Interview with Ben Howard

With his first full-length album "Every Kingdom" coming out, Ben Howard is a very busy man, but still, he found the time to answer our questions. Check out the interview below where he talks about his musical aspirations, what CDs you would find in his CD player right now and with whom he would love to go on tour.

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1. How would you describe your music in one sentence?

A sort of acoustic mix, I try and do something a little different to the singer songwriter stereotype that I get put in.

2. Was there something like a light bulb moment when you were young, maybe a concert, a certain song or a record that made you dream about a career as a musician?

Not really, music has always been a part of my life and I've always just enjoyed playing. There weren't many open mics to five people that made me want to play music full time!

3. Are there any artists that might have influenced you or inspired you some time?

I'm constantly inspired by anyone who plays with a bit of heart and soul, the likes of Richie Havens, John Martyn, Billie Holiday and then more recently the likes of Jeff Buckley, Bon Iver and Damien Rice. There's so much good music out there, I feel like I'm constantly absorbing something.

4. How do you develop your songs? What part comes first, music or lyrics?

Usually the music, melodies are the first things that get stuck in my head, then the song forms around that.

5. What song is most important to you? Why and how did it develop?

All the songs I have are really just memories and little accounts of a time and a place, whether it be the content of the song or just when and where it was written, so they all carry pretty similar weight. I've got a couple of favorites on the new record that are about people who were really close to me, "Everything" and "Black Flies" are the two alones for me.

6. In what aspects did your music change compared to when you started to make music?

The more you grow up, the more conscious you become as a songwriter. I'm much more aware of rhythm and sounds and building arrangements: I learnt so much across the board when we were recording the album, my guitar playing has become more focused and controlled and the songwriting definitely has more depth and feeling.

7. What has been the best experience so far as a musician?

We've played some amazing festivals this year, Greenman festival and Bestival were definitely highlights of the last year. I love the travelling really, that's the big thing for me, the best experience is that you're always moving.

8. What can you tell us about your current projects?

We've just finished our first album so that gets released in a few weeks, we're all pretty excited, it's been a year and a half making it. I've got a few lo-fi tracks that I might like to put out before that though... my head is constantly ticking over.

9. And what are you aspiring to in the future, what do you want to achieve?

I've got a lot of musical goals, mainly venues to play and places to see, I'd love to get out to Australia one day and I'd love to play the Roundhouse in London, but the most important thing is that in a few years time I'm still enjoying the music that we're putting out.

10. With whom would you like to go on tour?

I've always wanted to play shows with Bon Iver, really just so I could watch their live shows a little more.

11. What record would we find in your CD-player right now?

The new Bombay Bicycle Club record is getting some serious spin time. And Arthur Russell has been a big favorite this year.

12. What do you think, as artists, about platforms like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace?

I think it's a great way to keep in touch with people and keep everyone up to date with everything we're doing, It's brought musicians a hell of lot closer to their fans over the past few years and with that has taken a fair few egos out a long the way.

13. myFanbase is a website that is devoted to American television shows. Do you have a favorite show?

I don't get too much time to watch TV nowadays but I've been loving the first couple of series of "Flight of the Conchords" in the tour van, not sure if that counts?!

Maria Gruber - myFanbase

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