Introducing #241 - Ben Narcis
Let us introduce you to London newcomer Ben Narcis who has arrived on the scene with his debut track ‘Appocalypse’.
Born in Romania, a country undergoing Revolutionary turmoil, Narcis, the seventh son of his birth parents, was adopted into a British family as a baby. Having spent most of his adult life in London, his songs often reflect a sense of being out of step with the world around him. These feelings of alienation have only been amplified by the city’s unrelenting demands and unignorable inequality. Narcis sings with a glinting grin and razor-sharp vividness, channelling his experiences of living in one of the world’s most revered and reviled places through doomed characters and disastrous situations.
On ‘Appocalypse’, the first reveal from his upcoming debut EP, bright, Beck-like melodies underpin his magnetic word vomit, which inspires and overwhelms in equal measure as he continues to slice through the facade of society, calling out its hollow values, until he finally relinquishes his grasp; “you’re just too tired at the end of the day / log in and drift away”.
Ben took a moment to talk to us about his music.
So your debut track ‘Appocalypse’ is out now - can you tell us what it is about?
‘Appocalypse’ started life as a late night poem a few pints deep, out in the middle of nowhere. I was putting down what had been weighing heavily on me - the pace of life, the expectation to succeed at any cost, the constant *noise* of the modern world. War, porn, death - heavy, heavy stuff sat right there next to an advert for, I dunno, some teenager trap sitcom or the latest Marvel. I suppose it’s a wry view at all of that stuff - about being barraged by the bitterly absurd collage of modern life.
Where are you from and what are your favorite things to do there?
I was born in Romania, in a poor town just outside Bucharest. However, very early on I was adopted into a British family, and spent most of my time growing up bouncing between London and Chelmsford, Essex. A really healthy and promising music scene is blossoming out in Essex - I’ve spent a lot of time going to gigs, playing shows, meeting people, just hanging out. Same in London. Music has an incredible ability to bring people together. That’s so obvious a thing to say it’s almost embarrassing, but it’s true!
What are the key influences when it comes to your music?
Friends. I get the most drive and inspiration from bouncing ideas around with friends. Even if that means fanboying out about some all time greats, like Dylan or Billie Holiday, a lot of what I take from that is how me and my friends interact with and apply what we’re hearing. In plain speak, goofing around doing stupid Dylan impressions to make each other laugh, or growling like Tom Waits with his hand caught in a door, has often led to some of the best, most real stuff. A bit of friendly competition never hurts either. You can grow alongside and react to contemporaries, whereas Dylan’s a statue, something on the horizon, set in stone, atrophied.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never listened to your music before?
It’s impossible to avoid using references or adjectives, so that said… It’s got energy. It’s serious, but not self important. It can be layered, but not complex to the degree it’s a nightmare to listen to. It can be a little esoteric I guess, but always inclusive. It’s got groove, but I’ll never, ever ask anyone to ‘get down’. I’m not afraid to look a bit stupid. It’s not pompous, like Nick Cave can be from time to time. I guess it’s got the DNA of the blues, but it’s not that either. My best suggestion? Give it a listen and see for yourself if it’s something you’re into!
Now the track is out there, what next for you?
More singles! One in September, two in October, when I’ll be performing live at Peckham Audio on the 12th, followed by a show in Budapest on the 15th. In the meantime, I’ll be back in the studio with the super talented and fabulous Max Rad, cooking up some new dishes.
