Benjamin Clementine

Benjamin Clementine

Benjamin Clementine is a British composer, musician and actor from London. Born Benjamin Sainte-Clémentine in 1988, he starts learning piano at the age of 11 and leaves school at 16 after failing most of his examinations. After a dispute with his family, he lives in Camden Town in difficult financial and psychological circumstances, including periods of homelessness.

Paris years and early recordings

At 19, Clementine moves to Paris, where he spends several years busking and performing in bars and hotels around Place de Clichy while sleeping on the streets. He is discovered while busking in the Paris Métro and signs to Matthieu Gazier and Lionel Bensemoun’s label Behind. His first EP, Cornerstone, appears in 2013 and is later re-issued with additional acoustic tracks.

Albums and recognition

Clementine’s debut album, At Least for Now, is released in 2015 and wins the Mercury Music Prize that year. His second album, I Tell a Fly, follows in 2017. A third studio album, And I Have Been, is released in 2022.

Style and career

He is associated with art pop and pop, and is also described as a singer-songwriter working in soul, chamber pop and related forms. He is listed with The Clementines.