Ben Bedford is a singer-songwriter, composer, and visual artist. But he is so much more than that, as I found out when I interviewed him for Rye News the day before he left the US for his UK tour.
Rye Arts Festival is thrilled to announce that he will be playing at the Community Centre on Saturday September 28. He is looking forward to returning to Rye and catching up with friends he made on his last trip and discovering more of the history of the town.
Your songs showcase that you are a gifted storyteller – your songs are like slices of life. Where do you get your inspirations from?
Lately I have been getting most of my inspirations from nature and from the walks I take in a beautiful park in Springfield, Illinois. I love trees and walking amongst the trees and day-dreaming. Over the years I have got inspiration from history, certain figures in history like Amelia Earhart and Emmett Till. But in the last eight years or so I have been more enamoured with nature than anything.
Your songs are meaningful and evocative. Where do you write your songs – is there a special place?
Sometimes songs come to me when I am out walking but they kinda appear when they want to appear. They tend to manifest themselves most often when I am sitting down with my guitar and if it is a song I usually write the lyrics and the music at the same time. I find the lyrics often dictate the music. I find them almost inextricable, Â I will write a lyric first because the melody of the song is dictated by the exact flow and pronunciation and emphasis of the words that I have chosen to use in that moment.
I have found it more and more difficult to go back and change a word. If I try to I always come full circle and use the word that seemed right at the time.
Ben has a cat called Darwin who rules the roost in his house. Why did you call him Darwin?
I was reading Origin of the Species when he showed up on the front steps in 2011. He was a large kitten about six months old and presented himself on the front porch and told us that he lived here. I tried to resist but he was too cute. The survival of the cutest and he won.
What three words would you use to describe you?
If my partner Vanessa was answering this question I think she would say: curious, creative and contemplative.
If you could have a conversation with any musician, who would you choose?
I can think of a few, but my all-time favourite is Thelonious Monk; of course he died in the 70s but it would be cool to hang out with him, even to be just a fly on the wall to watch him work. I love Kate Bush, I love her adventurous, fearless art and the way she is driven.
Has anyone ever likened your music to a happier version of Leonard Cohen?
He laughs. I love Leonard Cohen. I saw him in concert in 2009 and it might be the best concert I ever went to. He is incredible and he has been an influence on my work along the way for sure. I like that, a happier version of Leonard Cohen.
If you had your life over again would you change direction when you arrived at a crossroads and change the course of your life?
I don’t think so. I don’t think I would do anything differently. I feel very creatively alive and really able to access my truly authentic artistic voice whether it be in music or visual arts. I feel like a lot of that is due to the circumstances and the life events I experienced and endured so I wouldn’t change it.
What do you love about Rye and what makes you want to come back?
I love a lot of things about Rye but the history of the town fascinates me. I love especially mediaeval history so Rye being filled with such ancient buildings makes it so special. I love also the connections to the people I met on my first visit and am looking forward to hanging out with some of them. It is my last performance before I fly home and I am really looking forward to it.
Image Credits: Ben Bedford , Ben Bedford , Kt bruce .