Kristin McClement is a singer-songwriter from South Africa who later moves to Brighton, where she studies Fine Art and becomes part of the local folk scene. After a small number of early performances, she is taken up by The Willkommen Collective, alongside acts including The Leisure Society, Eyes And No Eyes, Laish, Sons of Noel And Adrian and Shoreline.

Early life and influences

McClement is born in South Africa and spends her early years travelling while her family looks for work. She grows up among open countryside, wildlife and the shores of the Indian Ocean. At thirteen, she moves to England and begins writing songs after getting her first nylon-string guitar.

Recording career

She releases her first self-titled EP before beginning work with producer David Ringland, known for his work with Birdengine and Laish. In spring 2013, she issues Pursue The Blues, recorded and mixed to tape. The release presents her voice and guitar in a spare, intimate setting.

Her debut album, The Wild Grips, is released through Willkommen Records. It is produced and engineered by Christian Hardy, who works with The Leisure Society and Christian Silva. The album includes contributions from Becca Mears on cello, whose other credits include Peggy Sue, Eyes and No Eyes and The Mariner’s Children, and Tom Heather on drums, who also plays with Eyes and No Eyes.

Performance

McClement performs across the UK and Europe. She also performs as a duo with drummer and multi-instrumentalist Julian Owen, whose other projects include Bunty, The Earthquakes and Spacenoid.