Matt, chilling after a surf. Croyde, September 2011.
Three Thoughts
Photograph // Music // Thoughts
I first came across Ben Howard in 2010, when one of my flatmates made me a compilation of his music for my birthday. He hadn’t officially released a record at the time so the songs I received were mostly demos and had a raw, untamed charm to them. I immediately fell in love with his unique style of guitar playing and beautifully honest lyrics which have the ability to transport you to a different time and place.
Two years on, and Ben Howard has become a household name. Now signed to Island Records, he released his debut record Every Kingdom in late 2011 and it was met with great commercial and critical acclaim. Yes he’s a singer/songwriter, but somehow his music succeeds in transcending the boundaries of the genre and incorporating a more rhythmic, beat driven dynamic than your average acoustic artist.
Having seen him perform live, I can assure you that his talent is 100% genuine. On stage he performs with India Bourne (cello/vocals) and Chris Bond (guitar/drums) who provide the perfect backdrop to his skilful guitar playing and vocals. In many ways I would even argue that the live Ben Howard experience surpasses the recorded version, as he frequently takes up the opportunity to experiment, improvise and play around with various aspects of his songs – sure signs of a truly progressive musician striving to keep creating something new and exciting.
Having achieved such great success in such a short amount of time, the future could not be more promising for Ben Howard, with extensive tour plans in the coming months and talk of brand new recordings later in the year. Keep up to date with his news via his Facebook page, Twitter or his official website.
http://www.facebook.com/benhowardmusic
Benjamin Francis Leftwich has come a long way since he made his first tentative steps onto the UK acoustic scene a couple of years ago. He’s now a familiar name, having received frequent radio play and touring extensively in promotion of his debut record Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm, released in the summer of 2011.
Singles Atlas Hands, Pictures and Box of Stones perfectly demonstrate the 22 year old’s talent for writing touching, poignant acoustic songs which have the power to stop you in your tracks. His distinctive voice provides the perfect delivery for his frequently love-inspired lyrics, which are touching and relatable. For me, the record’s stand out track has to be lead single Atlas Hands, one of the more upbeat tracks on the record which seems to resonate an innocent hope and the excitement of young love.
Perhaps most impressively, Leftwich’s live performance stands up to the hype. Not only does the raw emotion of his songs translate perfectly to the stage, he also does a remarkable job of recreating the depth and heartfelt feeling of the recorded tracks with just his voice and guitar.
He is about to undertake his second major UK tour, as well as a US tour in the spring and what will no doubt be a busy festival season. One thing’s for sure, his new material will be hotly anticipated and expectations will certainly be high.
Official website: http://www.benjaminfrancisleftwich.com/
4Play Documentary http://vimeo.com/30869715
