Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Ben Sinclair

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

I can’t say definitively but my mother likes to remind me during Christmas time how when I was a child, I had her read and sing “The Little Drummer Boy” to me multiple times every day. This was not limited to Christmas and would continue year round, according to her. It would explain a lot about my musical path, how I started off as a drummer but I must have liked the other side of the music (the melody, the story telling) as well. That was most likely when the seed was planted, it just germinated for the next 10 years or so without me knowing.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

It’s not something I really remember making a conscious effort over. Growing up playing in bands, rehearsals would be at my house since moving a drum set to practices isn’t very practical. My bandmates would leave their guitars over at my place, and over time I started fiddling around with them. First learning basic songs with power chords, later open chords, and then other things. Around then I started writing modestly. I just kept writing throughout the years and then started to think “I should start recording some of these”

What’s the story behind your current music project?

Originally I wanted to do this album Sunrise Sunset over 10 years ago, I was going to have my friends/bandmates play the instruments I don’t play very well (as in anything but the drums). But getting people to commit proved to be difficult, so eventually I decided “whatever, I’ll do the instruments myself”. So that set me back a few years as I dedicated myself to practicing guitar/bass/keys/singing etc… Then I was going to have a couple of my friends help me produce/mix it since I knew nothing about recording, but once again, there were difficulties with getting people to commit. Again, I decided “whatever, I’ll do the production myself”. I spent another few years learning how to record/produce/mix and then finally, the album got underway. Hopefully the next album doesn’t take 10 years to make!

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

It’s really inspired by 50s/60s songwriting techniques/structures combined with modern production sensibilities. The lead single from the album “Lauren”  I wrote as a tribute to Buddy Holly with the synopsis “What would a modern day Buddy Holly song sound like?” 

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

It would definitely be the production/mixing element behind the music. When I first started writing songs, I’d just write songs. Once I learned about the technical element, I started shaping the song with the technical aspect in mind. Little production tricks, little recording tricks, I’d write with that in the back of my head, which would show up in the lyrics or maybe in the chord changes, or sometimes the way I chose to mic something when recording.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

I’d really just say the audio interface (a first gen Scarlett 2i2) and the DAW (Cubase). There’s nothing fancy with my gear, I make due with what I have. As for the songwriting part of it, I like to bounce around between guitar and piano. I find you write different types of songs depending on what instrument you are composing with.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

There’s a band from the UK called Gag Salon who I love. It’s the complete opposite of the music I make, but I grew up loving punk/hardcore and they kick all kinds of ass. They put out an album last year called “You Have Been Killed” which I listened to for a couple months straight. Unfortunately, they just broke up, as is usually the case when you find a new band you really love.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

I don’t write “personally” because my life is pretty boring. I use people/situations around me for inspiration, then I kind of put my own spin on it to create a song. Changing details, using different narrative perspectives etc… It’s like a book or a movie where it’s roughly based on a true story but the names and places have been altered to protect the victims, you know?

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

Nothing revelatory, I just hope it perks someone up and maybe they start tapping their foot or hand along with the rhythm.

 What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

There’s no end to it; there’s always room for improvement. I never get tired of practicing and trying to better my skills, whether it be on an instrument, with the songs I write, or how I produce the music. I’m always looking to improve and that doesn’t just stop at a musical level; I carry that mentality to a personal/spiritual level as well.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

This could come off as pandering since it’s for EuroIndieMusic, but I’ve always thought the festivals in Europe look amazing. I’ll just say Pinkpop since I’ve watched countless videos of some of my favorite bands playing there since the 80s up until now.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

I really don’t know if I would want to collaborate with anyone, I think I’m a bit of a lone wolf and have to do things by myself. That being said, I would love to talk shop with some of my biggest influences, like Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. If I ever had the opportunity to talk to him about harmony and arranging, that would have been something special.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

As of now, the only place is really on Spotify (or whatever streaming service you use). If you follow me on there, you’ll get my new releases when they come out. I’ll also try to use the bio section to keep things up to date. I don’t have social media because I think it’s poisonous and I don’t like huge corporations stealing my personal data or spying on me. It seems everyone agrees on that point, but everyone keeps using it anyway. I will put a website together at some point so people can keep up with what I’m doing. I like to believe that eventually people will leave social media once the effects of it are no longer being buried and everyone will go back to just going to their favorite band/artists website to keep up with them. 

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

I’ve begun the process of recording my next album, I’m currently in a demoing stage. I want to spend a bit more time in preproduction, working on arrangements and experimenting with ideas. With Sunrise/Sunset, I kind of had everything plotted out in my head and I just recorded what I heard in my head. With the next album, I want to dig deeper with the songs. I will have a new track or two ready for this year, and my goal is to have the majority of the album recorded by the end of 2026. The biggest thing is I plan to track real acoustic drums this time around instead of using an electric kit. 

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

I hope listeners discover that I have a lot more admiration for them than they could ever possibly have for me.