You mentioned your influences, and I want to ask, has disco been a big influence in your life? When I listened to your previous work with the Indications, I get a disco vibe. That’s my goal and my inspiration always to just uplift them. A lot of those guys didn’t have much of nothing, but they made sure that they would go on stage and be the freshest dude in the whole auditorium. I want to dress the best, the nines, because it’s a part of the history and the tradition of all of the predecessors, the heroes that I have. B ut whenever I am on the stage, I feel a duty to just put on as many rings as I can on my finger. I got my whole little wardrobe back here, but I take a lot of influence from the soul greats, and that’s the reason why whenever I’m home, I’m usually like a housecoat kind of guy, pajamas, flip flops. What goes into your onstage outfits? How does that happen? It adds to the intensity of a venue like that. Singing up there, I mean, that in itself is an experience too. I have to say, Red Rocks is probably the most amazing, magical place I’ve ever sang at in my life. I’ve gotten to play at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, some really cool places in London, just all over the world. Honestly, I feel so lucky because I’ve gotten to play in some of the world’s greatest venues. Yeah, just a really nice, hospitable guy. His kids are running around during the sound check. What was it like working with him? And can you describe your experience at Red Rocks? That’s what I would want to tell him, and that’s what I would want this record to be a reflection for him. You can dream bigger than any dream anyone has for you. Don’t just take the dreams that people have for you. Whatever seat you get at whatever table, you deserve it, don’t hold your head down. You don’t have to be ashamed of anything. You don’t have to be ashamed of growing up poor. I would tell him that you’re not an imposter and you don’t have to be ashamed of being queer. I would tell him that I hope that this would make him very proud. You’re standing in front of that nerdy 17-year-old, what do you tell him? You’ve said you wanted to make a record that your 17-year-old self would love. Back in 2015, on my birthday, September 7, I went to the piano and I said this was going to be my birthday gift for myself, and that feeling came right on out. When I was writing this song, I really wanted to overcome all of those feelings and really embrace and love myself fully. I was so embarrassed and ashamed about who I was. Being raised in a christian church and household, I thought for the longest time that being gay or bi was one of the worst things you could be in this world and in this life. I wrote this to overcome a lot of shame and guilt I had. Man, what was going through my mind was the end of something really beautiful, the end of something that I wasn’t sure should exactly be the end. What was going through your mind as you were writing it? One of the first songs you released from the album, “That Feeling,” I can tell it’s a very personal song. I think that’s what tended to lead to the more raw raucous sounds of this record. That was a really magical and beautiful process for me. I was just singing things that I never thought of or planned before. I was also able to be influenced by the band. Everyone in the room together working it, making it happen, which was an amazing experience for me because I was able to really push the band in ways that I haven’t been able to before in the studio. I wanted to go into the studio and do all of the vocals with the band live. How did the process for this new album differ from your previous work?ĭurand: When I talked to Dead Oceans about doing a solo record, I had every intention of not going into the studio and doing exactly what I’ve done before with the Indications. It feels much more raw than your previous work with The Indications. Ben: You have a debut solo album coming out May 5 called Wait Til I Get Over.
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