Piano/Keyboard, Lyrics/Vocals: Ben Willson. That's 2 L's in Willson. Not to be mistaken with every other Wilson you might know and be familiar with. Son of William, not Wilhelm.
Influences
Originally influenced but no longer inspired by Ben Folds: To this day both influenced and inspired by: Ryan Adams, Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie, Broken Social Scene, Ben Folds Five, The Postal Service, Arcade Fire, Sigur Ros, Sun Kil Moon, The Innocence Mission, my brother Drew, and my father's sermons.
The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber, and the illustrations by Marc Simont; The Dark Way by Virginia Hamilton, and the illustrations by Lambert Davis. Rain, mist, fog, thunderstorms, the glow of street lamp posts, the flickering of candlelight and its adverse shadows, the autumn and the winter, the break of day, the dead of night, the twilight, the nightlife, the rhythmic hum of fans, clanking of pots and pans, spattering drops of water from the faucet, hose, or lawn spigot. The fresh breeze in the dead calm.
and all the wonders and the travesties we'll ever or never come to know.
Currently involved in a project with guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Mark Strong, who was not only a former member of both LA bands The Waking Hours and Edison Gower, but is also the founder of Stranger Than Fiction Records: the label under which The Waking Hours, Edison Gower, and Benvolio, among several other artists all debuted their material. Willson and Strong's project is currently entitledWe Know, Plato!, and the duo are rapidly developing song material as they plan to make this last for quite some time.
To listen to and/or purchase individual tracks or Benvolio's entire collection, thus far, you can purchase directly from the mini-store directly below:
We had a great interview w/ 'Bruce Hornsby' at 'The National' (RVA) this month ... You can check out our entire interview at: www.richmondmusicforum.com
'paper lanterns' is the most influential song ive heard in a long time. its absolutley beautiful and moving and puts such a deep feeling in my chest. this is the kindof song to which you tell someone something profound.
i'm actually hoping not to beat that record. dad said i couldn't come back to australia until i got my license, and i'm sure he was kidding, but it's very difficult to get there (not that you need it. at all. wonderful, wonderful public transport!) and he'd probably be pretty angry. >.<
i don't have a clue. i've only looked at one college, and that's portland state. can't imagine wanting to live anywhere around here, and oregon is closer to australia than virginia is... but i really just want to go back to australia. i miss my family!
oh and your question: i can't. i am nearly 18, don't have my learners, and i really don't care. it would be nice to drive sometimes, when i'm stuck at home or having to ask people for rides, but i really just am not interested at this point. i have no clue why.
well I don't, really, but I've given up trying to tell people that as most of them do not know what it is like to be six feet tall. and a girl. you do not count, sorry :D haha
so one of your demos popped up on mark's itunes just now (i wasn't snooping, really! :), and i just wanted to tell you that i think you are really very talented, and have a lovely singing voice. of course, everyone already knows this, but i don't know if i ever told you myself!
ah. You sound poetic. haha. =] that's really nice and I agree with it. I wonder what the world would be like without music and art and dance. It wouldn't be a place I'd like to live in, that much I know.
[P.S. aw shucks. *blushes* well, thank you. haha. you're very kind to say such a silly thing. ]
You've got to be kidding; a guy who plays the keyboard and sings? wait, it's more than that. a very handsome guy who plays the keyboard and sings? That's what dreams are made of. haha. and that sounded really cheesy. but, really, your music is so beautiful. I play the keyboard too, but I don't think I'm great. It's nice to be able to be inspired by your music though. And I have a feeling you're always going to play the keys, so there's nothing I should worry about.
oh my god i hope so ! when daniel mentioned that i thought he was just throwing that idea around, but if it's actually a possibility that makes me more excited to come back than to leave, if that makes sense? but yes, i will be there for sure! just let me know times and where!
ah Benvolio, how right you are. except i'm not gifted enough to tack on a story to accompany that thought :/ but i was listening to all of these tracks last night and "Keep the lights burning" WILL be the next CD that i purchase :]
so thank you for your musical contribution to the world. fans like myself appreciate your gift more than you'll ever understand :)
don't call it a comeback. but i'm back. not physically, but intellectually. i'm hoping a picture chance will lead to a more drastic content chance of my-myspace. let's see.
Hey man I'm back on the 'ol myspace. Just finished blowing the dust off my personal info and hanging up a new vid. Been far too long sence we chatted, send me a message here or sumthin.
