Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harperis an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances, and activism. He has released twelve regular studio albums, mostly through Virgin Records and has toured internationally. Harper is a three-time Grammy Award winner as well, winning awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, in 2005. He also won a Grammy for Best...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBlues Singer
Date of Birth28 October 1969
CityPomona, CA
CountryUnited States of America
You're living life in real time, man, and we' ve got a good amount of work to do for each other. Hiding is not an option and you're going to step out and you're going to make mistakes.
Hiding is not an option and you're going to step out and you're going to make mistakes. I'm going to look stupid. I'm going to say things I want to retract. I'm going to sing notes I wish I could have back, there's just no getting around the stumble, but if you stumble enough times you're going to fall off the edge and have no choice but to freakin' fly.
You look like gold. I've been fooled before, but now I know I've made the mistake in the past. But now I, now I know the difference from gold and brass.
It's so hard to so, so easy to say. But sometimes, sometimes you just have to walk away.
I grew up with a heavy diet of gospel, folk, and blues because those are kind of the cornerstones of traditional American music.
So it's not so much that I set out to do something different, it's just that the songs themselves require their own individual voice and attention.
The only way that you can find any semblance of a rule, or make any semblance of your own rule, is to tear up the rulebook. Throw it out, burn it, throw it away, and make your own rules.
When it comes to writers and poets, for me it's Vinicius de Moraes. He's one of the greatest lyricists ever.
We went for the best overall feel on each song. There are no musical overdubs at all. It's a true live record; it's one of the few true live records out there.
Right now I'm listening to a lot of different things but I listen to a lot of classical music. Eventually I would like to compose and perform classical.
There is a difference between a great producer and somebody who is a big advocate of your music. Just because you're a big advocate for a band doesn't mean you need to be in the studio with them, and at the same time - we don't need to get into this conversation - you can write a hit, but it might not hit.
There's only one proper way a song should go, but you've got to be patient enough to let them come together time wise. Sometimes it's lightning in a bottle and you got the song. But oftentimes it shows up.
Just because you have a hit doesn't mean you're good [at music]. Just means you got a hit.
As a songwriter, I don't rush. I may sit on lyrics for two years before the music hits.