The past few years have been a strange journey for former chef Alex Clare – taking him from Brighton’s rehearsal rooms to studios in Jamaica, New Orleans and Los Angeles.

The Golders Green-born singer songwriter is poised to release his debut solo album The Lateness Of The Hour later this month, and next week embarks on his first headline tour, which takes in Brighton’s Green Door Store.

The city holds a place in Clare’s heart.

“I was in Brighton for about a year or so,” he remembers.

“I actually signed my record deal and wrote most of my demos in Brighton.”

It was these demos which landed him a major label deal with Island Records, only two weeks after they landed on the desk of the label’s A and R men.

That, in turn, led to him working in studios around the world with producers Diplo and Switch, and Adele’s collaborator Eg White.

“The atmosphere in Brighton was very conducive to creativity,” he says.

“You’ve got the sea there, and the amazing city. Most of the ideas for the songs were formulated over the years, but Brighton was a great place to make music, with the availability of recording studios and the genuine people.”

Clare is the possessor of a classically soulful voice, but what makes The Lateness Of The Hour stand out from the crowd is its deep rhythms and basslines, drawing inspiration from jungle, funk and dubstep.

"To an extent the album is about my record collection, but more the different genres of music that have inspired me,” says Clare.

“Diplo and Switch produced about 70 to 80% of the album. Some of the songs were pre-written, so they just had to put their stamp on them. Others were written in collaboration with them, such as Tightrope and Up All Night which were very much our baby.”

The different studio locations helped “reboot the brain” and got new flows going.

“Growing up in London you get used to seeing the same sights and sounds,” says Clare.

“It takes another environment to give you a shunt.”

Clare had grown up playing in bands, as a guitarist and drummer, but on his parents’ advice decided to actively pursue an alternative career as well as music.

“I trained as a chef as a contingency plan,” he says.

“It’s a good string to have to your bow, and I can make a mean omelette.

“It’s a form of creativity, and a lot more instant than music. You can be working on a song for weeks, but making food can be instant gratification of your creativity and productivity.

“Chefs are the original rock and roll stars. They go very hard in everything they do.”

He was still keeping an interest in music, juggling bands and culinary college, and eventually decided to go it alone.

“I was always into a lot of different genres, and into writing and producing stuff myself,” he says.

“In bands you don’t have carte blanche, you have to allow other people’s comments and egos. If a band has a creative difference it’s soul destroying, you can end up focusing negative energy on your co-writer as opposed tomakinga song.”

While making the album, Clare’s live shows took a back seat – he confesses to having only played six or seven since January, including a showcase at the 2011 Great Escape.

“It has been tricky bringing the songs back to a live setting,” he says.

“A lot of the basslines are pretty complex, but we’ve got a very good bass player who knows what he’s doing.

“There’s a lot of strings and blurred-up vocals on the album that we’ve had to put on HD tape. Hopefully one day I can take out an orchestra, but until then...”

Support from My New Favourite Tribe.

* Doors 7.30pm, tickets £8. Call Resident on 01273 606312 or Rounder Records on 01273 325440.