Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Ben Barbic
Ben Barbic’s lyrical honesty, combined with catchy beats, makes it impossible for your head not to jam along with him. Ben pulls from his influences in reggae, hip-hop, as well as Dancehall vibes to bring these genres together in harmony and makes a completely new and original sound. Since 2016 Ben Barbic has settled comfortably into the Reggae scene bringing his unique perspective to the genre. He continues to constantly grow and connect with music audiences worldwide, having been played on the radio on nearly every continent and amassed a social media following of over 70,000. Based in the Bay Area of California, Ben is working with an ever-increasing roster of artists. Including Craigy T (T.O.K.), Dan Konopka (OK GO) , Ras Fraser Jr, E.N. Young (Tribal Seeds), Konu, Hugo Jah, Kwans Nuggets, Vödoo, Bobby Hustle, Dino Campanella (Dredg) & Maggiore as well as producers like Israël Rinaldo (France), Rick Haze, Strapland Records, Polaris Studios, Small Axe Entertainment, DJ Power, DJ Jfx, Jesse Shirts (BAS, IDK), Adonis Shropshire (Mariah Carey, Usher, Chris Brown), Adde Instrumentals (Vybz Kartel, Popcaan) Bennie Mellies, and many more.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
My earliest memories are soundtracks. Riding in my dad’s van listening to “On the Road Again.” Watching my uncle play accordion at family gatherings while everyone else ran around, I stood still, studying the mechanics and emotion. Music wasn’t background noise — it was identity. It made life feel bigger, alive, and meaningful.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
The moment I discovered I could record my voice over a beat, everything changed. Listening wasn’t enough — I needed to participate. That first recording wasn’t curiosity; it was ignition. From then on, music became a place I could step into — and I never stepped back out.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I’m finishing multiple releases right now, including a reggae song called “Deeper” featuring Hawaiian artist Konu and French/Guadeloupe producer El Boa Prod. The idea came from a conversation with Konu in a park in Waikiki about how shallow the world feels — and how necessary depth still is. The track drops on November 21st.
How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard it?
A blend of Bay Area roots and everything life has thrown at me: Reggae, hip-hop, acoustic elements, and a bit of dancehall. My music is a reflection—how I process life.
What’s one thing you’ve learned that changed how you create?
Space matters. Early on, I filled every bar with intensity. Now I understand restraint. Silence has weight — sometimes more truth than the lyric.
What tools or gear are essential in your process?
Give me a mic, a rhyming dictionary, and a Pro Tools rig, and I’m home. I also never fully write before recording — I want truth in the moment, not perfection rehearsed.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Hard to narrow it down — but these three are in rotation:
- Satsang – Thrill of It All
- Ruger – Asiwaju
- Ibrahim Maalouf – Love Anthem
How have your personal experiences shaped your music?
Music has been with me through everything — especially the painful chapters. When I lost my home in a wildfire at five years old, and then an earthquake 4 years later, music became comfort and escape in the difficult times. Now it’s how I process life — not how I avoid it.
What do you hope listeners feel when they hear your work?
Purpose and a sense of truth that they can connect with.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you?
Release the work. Don’t hold art hostage while chasing perfection. Create, finish, release — then grow.
Dream venue or festival?
A stadium with 20,000+ people singing the lyrics back. Not for ego — for connection.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be?
Bob Marley. His connection to truth, spirit, and purpose was unmatched.
Where can listeners follow your work?
Spotify | Instagram | YouTube | Website | Book
What’s next?
My book Rise & Climb: Finding Purpose Through Pain releases March 3rd, 2026, through Skyhorse Publishing and Simon & Schuster distribution. I’m finishing a 20-track soundtrack to accompany it and recording the audiobook myself. It’s a massive project — but it feels right.
What do you hope your audience discovers along the way?
The music is about progression. It’s about waking up every day and getting a little better at channeling that truth in the music—or the words on the page.
If someone hears the music or reads the book and feels less alone, more awake, or closer to who they’re meant to become — then it’s worth every hour I’ve poured into it.
