It’s a shame that so many excellent singer/songwriters go underappreciated by those who purchase or stream music. That’s something we would like to help rectify by presenting this top-notch 15 minutes of original songs from Ben Stubbs off his debut album, “Light of My Life,” the latest in the series of exclusive AUK mini-gigs. From all the hundreds of albums sent to AUK each year for review, Stubbs’ excellent record earned a well-deserved ranking in the Top Twenty Albums of 2023, settling in at #17. When an artist is considered to be in the company of such Americana luminaries as Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Lucinda Williams, Allison Russell, Buddy & Julie Miller, Wilco and Old Crow Medicine Show, that is a solid testament to his talent. Or, you could look at it another way. It’s very, very good.
Stubbs writes melodic, thought-provoking songs and sings them with a voice redolent of the classic singer/songwriters like James Taylor. He has spent ten years sharpening his skills, spending two years as an artist in residency in Thailand. In 2019, he returned from the sticky heat of Southeast Asia to his native Isle of Wight, where he refined the 10 songs on the album before recording them at Emerald Sound Studio in the island’s capital city of Newport, ably mixed by Tim Debney and backed by a select band of accomplished local musicians.
Each song on the album tells a complete tale, and there is no filler. The album rings in like a portrait of his life thus far, which makes sense, given that the oldest entry in the tracklist was written ten years ago. You can read Vi Fish’s glowing review in AUK here.
What you’ve come for is the music and what you’re about to hear is pure acoustic bliss, bursting with warmth and exuberance from Stubbs, accompanying himself on a Fender Newporter Special guitar. The mini-gig was recorded in his home studio on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England.
These are his notes on the songs in the video. He starts us off with the opening track on the album, ‘Stop the World,’ and the penetrative line, Since the day that I arrived, I’ve travelled 18 billion miles around the sun. To that, we send him this wish from Robert Frost: “I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.”
Song 1: ‘Stop the World’
I think we all reach a point in our lives when we realise we aren’t young anymore. The days are shorter and shorter and that gap between Christmas and Christmas, that used to feel like an eternity, now feels like a flash. And at that point, stuck between the naivete of youth and the wisdom that comes with old age, and the hard realisation that you, in fact, do age, sprung ‘Stop the World.’ A wish, a desperate desire to be able to stop time and exist free from its effects.
Song 2: ‘Light of My Life’
It’s a dedication to my long-term partner, Abi, and a reminder of all the things I don’t say enough. A little boost whenever it’s needed.
Song 3: ‘Raised by Man’
This comes from a darker place. Like many, I grew up in a broken home, surrounded by conflict and that can change a person. Childhood trauma affects the way the mind develops and leaves you a bit “different”. I was seeking answers and ‘Raised by Man’ was a way to try to understand myself a bit better. Recognising and accepting that darkness was an important part of letting go of it.
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You can find “Light of My Life” album on his Bandcamp page . And if you care to navigate the icky terrain of social media, simply typing his name into your search engine of choice will bring all his accounts to your screen.
The link goes to Stubbs’ Linktree, on which you will find all relevant info you may require including a bio, some photos, social links and where to listen to his music. https://linktr.ee/BenStubbsMusic
