Feature

Ben Westbeech: Sing When You're winning

Ben Westbeech has grown up and grown up quickly. He’s only just 30 and yet the title of his new album, There’s More To Life Than This, versus the title of his last, Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life, strongly indicates changed outlooks – a freshly discovered personal and artistic maturity; an acceptance that with age comes different pleasures and rewards.

“The linking of the titles was absolutely intentional. I wanted to say that I’ve grown up and still have room to grow,” Westbeech quietly confirms. “I was 26 when my early stuff was released; I had a lot of fun partying but was thrown into performing PA's, promoting and recording new songs. It was too much to cope with at the time. I’ve moved on, personally and musically. I still love that first album. It put my career on a global footing, and many people still tell me how much it means to them, but I feel like I have accomplished a lot more with the second; if only because I’ve felt much more in control of the entire process.”

It’s a process that has taken time and effort to master this time round. Westbeech was actually working on another long-player when revered house label Strictly Rhythm approached him about what would eventually become the second album. They had a set of ideas about where he should take the record, many tied to fast, mainstream tempos with guest producers as main draw.

“The Strictly opportunity was an attractive one. It didn’t start off in a manner I was comfortable with but I asserted myself, they [Strictly] listened and things evolved. Finally we’ve arrived at something I’m really happy with. I’m happy because it’s got my stamp on it.”

Indeed. "There’s More To Life Than This" features impressive spots from guest producers such as Henrik Schwarz, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Rasmus Faber and MJ Cole, and yet Westbeech has kept firm control, making fluid, emotive connections between the various “house inspired” cuts on offer and reinforcing his position as the artist and originator. All 11 tracks are from his pen (and laptop), many of them crediting him as co-producer too. It’s a DIY trend carried on from his similarly self-written and composed debut.

“It’s not an album of producers featuring a vocalist; it’s a proper artist album. Strictly has an amazing reputation, and I’m hoping this lives up to that and does well. It’s been a weird project when you look at how much it has changed from the drawing board stage but a fun and rewarding one.”

The London-based artist has been singing for his supper (so to speak) for the past five years or so – ever since a CD demo of song "So Good Today" found its way to Gilles Peterson via a friend. The single, his first, was speedily released via Peterson’s Brownswood stable in 2006 and subsequently "Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life," which led to everything else.

Westbeech moved to Bristol during his rise up the ladder, before returning to London close to where he grew up: “Bristol, as we all know, has a fantastic music scene and I benefitted from that hugely, but I was keen to get back to the capital. It’s such a melting pot; you’re exposed to so many people, styles and ideas. It felt right, in terms of developing my music.”

He isn’t, of course, simply a club singer. Despite our interview being attached to the new album, he is equally focussed on other activities as DJ and producer. In fact those activities are his main priority right now, being that "There’s More To Life Than This" was actually recorded several months ago.

“To be honest most projects are old to an artist when they finally get to talking to journalists about them; there’s always a time lag, which can throw you off kilter” he offers. “I’d have liked the new album to have been released earlier; there are a good few months between talking about it now and when it was actually completed. But it’s OK; I’ve managed to focus myself fully on my new projects.”

Westbeech is quite literally ‘bombing it’ in the studio, recording new tracks as harder-edged house alias Breach. There is keen interest from a number of significant record labels; the material, when it arrives, will follow Breach debut single "Fatherless," already firmly established as a modern clubland classic.

Elsewhere, our man is lining up plenty of gigs with his own live band (Westbeech is a classically-trained musician), more DJ touring (he started playing at the tender age of 12), further collaborations with other music makers and production work under second (drum & bass) alias, Lean.

“It’s so hard for singers to forge a career on the club scene today unless they can do more than just sing” he stresses. “They need to be able to produce, otherwise they become a conduit for other artists; just another musical instrument. It’s so difficult for singers.
 
“I’m just so busy these days. I have a massive work ethic. I think you need one in this business. I’m a real chameleon because I know, in the long-term, being that way will help ensure my longevity. The Breach stuff right now is cool; it’s underground house, a really sharp vibe. I’m really enjoying playing around with different sounds.”

Ben Westbeech is also at work on another album his own name. An even stronger DIY ethic is promised but little beyond that, at this stage: “I’m still working out what the general messages are, and creating chord structures and lyrics, but I’m feeling confident and mature enough to consider taking on all the production and engineering duties myself. The thought of creating a song-based album even more closely in line with my original ideas is massively appealing.”

Such is Westbeech’s frenetic lifestyle that it is often slumped into plane, train or automobile seats that he finds his greatest inspiration for new ideas. As a case in point "There’s More To Life Than This" was recorded over 12 months in New York, Munich, Stuggart, Berlin, Stockholm, Bristol and London, and the constant travelling to-and-from studios provided him with his best opportunity to brainstorm.

“The travelling can be a pain but when you’re stuck in a seat, or in a hotel room, for God knows how long, then writing something is simply a good use of time” he offers. “It’s actually a great escape from the tedium of waiting around. I make myself write; write on what I see, personal stuff, family, whatever. It’s really cathartic.”
 
Give him the groove (and a little manuka honey) and anything’s possible….
 
Ben Westbeech’s new album "There’s More To Life Than This" is out now on Strictly Rhythm Records, as are new remixes of single "Something For The Weekend" by Lee Foss and Robert James.

FOR MORE FROM BEN WESTBEECH, INCLUDING HIS THOUGHTS ON TODAY'S MUSIC/ARTISTS AND THE USE OF AUTO-TUNE, BUY YOUR PRINTED EDITION OF BLUES & SOUL BELOW
Words BEN LOVETT