Clay on Cover of "Whatever" (Canadian East Coast Music Magazine)

Isn't this cool! Clay bearly gets any press in the East Coast of Canada, and he suddenly lands on the cover of a prominent music magazine called Whatever.

Click to enlarge. Thanks to the CB's llbun.

Claymates on Guard
His rabid fans, known as Clamates, attack anyone who would dare sully the reputation of their beloved Aiken, whose 2003 debut, Measure Of A Man, was followed by a 2004 Christmas album, Merry Christmas With Love.

"They formed themselves while I was on the show and have grown in strength and energy ever since, which is nothing but thrilling for us," says Aiken of the Claymates.

The Toronto Sun rankled Aiken devotees when it suggested he should be singing musical theatre on Broadway in a review of Measure Of A Man.

So who are they exactly?

"I have a feeling they are probably mostly ladies," says Aiken. "We don't get played in gentlemen's clubs," he adds with a giggle.

Aiken says he has no desire to hit the Great White Way although he did see Vanessa Olivarez in Hairspray at the Princess of Wales Theatre here last summer.

I've seen some shows and they seem fun," he says. "But in the popular music world that's kind of an insult to say someone belongs on Broadway, so thanks a lot. I mean I've seen people who've done it and I think they're very talented. Maybe one day, but our focus is on something different at this time."

Aiken and his nine-piece band are currently a month into his so called Jukebox tour - an overview of pop covers spanning the 1950s to today.

Aiken is working with Canadian producer Jaymes Foster Levy - sister of David Foster on his sophomore effort which he hopes to have out by the spring.

"She's excellent," says Aiken. "It's really great to have somebody, we see eye to ete, ear to ear, I guess, on a lot of the stuff that we both like. She helps me figure out how to slow down and how we make sure that this next album is as good as it can be.