Benjamin Russell

Name of Band? (Include all band members names and instruments played.)

Benjamin Russell – all instruments and production. I write the songs with my partner, Elyce.

How would you describe your sound?

Constantly evolving with roots in 80’s.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

An original blend of pop, rock, electronic, singer-songwriter.

If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?

Gabriels

Who are you inspired by?

The list is long! Every great song I’ve ever heard as well as classical, jazz, rock and soul.

Do you sing in the shower?

Never. I sing everywhere else, even in my dreams!

What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? Why?

Fav: Creating – I’m an artist who breathes to create whether music, art, videos or writing and photography.

Hate: the business side because it takes me away from creating.

What do you hope listeners take away from your music?

Pleasure, and the social messages which are often hidden in love songs.

If you can have your fans remember one thing about you, what would it be?

That I make REAL music and write REAL songs that actually mean something.

What’s your message for beginner musicians?

Go where you want to go. It’s tough to get anywhere, so make sure you’re doing something you are passionate about.

How do you think the music industry has changed since you started out?

Back in the 80’s I was signed to serious indie labels distributed by majors. Now these labels can’t exist and the majors are out of reach for most new artists.

Tell me about your favorite performance venues

I like mid size clubs where there’s room for a good amount of people, but small enough to see people’s reactions for immediate feedback.

What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? Why?

See above.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?

Great question! Now ANYBODY can put out their music, you’re no longer beholden to the guys in the AR department. That’s on the artist side. The same applies to radio stations, mags, blogs etc. Mainstream media is like the ivory tower. The real business of music is online with indie stations, reviewers, YouTube channels, etc.

Which famous musicians do you admire?

Again, a huge list! Miles Davis, Jack White, Black Keys, Faithless, Tony Bennett, Disturbed’s David Draiman, are just the tip of the iceberg.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

Gil Evans (arranger) and Miles Davis back when they were doing Cool Jazz especially albums like Sketches of Spain

What is your favorite song to perform?

Right now it’s PERILOUS MOMENT from my new WAVES album. https://song.link/benjaminrussell_waves

What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?

Back in the 80’s, I was a solo artist performing on stage with racks of synths and drum machines that I had to control live. The tech was primitive compared to now. I had to load up my TB-303 bass synths from tape in the middle of performing because they didn’t have enough memory for the whole show. One night, at the Rivoli in Toronto in front of a big crowd, I thought I loaded the wrong tape, so I just stopped all the machines except the drum machine. Luckily people loved the stripped down version with just the beat, my vocal and electric guitar!

What was the first album you ever bought, and how did it impact you?

Disraeli Gears by Cream. I bought it because I loved Sunshine Of Your Love so much. I still do, it gives me goosebumps every time I hear Clapton’s guitar solo. I hated the record apart from that because of the vocals. But I made sure I got my money’s worth so I listened until I loved every bit of it.

How do you connect with your audience during live performances?

I talk between songs. Eye contact is important, reading body language as well.

Do you have a specific routine when you’re working on new music?

I used to start with lyrics, then music. Having collaborated with producers who gave me music they created, I learned to enjoy jamming and feeling what lyrics come to me. Now I’m just as likely to start by creating music first which Elyce and I put lyrics to.

Are there any genres or styles you want to explore in the future?

I’ve already explored a lot of styles. I even have a country album (HALF TON TRUCK). CLICK HERE I go where the muse takes me. I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself getting deeper into classical and jazz, but I keep feeling an itch at the same time to make some noise, maybe go back to my punk roots.

What does music mean to you personally?

It has saved my life time and again.

What role do you think social media plays in a musician’s career today?

It’s absolutely crucial. Even the handful of major label stars can’t avoid it, but as an indie it’s your lifeline to your audience, radio, reviewers, etc.

Do you write out your lyrics? Do you ever change a song’s lyrics in live sets?

Absolutely. As we’re writing the songs, we use small pads of paper with room for maybe a verse or a chorus, writing and rewriting constantly. I seldom change lyrics when performing, except to relate to an audience or town.

Since everyone was a startup once, can you give any smaller or local bands looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Number one – be nice! Believe in yourself but remember it’s a business and be careful. There are a lot of sharks out there.

Do you have a band website? Why or why not? Do you have a Facebook or Twitter? Do you use Bandcamp, Spotify or SoundCloud to share your music?

WEBSITE – FACEBOOK – X (TWITTER) – INSTAGRAM – YOUTUBE – BLUESKY – MASTONDON – BANDCAMP – SONGWHIP – SPOTIFY – APPLE MUSIC – AMAZON – IMDB – TIDAL – MYVINLDREAMSL 

Anything you would like share, from new merch to upcoming shows/tours or songs/albums?

We just released a new album called WAVES. Elyce says it’s our best: CLICK HERE – Also, we just released a new video for GENTLE MAN (Energy Mix)”  VIDEO BELOW

Do you have any upcoming shows?

Unfortunately I can’t play live right now for health reasons. I really miss it!