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Ben Westbeech Interview
Tuesday 22nd March 2011 | Osh
With the release of his new album ‘There’s More To Life Than This’ later this year, Ben Westbeech is back after four years out of the game. We had a chat about his new up and coming projects and pre- show rituals.
Hi Ben how are you today?
I’m good thanks how are you?
Good! What have you been up to recently?
Generally working hard and finishing my next record and DJing and playing live, but mainly
finishing my album.
Whats it called?
There’s more to life than this.
So its been about four years since you last record?
Yeah four long hard years!
What have you been doing in that time?
I’ve been making another record, a band record, but its kind of been put on the back burner for now while I release my Ben Westbeech album. Then I’m gonna continue making that record after, but that one is a very different sound.
Ok, can you talk us through the two, whats the sound of the Ben Westbeech album?
Well the Ben Westbeech album is more of a House record, Strictly Rhythm came and asked me to a record for them, so it started off as a House record, but now is more like the next Ben Westbeech record. Its gone the direction I wanted it to go
And the band...
The band record is something else its a project I’m doing with Redlight and my friend who used to be known as Clips, and its a very Bristol sounding record, but along the lines of Massive Attack and Portishead, with a full orchestra... Its a full on record. I’ll finish it over the next few months. Its called Black Sun.
What are your influences when making music and how have you drawn on those with the current record?
With the new record I’ve been listening to a lot of disco and house, obviously, you know I DJ Deep House now. My influences range from that area, but also Jazz and Soul, a bit of Folk, in fact a whole heap of influences. I worked with a wide breadth of producers. Its quite an eclectic collection of sounds but along a similar bpm:110-130 now. More focused than the last record which was a bit all over the place, so this ones more succinct.
Your tracks are quite sunny and uplifting, is that a conscious effort?
No not really, I dunno, a lot of my tracks are about sad things but i make them sound happy a lot of the time to deal with the sadness. But yeah there is a summery vibe to this next album, I guess I just like happy sounding music, but then with quite dark subject matter. Music makes me happy, and why not transfer that onto a record if you can.
Definitely, but your music doesn’t just have a London, or a Bristol or a UK sound, it seems to have a very global sound actually.
Yeah well I think that’s important when selling records, but I don’t go out and think about making an internationally marketable record, I just make the music that I make ‘cos its me, and if it does well abroad then great. I think that if you can speak to as many people as possible with your music that’s really important.
So where’s your favourite place to gig? Where do you like to DJ?
Well in London there’s a cool place on Kingsland Road near me actually- called The Nest. I like playing little warehouse parties. My friend puts on a night called Slowpoke- its a kind of a dingey slow House night, which is cool. Internationally I think Japan is one of my favourite places to play, but really anywhere that will have me. I’m going to tour with the band as well after that record drops.
Who have you worked with on the new album?
I’ve worked with people like Henrick Schwartz, George Levin, Soul Clap, Lovebirds, MJ Cole, Chocolate Puma, and Moat City drum ensemble. People who approached me in the past about making a house record.
Who do you want to work with in the future?
This guy called Kink, who makes sort of Acid House.
Do you still play the cello?
I do! I play with my band now, I’m starting to incorporate it with my live show, its really cool because I haven’t played cello for years. Cello is back in my life again!
Talk us through your song writing process..
I have a cup of tea, go for a run, ha no I dunno anything can trigger it- if a hear an interesting phrase I’ll take that and make a chorus out of it. Or if something has happened to me in my life, personal experience, inner feelings, even observation. I don’t have a formula.
Your singles out now?
Yeah came out on March 1st its called Falling. Its got remixes from Deetron, Dark Sky, The 2 Bears and Jam Factory- who owns this lovely cafes where sitting in now (Dalston Superstore)
And then presumably you’re touring and doing the festivals...
Yeah touring around July, and doing most festivals, Glasto, The Big chill. I love festivals, they were always part of my life before I got into music. I love seeing people having fun and enjoying music in rain or shine.
Do you have any pre-show rituals that you do?
Yeah I do a shake out from head to toe, to relax the mussels and get rid of all the nerves!
Ben’s new single Falling is out now. For more info on new releases and gigs check out www.benwestbeech.com
Hi Ben how are you today?
I’m good thanks how are you?
Good! What have you been up to recently?
Generally working hard and finishing my next record and DJing and playing live, but mainly
finishing my album.
Whats it called?
There’s more to life than this.
So its been about four years since you last record?
Yeah four long hard years!
What have you been doing in that time?
I’ve been making another record, a band record, but its kind of been put on the back burner for now while I release my Ben Westbeech album. Then I’m gonna continue making that record after, but that one is a very different sound.
Ok, can you talk us through the two, whats the sound of the Ben Westbeech album?
Well the Ben Westbeech album is more of a House record, Strictly Rhythm came and asked me to a record for them, so it started off as a House record, but now is more like the next Ben Westbeech record. Its gone the direction I wanted it to go
And the band...
The band record is something else its a project I’m doing with Redlight and my friend who used to be known as Clips, and its a very Bristol sounding record, but along the lines of Massive Attack and Portishead, with a full orchestra... Its a full on record. I’ll finish it over the next few months. Its called Black Sun.
What are your influences when making music and how have you drawn on those with the current record?
With the new record I’ve been listening to a lot of disco and house, obviously, you know I DJ Deep House now. My influences range from that area, but also Jazz and Soul, a bit of Folk, in fact a whole heap of influences. I worked with a wide breadth of producers. Its quite an eclectic collection of sounds but along a similar bpm:110-130 now. More focused than the last record which was a bit all over the place, so this ones more succinct.
Your tracks are quite sunny and uplifting, is that a conscious effort?
No not really, I dunno, a lot of my tracks are about sad things but i make them sound happy a lot of the time to deal with the sadness. But yeah there is a summery vibe to this next album, I guess I just like happy sounding music, but then with quite dark subject matter. Music makes me happy, and why not transfer that onto a record if you can.
Definitely, but your music doesn’t just have a London, or a Bristol or a UK sound, it seems to have a very global sound actually.
Yeah well I think that’s important when selling records, but I don’t go out and think about making an internationally marketable record, I just make the music that I make ‘cos its me, and if it does well abroad then great. I think that if you can speak to as many people as possible with your music that’s really important.
So where’s your favourite place to gig? Where do you like to DJ?
Well in London there’s a cool place on Kingsland Road near me actually- called The Nest. I like playing little warehouse parties. My friend puts on a night called Slowpoke- its a kind of a dingey slow House night, which is cool. Internationally I think Japan is one of my favourite places to play, but really anywhere that will have me. I’m going to tour with the band as well after that record drops.
Who have you worked with on the new album?
I’ve worked with people like Henrick Schwartz, George Levin, Soul Clap, Lovebirds, MJ Cole, Chocolate Puma, and Moat City drum ensemble. People who approached me in the past about making a house record.
Who do you want to work with in the future?
This guy called Kink, who makes sort of Acid House.
Do you still play the cello?
I do! I play with my band now, I’m starting to incorporate it with my live show, its really cool because I haven’t played cello for years. Cello is back in my life again!
Talk us through your song writing process..
I have a cup of tea, go for a run, ha no I dunno anything can trigger it- if a hear an interesting phrase I’ll take that and make a chorus out of it. Or if something has happened to me in my life, personal experience, inner feelings, even observation. I don’t have a formula.
Your singles out now?
Yeah came out on March 1st its called Falling. Its got remixes from Deetron, Dark Sky, The 2 Bears and Jam Factory- who owns this lovely cafes where sitting in now (Dalston Superstore)
And then presumably you’re touring and doing the festivals...
Yeah touring around July, and doing most festivals, Glasto, The Big chill. I love festivals, they were always part of my life before I got into music. I love seeing people having fun and enjoying music in rain or shine.
Do you have any pre-show rituals that you do?
Yeah I do a shake out from head to toe, to relax the mussels and get rid of all the nerves!
Ben’s new single Falling is out now. For more info on new releases and gigs check out www.benwestbeech.com
