Claire Johnston is without doubt one of South Africa's best-loved and most iconic female artists. Having stormed onto the SA 90's pop scene at the tender age of 20 as the voice and face of super group Mango Groove, Claire and the band have gone on to reach 15 times platinum status in SA alone, and have garnered massive international acclaim.
In South Africa, Claire and Mango Groove continue to hold attendance records for SA artists, including 6 consecutive sold-out shows at the Standard Bank Arena, and 6 sold-out shows at the Sun City Superbowl. Additional SA highlights have included the band providing the music for the worldwide broadcast of Nelson Mandela's release from prison, and the band headlining the first democratic inauguration concert of 1994.
Internationally, Claire's highlights with Mango Groove have included playing to over 200 000 people at the SOS Racism concert in Paris, performing at the official handover of Hong to China, receiving 3 encores at the Montreux Jazz Festival and being part of the worldwide satellite-linked Freddy Mercury Tribute Concert.
In parallel with her Mango Groove career, Claire has been busy with several enormously exciting solo projects. These have included her debut album, 'Fearless', recorded in the UK with uber-producer Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, her involvement alongside Jeff Maluleke in writing and performing the official Rugby World Cup song for the Springboks, and of course her soaring and nationally loved renditions of the SA anthem at Springbok rugby internationals.
In addition, Claire has recently written and produced a limited edition, conservation-themed album featuring her and Jeff Maluleke. The album was produced in partnership with Amarula Cream, and has just been released. Entitled 'Starehe: An African Day' , the album aims to raise funds for key conservation projects, and is available only through www.africageographic.com This will cement a long-running relationship Claire has had with conservation in South Africa, an association that has also seen her (amongst other things) becoming the first SA patron of the worldwide Born Free organisation.
Claire's latest album is ''Africa Blue'', released through EMI. The album was over 2 years in the making, and touches on issues very close to Claire's heart. As she puts it:
" Africa Blue represents an entirely personal celebration of the enormous power and influence of the musical legacy of the African Diaspora. It barely scratches the surface, I know, but these are the songs, sounds and styles I grew up on and loved. I celebrate them as an English girl who came here as a child, fell in love with South Africa and has made Africa her heart and her home. ''
Overall, ''Africa Blue'' is a sensory and emotional feast of an album. You will party to it as much as you will be moved by it. It will stir your memories as much as it will lift you up with its possibilities. Above all, perhaps, listen to it and you know you have come home.
Claire can be booked to perform with Mango Groove, or with a 4-piece band for a more intimate show "Claire, Up Close and Personal".
