Ben Westbeech Live! 28th November
November 22nd, 2006 by rui
Ben Westbeech will be performing live at The Big Chill House on Tuesday November 28th.
If you caught his set in The Club Tent at Eastnor this summer, or saw his live PA at Ninja Tunes’ night on Saturday just gone, you’ll see why he was one of the first acts Gilles Peterson signed to his Brownswood label. If you didn’t, then get down to The House and see what all the fuss is about!
Recently supporting Quantic Soul Orchestra and Spanky Wilson on a UK tour, we hook up with Brownswood Recordings’ new signing, the West Country’s newest soul pin-up, Ben Westbeech, for an impromptu interview…
Hi Ben. How’s the tour been going?
It’s been great considering the crowd only knows one of my tunes – ‘So Good Today’. It’s hard because people don’t know the music yet, but we’ve been winning them over in the end. I’ve done a few, quite personal gigs recently, it’s a chance to test a few tracks off the forthcoming album, and see how people respond to them.
How was your Big Chill this summer?
I had a great time. DJ Die and I camped for two nights. We had a proper good party [chuckles].
Your biog describes your soul music as ‘rough-edged’.
Generally I’ve been a bit rough-edged yes. I definitely used to be a bit scruffy, but I’ve cleaned up a lot.
Are a lot of your lyrics about girls?
Quite a lot about girls, yes [chuckle].
A synopsis of your musical past.
I’ve been making music in Bristol working with Die and Clipz, producing drum’n’bass and hip-hop and then making my own LP. One of my tracks got through to Gilles Peterson who was played it in a car park at Creamfield. He gave me a call two days later, saying he really want to sign me. It’s all been a very organic process so far.
And future?
I’m moving to London quite soon, next year, and the album drops in March. I’d love to do some work with 4hero. My dream would be to work with The Roots, ?uestLove is a wicked drummer.
As no-one knows much about Ben yet – we can expect to hear more on release of his March LP "Welcome to the Best Years of Your Life" – in the meantime, here’s a little getting-to-know-Ben speed-interviewing.
Influences: Includes Minnie Riperton and D’Angelo. There are plenty more!
Age: 25
Colour: Grey
Recipe: I’m a real foodie. Tuna steaks with butternut squash and potato mash.
Starsign: Taurus
Clothes: Trainers
Drum’n’bass philosophy: It’s always going to be underground, bubbling up overground when certain DJs make it popular.
City: I love Bristol, there’s good jungle and free parties there.
DJ playlist: Everything: funk, hip hop, soul, jazz, house…
Christmas wish list: I really don’t know, I really don’t need anything. Maybe some socks.
Ben Westbeech performs live at the Big Chill House on Tuesday 28th November with DJ Sinbad in support.
Admission free. (Socks, optional).
