Ben Lester: “My six favourite artists are The Beach Boys, Yes, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Prefab Sprout and The Flaming Lips. It’s been that way since I was 15, and will surely remain so until I die”
I recently discovered an album courtesy of Ben Lester that absolutely blew me away! Based in London, the singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist released his self-titled record last September - delivering thirteen tracks that beautifully showcase his richly melodic take on chamber pop.
Having heard my fair share of new albums over the years, very few have clicked with me this quickly, so I took a punt and reached out to Ben for an interview. Much to my delight, he was more than happy to indulge me.
Chatting about what it was like being picked up by BBC Introducing, his meticulous approach to recording that led to nights spent sleeping in the studio, and how his love of Brian Wilson has shaped his sound, please welcome the hugely talented Ben Lester!
Hey Ben, I can't wait to get to know you better and introduce you to our ever-growing audience!
To kick things off, please tell us a little about your musical journey.
What first sparked your passion for it, and what twists and turns have brought you to where you are today?
I’ve always been a music fanatic, and as a teen I would spend every spare moment learning to play any instrument I could get my hands on. I started writing songs in 2016 while I was still at school - I recorded them as demos in my bedroom and sent them off to whoever would listen to them.
Amazingly, I was picked up by BBC Radio and was chosen as a BBC Introducing featured artist! Going on BBC Radio London to discuss my music and have my songs played on the air was an incredible experience. From there it was a whirlwind couple of years - I got signed by Mayfield Records, recorded my debut album, had a bunch more radio play and interviews, and toured up and down the country.
OK, let's talk about your self-titled debut album. Firstly, I'm utterly obsessed! Secondly, and perhaps more intriguingly, did you know you had something special on your hands?
I’m so glad you like it! It really does mean a lot to me.
I wrote the album while I was at uni, between 2017 and 2019. I would spend day after day in the studio poring over every single detail, sometimes just fiddling with the mixes for hours on end. On more than one occasion I slept over and started again in the morning!
I think when you’ve invested that much love, time and effort into something, it’s hard to view it objectively anymore. So to answer your question - it was always special to me, but whether or not others would receive it that way was another matter.
When COVID hit and put my music career on hold, I quietly put out an unfinished draft of the album and sort of forgot about it. It wasn’t until years later when I revisited it and realised it was better than I remembered! So I finally finished it properly and released it in September of last year. Fortunately, it’s had such a fantastic reception, and I’m still getting glowing reviews even now a year after its release!
The record's second track, The Moment, is fast approaching 300,000 Spotify plays.
How on earth does it feel to know that so many people are listening to and resonating with your music?
It’s pretty cool, isn’t it! Alas, those streams are mostly from many a year ago, back when the singles were first released and I was still gigging to promote my music.
Still, even if it only reaches a fraction of that audience nowadays, I consider every fan of my music an honour! Beyond the numbers though, I’ve had nothing but positive reception for the album, which is so affirming - and really justifies all the many hundreds of hours I spent on it!
Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations?
And, if you could "steal" one song in the world and claim it as your own, what would it be and why?
My six favourite artists are The Beach Boys, Yes, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Prefab Sprout and The Flaming Lips. It’s been that way since I was 15, and it will surely remain so until I die! There’s something so special, so ingenious, so transcendentally beautiful about their music that, for me, elevates them above anyone else.
Brian Wilson definitely occupies the top of that podium, so if I could steal any song, it would be his masterpiece Surf’s Up - my contender for the greatest song ever written!
We’re always fascinated by the different approaches that artists turn to in their creative process or processes.
How do you take that initial spark and turn it into a complete song?
I’m very much a perfectionist - to a fault! As I mentioned, it took eight years from starting the album to finally completing and releasing it. I played every instrument myself (except the brass on The Moment), and handled much of the production too. That sort of auteurship is tiring - but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It makes it just that more rewarding when you finally have the finished product.
When you’re not creating music, what keeps you busy and happy? Walk us through a non-music day in the life of Ben Lester.
There’s no such thing as a non-music day in my life! I work as a music teacher and have done for several years now. When I paused my music career, it was the only other choice for me really. And it’s a dream job - I get to talk about music for a living! Every year, the new kids will find my album on the internet and will think it’s the coolest thing ever - I’m always very flattered when they tell me they like it, even if they are just being nice!
What, to you, is music’s role in society?
Music is damn-near the only thing that every single human on the planet loves. Isn’t that amazing? It spans every divide and every difference. We could really do with using more of that harmonious power - especially in these turbulent times.
Ben, I can't thank you enough for taking the time! It's been an absolute treat having you here!
Not to get too deep or anything, but when you imagine the arc of your career, what kind of legacy do you hope your music leaves behind?
I just hope that however many years down the line, when people listen to my music, they think “yeah this is pretty cool!” I’ve always tried to do something a bit fresh, a bit unique, hoping that it stands out a little amongst such a saturation of singer/songwriters.
Judging by the reception my music has gotten, I’d like to think that’s not too far-fetched a dream 😀
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