Introducing Benjamin Stranger, Music Genius
Hello Benjamin, thank you for stopping by AO Network and sharing your work with us. Please tell us what you do in the music industry and for how long have you been making music? I write, record, produce & perform my own work while also writing songs, playing sessions, touring, filming and directing music videos for other artists. I’ve been releasing music under various project names since the late aughts–here is a fairly comprehensive Spotify Playlist. Your latest single, ‘Summer Alone’, please tell us about your musical concept behind this work and were you speaking to someone specifically? WE loved it by the way!Thanks! It’s not speaking to anyone specific but was originally written and recorded by me and Trace Faulkner over the Spring/Summer of 2020, so was lyrically inspired by the first uneasy months of the pandemic. In terms of its composition, sound and ultimate production style, ‘SUMMER ALONE’ is referencing a long line of rock/pop songs from Rod Stewart’s ‘Young Turks’ to The War On Drugs’ ‘Red Eyes’ to The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ to Sharon Van Etten’s ‘Seventeen.’ It was written to have that big, anthemic chorus with similarly driving drums. See the inspirations for ‘SUMMER ALONE’ above. More generally I’m inspired by great writers and artists from generations before me, be they songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Prince and Nick Cave or visual artists/filmmakers like Francis Bacon, Terrence Malick and Jane Campion. Some direct influences on the upcoming full-length ‘Fare Thee Well, Follower!’ (featuring ‘SUMMER ALONE’) are Brian De Palma’s rock musical ‘Phantom of the Paradise’ and Sam Shepard’s dystopian play ‘The Tooth Of Crime.’ Current inspirations, though not necessarily direct influences, are songwriters I admire like Dev Hynes from Blood Orange and Adrianne Lenker from Big Thief. I stay motivated by reading, watching, listening and experiencing a wide range of artistic expression, then synthesizing that into my own voice through hard work, day after day, in the craft of songwriting. What was the writing process like behind Summer Alone? How long did it take to write the record? ‘SUMMER ALONE’ is the main single from my upcoming full-length album, a ‘concept record’ entitled ‘Fare Thee Well, Follower!’ The aim of the album is to confront A.I. driven social media head on and explore the dark corners our technological obsessions and desires have painted us into. As evidenced by the ongoing writers’ strike and the infiltration of artificial intelligence into humanity’s creative endeavors, this issue will be at the forefront of the entertainment industry for years to come, barring some unforeseen regulation, event or stopgap measure. Some of the songs on the record have been written for a few years (like ‘SUMMER ALONE’), while others were composed in short order earlier this year, written around the conceptual idea specifically. It has mostly been recorded over the last six months with Trace Faulkner and John Meehan at Sundial Sound, a mobile recording service similar in concept to the legendary Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. There is a suite of three songs (‘FOLLOWERS,’ ‘FOLLOWERS Interlude’ and ‘FOLLOWERS Reprise’) that directly address social media ‘culture’ for what it is–humanity’s first large-scale test with algorithmic artificial intelligence, a test it’s clear we have all failed. ‘SUMMER ALONE’ took on new meaning and significance in this context, reflecting not only on pandemic-era anxieties but on the larger host of issues inherent in the advent of widespread, increasingly ‘generative’ A.I. Are you currently touring the new single or have plans of touring? I certainly have plans to tour the record but it’s becoming more and more cost prohibitive, especially for indie artists. The squeeze is coming from all sides now–physical copies barely sell, streams pay fractions of cents and touring costs fall solely on the artist in a medium people are now used to consuming for free. In a social media environment completely oversaturated with ‘content’ it is very difficult to hold anyone’s attention, especially if you try to play the game a different way, ESPECIALLY if you point out overarching issues with the system as a whole. I’ve been censored and shadow-banned repeatedly for such actions and find the whole notion of ‘followers,’ ‘likes,’ ‘selfies’ and ‘content’ completely antithetical to artistic expression. I want people to see and hear the actual work I create, not click a ‘like’ button on a ‘selfie’ post about the work I create. If you had to compare your music, who would you compare your sound to and why?The Kinks’ more conceptual, satirical work (Arthur, Village Green Preservation Society) is a definite template for ‘Fare Thee Well, Follower!’, along with Tom Waits’ ‘Franks Wild Years,’ Ween’s ‘The Mollusk’ and Gorillaz recent ‘Cracker Island,’ all loosely constructed ‘concept records’ that explore a central idea in song and branch out from there. We’re going for the vibe that ‘it’s all connected’ without being too heavy-handed or overly narrative. You have any special shout outs for the release of your new single release?Definitely! Foremost thanks to the two female vocalists adding a multi-character depth to ‘SUMMER ALONE,’ Crissie McCree and Melissa Mathes, along with Alternative/Industrial artist Twanas, who remixed the first single ‘Misshapen Identity’ from the record into ‘Misshapen Id (Twanas Remix)’ and collaborated on music videos for both the Remix and SUMMER ALONE. How can new supporters follow you on social media and discover more of your work? Despite my critiques of social media, I do understand the value as a tool for connecting with a wider audience and presenting work directly to that audience. I just want to question what we’re trading (our data, privacy and mental well-being so our desires can be marketed back at us) and speak out against top-down, corporate controlled artificial intelligence that ignores copyright law and infiltrates the human creative space. In short, don’t use A.I. to ‘write’ ‘songs’ !!! Instagram: @benjaminstranger Threads: @benjaminstranger Linktree: Benjamin Stranger | Instagram | Linktree TRENDING All Posts Music Video Trending Gucci Mane Shakes Music Industry with new “TakeDat” video Targeting Sean “Diddy” Combs April 26, 2024/Read More Watch the official video from the CUZZOS “POP OUT” April 23, 2024/Read More Tori
Inside of Music Mogul, Scooter Braun’s Empire
Scooter Braun, the sultan of pop wizardry and the mastermind of SB Projects, built his empire by orchestrating the careers of some of the biggest names in music. Stars like Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, and Kanye West have all fallen within his constellation of talent at different points in time. Let’s delve deeper into the fascinatingly complex and pulsating diorama of Braun’s empire. Our story starts with a youthful Justin Bieber, discovered on YouTube, the internet’s open mic night. Braun took this Canadian teen with a cherubic smile and spun him into a platinum-selling pop sensation. Their relationship sparked a successful collaboration unrestrained by the typical boundaries of the artist-manager relationship. Bieber wasn’t Braun’s only supernova, though. There’s Ariana Grande, a pint-size powerhouse with an octave range for the ages. Braun guided Grande from her Nickelodeon days to her glamorous pop princess era, strategizing her career and helping her hit the right notes both melodically and metaphorically. Her rise to fame under Braun’s wing was like watching a caterpillar transform into an ethereal butterfly, in full view of the public eye. Taylor Swift’s narrative with Braun is more of a meteor shower than a starry constellation – a public spat that has remained a hot topic in the music industry. when one day Braun scooped up Big Machine Records and with it, Swift’s entire music catalog. Swift voiced her discontent loudly, but Braun remained admirably mum on the issue, a savvy play that proved one’s ascent often comes with sharp turbulence. Braun’s relationship with Kanye West, arguably one of the most mercurial talents in history, took on an entirely novel dimension. Despite their partnership’s abrupt end, Braun managed to stabilize West’s fluctuating public image, fostering his creativity while expertly subduing the occasional explosion of controversy. It proved Braun’s knack for managing and nurturing even the most unpredictable talents. In essence, Braun’s empire is a celestial pantheon of pop culture’s brightest stars. It radiates with a flair of resilience, adaptability, and shrewd business acumen. His genius in seeking out the diamonds in the rough and sculpting them to shine in their own unique brilliance has earned him a place in the constellation of music industry moguls. Previous Next TRENDING All Posts Music Video Trending Gucci Mane Shakes Music Industry with new “TakeDat” video Targeting Sean “Diddy” Combs April 26, 2024/Read More Watch the official video from the CUZZOS “POP OUT” April 23, 2024/Read More Tori Kelly Drops New Video: ‘Thing U Do’ April 22, 2024/Read More Tinashe Drops Fiery New Video “Nasty” and Teases Upcoming Album April 19, 2024/Read More Mozzy Drops “Jaded” ft. Eric Bellinger: Official Video April 17, 2024/Read More Tink Releases Empowering Single “Charged Up” April 15, 2024/Read More Moneybagg Yo Drops Steamy New Video ‘Bussin’ ft. Rob49: April 12, 2024/Read More GloRilla & Megan Thee Stallion Turn Up In ‘Wanna Be’ Video April 9, 2024/Read More Load More End of Content. LATEST NEWS All Posts Latest News Interview Featured The F.I.T. Me: Elevating Fitness and Community in Downtown Stockton April 29, 2024/Read More Gucci Mane Shakes Music Industry with new “TakeDat” video Targeting Sean “Diddy” Combs April 26, 2024/Read More Biden Signs Bill Paving Way for TikTok Ban: What’s Next? April 25, 2024/Read More Jennifer Lopez Faces Off Against Simu Liu’s AI Villain in New ‘Atlas’ Trailer April 24, 2024/Read More The Able Show Co-hosted by Former NBA Player Olden Polynice April 23, 2024/Read More Watch the official video from the CUZZOS “POP OUT” April 23, 2024/Read More Tori Kelly Drops New Video: ‘Thing U Do’ April 22, 2024/Read More Tinashe Drops Fiery New Video “Nasty” and Teases Upcoming Album April 19, 2024/Read More Load More End of Content. Join Our VIP List Subscribe To AO Don’t miss out on all the exciting news and updates, subscribe now!