspaper as the first non-Japanese students to attend the local elementary school since its founding. My sister and I landed an audition for a one-off performance on a weekly tv show called Seishun no Pops (The Pops of Our Youth). The producers liked us so much that they cancelled the appearance of the group that was to follow us and we appeared weekly on the show for the next five years.
So, are all your family musically talented?
Dad played in numerous bands and taught us to sing from a young age. We went from singing for our supper to performing at talent shows and other public events. It just kind of became ‘our thing’.
Are you hoping to make music a full-time thing?
I’m taking one step at a time and certainly feel no pressure to succeed. Writing and performing my own music is the most honest expression I know. It is cathartic for me and I hope it can be appreciated by others as well.
Why start now?
Over the years, I have been a part of various musical groups and projects but have always wanted to do my own thing. I can be a bit of a control freak creatively, so this is my chance to get things as close as possible to how I hear them in my head. I have a stockpile of 200+ original songs, so you’ll be seeing more of me.
Can we expect to see you performing around the region?
I have been performing at a few pubs and the odd night market. I plan on increasing my activity now that I have recorded and released some music and finally have something to promote.
Supported by Rob Holding
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