Clef nite

Last updated

Clef nite
Clef nite Live at The Middle East Club Cambridge, MA.jpg
Clef nite live at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2014
Background information
Birth nameVictor Chukwunonso Nite Jnr.
Born (1985-10-04) 4 October 1985 (age 38)
Wukari, Nigeria
Genres Soul music, Folk music, Afropop, Pop music
Occupation(s)Acoustic guitarist, performer, songwriter, music producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitars, piano, bass and xylophone
Years active1995–present
Labels Music Republic Records Independent
Website clefnite.com

Victor Chukwunonso Nite Jnr. (born 4 October 1985) also known as Clef nite is a US-based Nigerian Afro-classical guitarist, performer and music producer. He is known for his percussive chord playing style on the classical guitar. [1]

Contents

Early life

Clef nite is a descendant of an art family. He is the first child of engineer Victor Nworah Nite Sr., a citizen of Nise Awka South Local Government Area in Anambra State, Nigeria who also grew up as a singer and dancer. Clef nite started loving music at a young age. He gained support from his parents to pursue music. At age 11, he joined his parents' church choir and started playing the drums. He also learned how to play the keyboard before finally resolving to play acoustic guitar.

Clef nite studied music education and classical guitar studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and enrolled at Berklee College of Music, studying contemporary writing and production with a major in voice.

Career

After graduating from high school in 1999 he was admitted at University of Nigeria Nsukka to study music education and classical guitar studies. In 2005, while performing in one of his school shows, he was discovered by Abuja-based Nigerian music producer Mekoyo, who produced the hit track "Olufunmi" for Styl Plus. That year he relocated to Abuja to join him as an assistant producer at C Mountain Studios where he worked with Styl Plus as a guitarist as his first official gig. He continued to work and produce for other artists. [2]

Later in 2008 he relocated to Lagos. He signed as a music producer with Alec's Entertainment as in-house producer and worked with popular Nigerian artists like Ruggedman and Kefee. Peter of P Square invited Clef nite to audition for him. [3]

A side shot of Clef nite (Right) on the guitars with Peter (P Square) on stage performing in Canada 2010 P Square US Canada Tour 2010.jpg
A side shot of Clef nite (Right) on the guitars with Peter (P Square) on stage performing in Canada 2010

Later in 2009, he played with P Square as they changed their style to all live band following the launch of their Danger album. He toured with the band.

In 2012 he performed with Nneka and Black Thought on BET106 & Park on the program Music Matters.

Clef nite on stage during a soundcheck with Nneka on BET 106 & Park Music Matters BET 106 & Park with Nneka.jpg
Clef nite on stage during a soundcheck with Nneka on BET 106 & Park Music Matters

Later that year, he performed with Nneka on MTV's Iggy Unplugged. [4] These performances landed him a gig as the first Nigerian guitarist to perform live on two US TV networks.[ clarification needed ]

Clef nite and Nneka posing for a shot after performance on MTV Iggy Unplugged. Clef nite and Nneka on MTV Iggy Unplugged.jpg
Clef nite and Nneka posing for a shot after performance on MTV Iggy Unplugged.

In the wake of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Clef nite composed a tribute song for the city of Boston that he titled "Boston Song". [5] [6] His tribute was noted in major Boston new media such as The Boston Globe, [7] Cambridge Day, [8] and Patch. [9]

Clef nite is the founder of independent production company Music Republic Records.

Related Research Articles

<i>MTV Unplugged</i> American television series

MTV Unplugged is an American television series on MTV. It showcases recorded live performances of popular music artists playing acoustic or "unplugged" variations of songs. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999. From 2000 to 2009, it aired less frequently and was usually billed as MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. Since 2009, MTV Unplugged specials have aired occasionally, sometimes through online or subscription only. Episodes and specials have tended to showcase one artist or group, playing a combination of their hit songs and covers.

<i>MTV Unplugged in New York</i> 1994 live album by Nirvana

MTV Unplugged in New York is the first live album by the American rock band Nirvana, released by DGC Records on November 1, 1994, nearly seven months following the death of Kurt Cobain. The album was part of the cable television series MTV Unplugged and features a mostly acoustic performance. It was recorded at Sony Music Studios in Hell's Kitchen on November 18, 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Rochinski</span> American jazz musician

Stephen James Rochinski is an American jazz guitarist, composer, arranger, recording artist, author, and educator(Professor Emeritus)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Frisell</span> American jazz guitarist (born 1951)

William Richard Frisell is an American jazz guitarist. He first came to prominence at ECM Records in the 1980s, as both a session player and a leader. He went on to work in a variety of contexts, notably as a participant in the Downtown Scene in New York City, where he formed a long working relationship with composer and saxophonist John Zorn. He was also a longtime member of veteran drummer Paul Motian's groups from the early 1980s until Motian's death in 2011. Since the late 1990s, Frisell's output as a bandleader has also integrated prominent elements of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and Americana. He has six Grammy nominations and one win.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Kulick</span> American guitarist

Bruce Howard Kulick is an American guitarist best known as a former guitarist of the band Kiss (1984–1996). He was also a member of Union with John Corabi from 1997–2002, Blackjack from 1979–1980 and Grand Funk Railroad from 2000–2023.

<i>Unplugged</i> (Alice in Chains album) 1996 live album by Alice in Chains

Unplugged is a live album by the American rock band Alice in Chains, released on July 30, 1996, by Columbia Records. It was recorded on April 10, 1996, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Majestic Theatre for the television series MTV Unplugged. The show was directed by Joe Perota and first aired on MTV on May 28, 1996. Home video releases of the MTV broadcast were released on VHS in October 1996, and on DVD in October 1999. The MTV Unplugged was Alice in Chains' first concert in two and a half years, and contains live, acoustic versions of the band's biggest hits and lesser-known songs.

<i>Crack a Smile... and More!</i> 2000 studio album by Poison

Crack a Smile... and More! is the fifth studio album from the American hard rock band Poison. The record was released on March 14, 2000. The album features guitarist Blues Saraceno, who was hired as the band's new lead guitarist following the firing of Richie Kotzen in late 1993. Saraceno appeared on the band's last album release Poison's Greatest Hits: 1986–1996 in 1996, which featured two new tracks with him on lead guitar. Those two new tracks re-appear on this album along with thirteen new songs and five bonus tracks. The album moved around 12,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at #131 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Pitrelli</span> American guitarist

Al Pitrelli is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Alice Cooper and Savatage. He has performed with various acts as a band member, session musician and touring member, including Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Asia, Dee Snider, Kathy Troccoli, Taylor Dayne, Blue Öyster Cult, Exposé and Joe Lynn Turner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">At My Most Beautiful</span> Song by R.E.M

"At My Most Beautiful" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. During the song's creation, members of the group noted its similarity to the work of the Beach Boys and purposefully fashioned it to resemble that band's output. Singer Michael Stipe strove to make his lyrics the most romantic he had ever written, and the piano-driven ballad became R.E.M.'s first straightforward love song. Released on the group's 1998 album Up, it was issued as the third single from that record the following year, reaching number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

Apostolos Paraskevas is a Grammy nominated composer and guitarist. He was born in Volos, Greece. Parents of Apostolos were Panayiotis Paraskevas (1925-1990) and Chrysoula Paraskevas (1929-2002).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Greenawalt</span> Musical artist

Roger McEvoy Greenawalt is an American record producer and musician, known for carrying a ukulele at all times everywhere he goes. Greenawalt has worked with Iggy Pop, Rufus Wainwright, Nils Lofgren, The Pierces, Ben Kweller, Ric Ocasek, Branford Marsalis, Joe Strummer, Philip Glass and many others. A story on Greenawalt's discovery of Kweller appeared in The New Yorker on April 7, 1997.

"Nutshell" is a song by Alice in Chains that originally appeared on the band's 1994 extended play Jar of Flies. The band played it on MTV Unplugged in 1996, and this rendition of the song was included on the compilation album Music Bank (1999), as well as The Essential Alice in Chains (2006). Since 2011, guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell dedicates "Nutshell" to Alice in Chains' late original members Layne Staley and Mike Starr during the band's concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vlad (musician)</span> Musical artist

Vlad De Briansky, known professionally as Vlad, is an American guitarist, composer and educator. He is also an actor, record producer and a television producer. He plays blues, jazz, rock, and classical music

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nneka (singer)</span> Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress (born 1980)

Nneka Lucia Egbuna is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress. She sings in English, Igbo and Nigerian Pidgin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cobhams Asuquo</span> Nigerian musician

Cobhams Asuquo is a Nigerian musician, producer, and songwriter. In 2005, Asuquo was signed on with Sony ATV London as a songwriter. After working as Head of Audio Productions at a local label, Questionmark Entertainment, he set up his own recording facility in 2006. He is the former CEO/Head of Productions of CAMP, which he co-managed with Bez Idakula and Stan Iyke. He was responsible for Aşa's highly acclaimed international album ASA and has been mentioned on many artists' sleeve credits as producer and writer. He is now the Founder/CEO of Vintage Grey Media.

Tariqh Akoni is a performing and session guitarist and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. He is the former chair of the Guitar Department at the L.A. Music Academy as well as musical director for multi-platinum recording artist, Josh Groban. Akoni performs in multiple genres, including classical, flamenco, and rock.

Dave Martone is a Canadian fusion guitarist and record producer, based out of Vancouver, British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Sermon</span> American musician and songwriter

Daniel Wayne Sermon is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is the lead guitarist for the pop rock band Imagine Dragons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music Republic Records</span> Record label

Music Republic Records is an American independent record label owned and operated by Nigerian classical guitarist and singer Victor Chukwunonso Nite Jr., also known as Clef nite. Nite founded Music Republic Records in 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts to promote musical genres including Afro-Pop, Folk, World Music, and Soul, and the artists who create and perform this type of music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Watt (record producer)</span> American record producer and songwriter

Andrew Wotman, known professionally as Andrew Watt or under the mononym of Watt, is an American record producer, singer, songwriter and guitarist. As a songwriter he signs Wotman, while as a producer he signs Watt.

References

  1. "Clef nite". last.fm . Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  2. "I am living any musician's dream life – ex Psquare guitarist". thenationonlineng.net. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  3. "About Clef Nite". mtv.com. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  4. MTV Iggy Unplugged
  5. "Berklee College of Music Student, Clef Nite Announces his Latest Song as a Tribute to Boston". prlog.org. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  6. "DOT BY THE DAY July 3 – 10, 2014". dotnews.com. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  7. "Boston-area to do list". bostonglobe.com. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  8. "Cambridge's Fourth of July goes beyond fireworks, and even beyond the Fourth". cambridgeday.com. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  9. "Clef nite Writes a Tribute Song for Boston City". patch.com. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.