BEN THROP - MIND OVER MATTER featured the following musicians
BEN THROP - vocals, acoustic, electric, and bass guitars, harmonica, percussion, keyboards
JOHN RAE - drums, keyboards, violin, vocals
TARA PRESTON - bass guitar
LINDSAY GIBB - electric guitars
SCOTTY SMITH - electric and spanish guitars, mandolin,keyboards and vocals
ANTON WUTS - flute, saxaphone
MATT MEAR - trumpet
WILLIE DEVINE - keyboards
IRAIA WHAKAMOE - drums
DARRYL JONES - drums
LIAM FARRIS - fretless bass
JEFF BOWDEN - keyboards
PHIL TILBURY - piano
THE CLOUD BIRDS (taradale high school students) - backing vocals
TROY GARDINER - backing vocals
Influences
lifes little experiences, new zealand landscape, nuclear free aotearoa, bob marley, the ocean, fish n chips
Sounds Like
good music to me!!
id like to think of it as having a uniquely pacific flavour, earthy tones and catchy melodies.
" The lyrics are thoughtful yet accessible. ." (NZ MUSICIAN MAGAZINE)
". . . The album is laidback and subtle whereas the live show is at times like a fully laden freight train careering out of control, with a manic Throp at the controls . . . " (DAVE POPE )
Born on April Fools Day, 1973, with an extra toe on his right foot and a worried look on his face, Ben has since discovered that life shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Sharing the same feet as Marilyn Monroe and Kelly Slater it is little wonder that his two passions in life are Music and Surfing.
In 1996 Ben made his debut public performance at the Hairy Cactus on Napier’s Marine Parade which ignited his love for playing to an audience. This further developed when he joined Neil Finn on stage at the Hastings Municipal Theatre in 2001. In 2002, Ben teamed up with guitarist Lindsay Gibb, bassist Tara Preston and drummer Darryl Jones, under the banner of GROUNDSWELL which became a successful vehicle for his original music to develop.
In May 2004, Ben wrote and produced groundswells debut album – SONGS FROM THE SLEEPOUT – under the guidance of recording engineer Mike Gibson (INCA STUDIOS, Wellington). The album received airplay on the ‘Homegrown” show hosted by Liz Barry and has since appealed to a range of audiences.
Instead of attempting to burst headlong into the New Zealand music industry, Ben changed tack. Selling all his possessions he took his wife and three young children to Spain, France and Portugal for 5 months on a cultural, surfing and life-altering experience.
Since returning to New Zealand he has embarked on the unpredictable, roller coaster ride which is living and providing as a singer/songwriter. His musical influences lie in the acoustic melodies of Neil Young, musicianship of David Gilmour, Story telling of Jackie Leven and soul soothing energy of Bob Marley and Ben Harper.
Today Ben lives in the coastal settlement of Haumoana with his wife Tash and three children – Kaya, Elijah and Wiremu. Taking the road less traveled he views his role at this stage in life as guiding his children safely through a largely materialistic and money orientated society using the medium of music, travel and Aroha.
After all, what else is a man born on April Fools Day with 6 toes on his right foot supposed to do?
BEN THROP - MIND OVER MATTER and GROUNDSWELL - SONGS FROM THE SLEEPOUT .............. NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES
Wat up ben throp, I'm not usually into the whole mass commenting thing, so apologies if this comes across like some spam...but it aint! Just in case you haven't checked it yet...here's my new video for Whoa (remix with PNC & Flowz). Directed by Shahir Daud with a tiny $6000 budget and a solid 7 months in post production! Lemme know what you think and feel free to help a dude out by linking your friends up if you think they might like it!
HELLO BEN,--HOW ARE YOU?--I HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND YOURS.--YOU ARE SO MUSICALLY TALENTED, I HOPE THINGS ARE DOING WELL FOR YOU IN ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE.--HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!--BLESSINGS & PEACE,-CAROL----------------------------------------------------------
Howzit ? Uhmmm me thinking abt Haumoana and Te Awanga right now...guess the sun is up and the swell pumpin... Hope u guys r doin all good. Say hi to yr whanau (any news from yr sis ?)
Kia Ora Ben ! Comment ca va ?? Hope u guys are doing well in the kingdom of Haumoana. I've just talked to yr sis, so u'r off to Raro !!! rrrr Hi to zi family. Kakite ano. Nico
HI I wish they'd had electric guitars in cotton fields back in the good old days. A whole lot of things would've been straightened out.
now she' s walking through the clouds with a circus mind that s running wild
We want you to forget about today, about yesterday, and about tomorrow. Tonight we’re gonna create a whole new world. - May 3rd 1968 - Talking to the crowd about his arrestation by customs in Toronto.
"Knowledge speaks, wisdom listens"
Excuse me while i kiss the sky
The one that rambles for a million miles, yes, I walk down this road searching for your love. - Gypsy Eyes
When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power the world will know peace.
Hurray I awake from yesterday, Alive but the war is here to stay So my love Catherina and me Decide to take our last walk thru the noise to the sea Not to die but to be reborn Away from the lands so battred and torn Forever...........
the story of life is quicker than wink of an eye, the story of love is hello and goodbye, until we meet again.
JIMI HENDRIX
I'm tha diamond in tha dirt and I ain't been found. I'm tha underground king and I ain't been crowned.#50 Cent
When you feel down and out Sing a song, it'll make your day. -Earth, Wind, and Fire
GREETINGS, BEN--JUST STOPPED BY TO CHECK OUT YOUR MUSIC VIDEO ON YOUR PAGE.--IT IS A REAL TREAT TO SEE YOU PERFORM.--FANTASTIC--LOVE YOUR MUSIC. --HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD!--BLESSINGS & PEACE TO YOU & YOURS,-CAROL-----------------------------------------------------------------
HELLO, BEN--JUST DROPPING IN TO LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC AWHILE.--HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND YOURS. --'MIND OVER MATTER' SOUNDS REALLY GOOD!--[OF COURSE, I REALLY LOVE HEARING ALL YOUR MUSIC!]--HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!---BLESSINGS & PEACE, CAROL----------------------------------------------------------
Hey Ben Thanks for the gigvenue Gizzy tip. I'm tentatively playing in Hastings/Napier in the next coupla' months. Will let ya know, and you remain on my front page. P E A C E & L I G H T EMMA*
Sup Sir :) Thanks for the add :) I went and caught up with the Greaves whanau today and told them I was buzzing out at finding you on MySpace. Digging the music man, keep up the hard work... Cant wait to hear you guys play out on the town one night in my drunken splendour :D
S'up B? Back in the Bay...thought I might see you at Little Bushman the other night...great show. Family is all getting settled in...off again next Monday to the U.S. for a week...but I'll give you a holla soon for a catch up...good to be here though...Aotearoa!! Peace bro!
We're back in the Bay in a week...soooo looking forward to it! We're there for most of June and July...hope we can catch up. And I hope you'll be playing a show...need a Ben Throp live fix in a bad way!!!
chur cuz get out there. we off to byron soon and tomorrow we play right out front of kirra and snappers - stink ay. plus i got me a board to use too, chur
Ben I had a flat in Hastings last year. Man if I hadda' known you were in Haumoana we coulda' jammed an' hung out. I got bored in Hastings apart from 1 or 2 healthy activities.
I looove your work. Find it terribly close to home. Love it when you can speak every day truths in a song. Thank you so much. I also left because there were very few opportunities there. And I'm used to having many friends at hand, but in a way I needed to get bored outta my head.
So glad I found ya. Just as well there's the sea at Haumoana.
oh thanks uncle but i will take a rain check on the pumpn wave. the germans are loving the boyz. get some for me bro, i'll be back soon enough - then off again. cher
SUBMANTRA - FASHION (DJ Umbi RMX) out with JAZZ HOUSE INDEPENDENT 6th
