Singer-Songwriter BEN BROWN Discusses His Latest Track, ‘Socks & Sliders’ and More!

Meet the North London-based singer-songwriter, Ben Brown! His newest music video for “Socks & Sliders” is out now. The fun carefree DIY music video was shot while in quarantine amidst COVID-19 and comes on the heels of the single release.

Check out the video here:

Ben Brown creates his ‘feel-good music’ by blending neo-soul, disco and pop sounds with his soulful vocals. Ben’s first 3 singles all hit the top 15 in the iTunes singer-songwriter charts, subsequently gaining traction in the UK scene in Summer 2018 playing at Sundown Festival and opening the main stage at Mutiny Festival. He pays great focus to mental health as he does mental health lectures at schools all over the UK in which he ties into his music.

Connect With Ben Brown Online Here: FACEBOOK

Learn more about Ben Brown in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! So how are you keeping busy and musical these days during the pandemic?

Thanks for having me! I would say it’s been quite a productive period for me. With no gigs going on, I have had time to focus on developing my sound. I‘ve spent a lot of time working on my production which has allowed me to add more of my character to my music which I’m really excited about.

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be a musician?

I think the first moment was when I started gigging at university in Leeds, England. I remember playing in bars and getting everyone standing on the tables singing and I really thrived off that energy. The most rewarding aspect of being a musician for me is providing an atmosphere where people can let themselves loose.

What do you think motivates you day in and day out? How has that drive
changed since you first started writing songs?

The ability to be creative and express myself for a living motivates me. At the start it was less of a ‘drive’ and more for fun, whereas now my drive is to push myself to make the best music I possibly can – something that I can be proud of for years to come.

How do you think your hometown has influenced the kind of music that you make? If not, why is that?

Playing gigs in London has had a massive impact on my music. Starting on the gig circuit here, I found that down-tempo songs sadly tend to get lost among people talking in most pubs and bars. The only way I could get people’s attention was to play lively songs that people could bop their head to, so this was the only sort of music I enjoyed performing. Consequently, the only way I would enjoy playing my own music live was to write up-beat songs!

Is there anything you wish you could go back and tell your younger self about this industry?

Making music that has an element of uniqueness and authenticity goes a long way. Your personality is unique, so put as much of it into your music as possible!

Let’s talk about your new song “What You’re Leaving For.” What was the inspiration for it? How would you say that it compares to your previous songs?

The idea was to almost tear apart every pop song you’ve ever heard about ‘going out and finding a partner on the dance floor’. The song sets you up to think that it’s going to be this but has an ironic reality-check that actually I can’t be bothered to go out and just want to go home and get a take-away. I made a promise to myself at the start of this year that I wasn’t going to write any more cliché songs, and this song was designed to be the exact opposite of the cliché!

What was it like making the music video for your single “Socks & Sliders” during lockdown? How creatively involved with the overall process were you?

I had a great time embarrassing myself in public shooting it! It was a challenge as I directed and edited it all myself which I’ve never done before, but I think I got the mood that I was going for and I’m happy with how it came out.

Do you have plans to release more new music soon or a full album?

I have one more single to add to the last 2 tunes to round off this project which I’m really excited for. Again, it’s about something that you don’t often hear about in songs. Something close to home, but I won’t say anymore than that! Keep an eye out.

What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

I would love to work with Pharrell. He is such a visionary in the industry and I feel like he would be a perfect match for my style of mood I’m trying to portray.

Who has consistently been inspiring you and the music that you make?

Tom Misch has been a big inspiration of mine for a few years now, particularly when it comes to guitar. He opened my eyes to the use of jazz chords in accessible music and I have taken a lot from his style of playing.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

Ultimately, I make music that makes me happy and feel good. My aim is to radiate this feeling to my listeners. My favourite messages to receive on social media are people saying they listening to my music to cheer themselves, this is the ultimate reward for me.