Artist Of The Week #271 - Spielmann
This week’s Artist of the Week is Leeds based artist Spielmann - who has just released his debut EP ‘Fifteen Minutes With Spielmann’.
The EP is a collection of four undeniably cathartic pop numbers capturing the anthemic sound of acts such as The War On Drugs, The Killers and Bruce Springsteen. Amongst the sparkling synths and driving drum machines, Spielmann delivers a wry take on the highs, lows and often mundane middles of 21st century life. Not quite a character act, not quite the man himself, Spielmann is the stage persona of Leeds based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Ben Lewis. Self-described as ‘Harry Styles for 6 music Dads’ - Fifteen Minutes With Spielmann is pop music for people who only like ‘proper music’. In an unending display of creativity, modern day renaissance man Spielmann has played, recorded, produced and mixed all aspects of the EP, along with creating the artwork and lyric videos for every part of the release.
He took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Spielmann - how are you? So your EP is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
I'm very well thanks, currently sat covering a Zumba class at my work so a qualified first aider is present in case anyone keels over. They are dancing to trance remixes of Lil' Jon, which sadly isn't as great as it sounds...On the EP tho...It feels great, I can tell my parents they can now go listen to the whole thing on Spotify, then explain to them what Spotify is, then how to get Spotify, then decide to just give them my log in cos it's easier, then explain over the phone how to log in, then give up on the whole process and just assure them it's really good cos I put in loads of work to it. In all seriousness, I've worked really hard on it, I'm really proud of it, and think everyone should also think it's great, if you don't you're dead to me.
It is called ‘Fifteen Minutes With Spielmann’ - what is the meaning behind that?
When I finished the demos they came in at 14 mins 59 seconds altogether, so that kind of twigged something in my head, then I'd heard the Ratpack Live at the Sands where they do a bunch of bits introducing each other, and that kind of coupled up with this idea of it being a first 'body of work' even if it's just a small one, being an introduction to Spielmann in this kind of old school first outing that record labels might have done for artists in the 60s, so I'd had 'Meet Spielmann' or 'Hello from Spielmann', with the length of the EP 'Fifteen Minutes With Spielmann' seemed to work well. I think the next one is going to be called 'Spielmann is...' but i've not decided what I am yet, I'm working on a new song called 'The Loser' so it might be that.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
God I wish it was that interesting, it's all recorded in my attic where I have a little room with a couple of guitars and keyboards and that's about it. Quite a lot of sitting in my pants working things out and quite a lot of worrying what the neighbours must think of all the vocal takes. Pretttttty rock and roll eh?! I have an out of tune piano in my living room so I'll often sit at that for a fair while making little voice recordings that should never be shared with the world and eventually piece something together enough for it to qualify to go up to the attic and turn it into something.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
Themes wise, it's all pretty philosophical, wondering why we're here and what the point of everything is, but thinly veiled behind (what I think) are witty little rhyming couplets etc. Lots of nihilism, lots of questions around being a better person, and whether you can really be bothered to be. I guess some kind of social commentary is going on, but less chat about getting a meal deal from tesco like the post punk lads do. Lyrically there's influence from people like Alex Turner, James Murphy, Craig Finn, Jarvis Cocker, musically it's all pretty on the sleeve.
If the EP could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
That scene in Blade when they're in the club and the sprinklers come on and it's all blood...probably not that, feels inappropriate. I get told it sounds like quite like it could soundtrack some 80s teen film stuff, so The Breakfast Club feels right, but maybe also it could be the rousing ending to an underdog sporting story, so maybe Cool Runnings.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP - if so, which one and why?
When I've been playing it live i've really enjoyed 'Been writing letters to my local MP, I know him but he doesn't know me, he doesn't answer them anyway, but I still feel like I'm doing my bit' from Just Like Everybody Else. It's a really good one to yell with some kind of vigour and also has a nice balance of futility, nihilism and optimism, which is kind of what I'm about.
Now the EP is out there - what next?
In the immortal words of our lord and saviour DJ Khaled 'Another One', probably anyway. I'm already demoing a load of new stuff (the aforementioned Loser song), I've got my first full band headline dates in the Autumn as well as a bunch more city festivals in the works so would like to be bringing some music out around then. We will see, depends how productive I am over the summer/if I can afford it.
