Benjamin Clementine

 

Some faces stick with me.

Benjamin Clementine's face is one of them.

The British singer / composer / actor had a small but memorable role in Dune: Part 1 (2021) as the Herald of the Change. He was on screen for about 5 minutes but made a huge impression on my brain. His eyes, skin tone, bone structure, voice. Unforgettable.

I'd never seen Clementine's face before and had not since, until today, when I got a glimpse of it in the trailer for Steve McQueen's upcoming feature film.

I went on a hunt and discovered Clementine has a remarkable story. Born in London, moved to Paris, slept in the streets, busked in subways and was discovered. He has an even more remarkable talent.

In 2016, Clementine appeared on NPR's wonderful Tiny Desk concert series, performing original compositions that are nearly impossible to describe. https://youtu.be/00yQGeJ6AOM?si=5NcJ8sUOY7Gj9bej

One commenter on the video of his appearance mentioned Nina Simone. She is absolutely present, along with Anohni Hegarty and other more contemporary baroque pop artists.

In the midst of so much mediocrity, spending time with excellence is enriching.

Clementine will be on a world tour starting in December.