Ben TD is a singer-songwriter out of the top drawer. Having just released his first solo album "Tiny Movements", expect to hear big things about him over the coming years. Musictravels recently had a chance to catch up with him to chat about his voice, his life in Scotland, and Books and Boats. TK: How are you finding the music scene in Glasgow, I've heard big things about it? Ben TD: It's great. I totally love it. From the moment I got here, Glasgow has had wide open arms for me. TK: Is there much of a music-community there, and are there many Australians there? Ben TD: There is a lot of community here, which is one of the reasons I like it. Some of the other bands have been really good to me. There are not many Aussies here. There is one guy in a band I know, but apart from that the only Australian I know is the one that is my girlfriend! TK: Good to see you are remaining a little nationalistic! How long have you been settled in Glasgow now? Ben TD: I've been here for four years. TK: How long did it take to produce your first album "Tiny Movements" from initial planning to completion? Ben TD: There are so many different ways of making an album. It depends on what matters to you. A friend of mine who has recorded before agreed to do the album for me. We both worked on the album for four months. But it was not a rushed effort, we did it quite slowly over evenings and weekends. The good thing was that we had no agenda to conform to - we had no record label pushing us to record in a certain way and in a certain amount of time. We did it home-school style. It did take ages to get it out though. TK: You have exceptional vocals in your songs. I am interested in finding out just when you discovered that your singing voice was a hell of a lot better than most people? Ben TD: When I was a kid, I knew I could sing and that I had something in me. When you're a kid, it is hard to tell what is good and bad about your singing though. However, I had an inherent feeling that singing made me feel good. I probably knew that I had some talent when people started telling me. TK: What came first for you – playing the guitar or singing? Ben TD: Singing. I was doing it before I could talk! Mum reckons I was singing lines before I could actually say the words! There was always a guitar around the house, so eventually I learnt to play a guitar too. TK: The piano-elements on "Books and Boats" are impressive – do you write all the music, or have input from other musicians? Ben TD: I write all of it. I'm not a very good pianist, so I put other music over it to cover it a little. TK: I think the piano-elements are great, you're just being modest! Ben TD: Thanks. I can play piano enough to get what I want to across. However, I would like to be a much better pianist. TK: When can we expect a follow up to your first album "Tiny Movements"? Ben TD: I am planning on making my second album in Melbourne in about three months time. A good friend of mine is a producer there and has a studio in Melbourne. I have been away for so long it is nice to know that I have something going on back there. TK: In an odd way, there are some elements of your tune "Leaves" that reminds me of Tracy Chapman! I dare say you haven't heard that said before? Ben TD: Haha, no. It's actually funny you say that - Tracy Chapman was one of my biggest influences when I was growing up! TK: Don't worry, it is Tracy Chapman who sounds masculine, rather than you who sounds feminine! Finally, are you missing Australia? Ben TD: I love Australia. However it is not a case of missing it as wherever or whatever I am doing, I just go with it. I don't naturally think about what I am missing. I have a lot of great friends and family that I miss, however I know they will still be there. Some of my fondest times were travelling around the country. |