Inspired #263 - Ben Abraham
Award winning singer-songwriter Ben Abraham has just released his stunning new single ‘War In Your Arms’ - he took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind his music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
At this stage of my life (and certainly in making my new album) I would say Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Donny Hathaway.
Peter Gabriel has become a bit of a North Star for me. ‘In Your Eyes’ is my favourite song ever written and as I got into the world of my new album, I played both ‘So’ and ‘Us’ and just had all the tracks on shuffle. Peter’s my guy. He’s joyful, collaboratively generous, a master sonic craftsman, a brilliant writer, and has groove and taste for days. The only time I ever cried from music was watching ‘In Your Eyes’ at the end of his Secret World Live concert for the first time. Okay I just had to watch it again right now haha.
Kate Bush’s ‘Hounds Of Love’ is my desert island album. It’s a work of such magnitude and genius that I’ve spent 10 years being a deep fan and still find it surprising and moving. The production is intricate and flawless, and it’s offensive to think she produced it herself.
I love how Kate plays characters with her singing. She has this angelic voice but isn’t afraid to get weird in service of her songs (I swear at 1m33s on ‘Hounds of Love’ her backing vocals are yelping like dogs).
Also Kate’s songwriting is incredible. I mean ‘Cloudbusting’ is about an Austrian psychiatrist who was imprisoned by the government. Imagine having the mind to see that subject matter and hear a catchy pop song. Her music makes today’s pop music sound like it’s written by people who don’t read.
And lastly Donny Hathaway - because everything he sings is instantly compelling and believable. To me having a great voice just means you own a beautiful instrument, but great singers are the ones who know how to use their voices. Donny Hathway had a once-in-a-generation instrument but it was the way he infused all of his pain and heartache into every note that makes him one of my greats. His vocal performances are raw and honest like an exposed nerve. And you never hear him thinking when he sings. His voice was a direct line to his troubled soul. Listen to his performance of ‘I Know It’s You’ and you’ll see what I mean.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
You know what, I watched ‘All About Eve’ for the umpteenth time recently and it still bowls me over. A great story told well doesn’t age.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
I find Berlin to be really inspiring. I went there for a songwriting camp a few years ago and stayed an extra week just to explore.
Berlin’s reputation for being wild and edgy is a bit of a cliche but I think it’s connected to why it’s so creatively inspiring. The city has this fascinating history with decadent and transgressive behaviour.
I think transgression is such an important part of creativity. Artists need to be able to approach their work with complete freedom from judgement, unafraid to try on different ideas like outrageous outfits in the queue for the KitKatClub.
It’s no wonder David Bowie lived there to make some of his best albums.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
I recently saw an exhibition by one of my favourite Australian artists, Nell, that got me super inspired.
Walking around her latest show which was a collection of glass ghost sculptures, framed canvas paintings, neon light installations, and two guitar cases with smiley faces--it reminded me of the magic that happens when you just let yourself be wildly creative.
Her work has always had this kind of eclectic, high-output energy to it, and over time these repeated themes and motifs emerge from show-to-show so that you see a really emotional and moving through-line in all of it.
I was so inspired I bought one of her ghosts. It kind of looks like a glass gimp mask and now it lives with me in LA.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
The beginnings of the track were actually pretty uninspiring. I got off a tram in downtown Melbourne and saw a busker (street performer) and started imagining what kind of song I’d want to sing if I ever had to busk. I heard this dramatic chord in my head and wrote the whole chorus right there on the street.
I texted my friend Helen Croome that I had just started a cheesy song idea and we met up a few days later to finish the rest.
I didn’t think it was a song for me so at the time we wrote it I don’t remember having any profound connection to the lyrics.
A few years later, after the song had been passed around to a few different people (I have versions by Stanaj and Calum Scott, and very nearly had Kelly Clarkson cut it), it came back to me and my managers and a&r’s worked really hard to convince me to keep it for myself.
It wasn’t until I started working on it with my producer James Flannigan that it hit me how perfectly the lyrics fit with the story I wanted to tell on the album and now I can’t believe I almost gave it away.
Funny how art works like that sometimes.
How would you like to inspire people?
I hope I’m the kind of artist who gets people excited to be curious about music and art both through my work and the way I live my life.
Failing that I guess I’d settle for having people like my music enough to give me money so I can keep making more. At this point in my life I can’t really do anything else.