Check out the latest single from Essex singer-songwriter Ben Brown. ‘Kathmandu’ is taken from the brand new EP ‘Blue’, which is out now and well-worth giving a listen. Complete with a kazoo solo, this is a song rich in melody, showcasing Brown’s vocal range and ear for a catchy tune. His voice is soft and warm, pulling you in to his lovelorn words: “I lost my heart in Kathmandu, oh what’s a boy to do?” The video, shot by Catalina Carvajal, finds Brown singing and playing in the street with a touch of his trademark humour in the performance.
The former member of Dingus Khan and SuperGlu met Frank Turner while performing at a barbecue. This chance meeting came just as Brown was writing songs for a new record and he was invited to record in the studio at the bottom of Turner’s garden. Now a friend and mentor, Turner produced all the songs on the new EP, trying to capture and enhance the songs he heard at the barbecue. Brown says of the session: “Many laughs were had at the recording and listening back to the performances you can really hear how comfortable I had become in Frank’s garden studio. At lunch time – Frank would cook me his signature dish … Pasta Surprise – which is apparently the only thing he can cook. Being a good producer is as much technical prowess as it is communication and personal skills. Frank has both of these. The songs themselves are sort of vignettes in my head – when I sing them, I can picture a scene. The way the camera would move, the grain of the film. I believe them to be well crafted – both structurally and melodically – they are more understated than my previous work, there is no loud drum kit or over-driven guitar to hide behind. For me, this is more vulnerable, and to be honest more exciting!” Indeed, Brown’s new solo material is charming and intimate, with brilliant tunes to hum and song along with.
Look out for Brown on tour with The Meffs this autumn – he is a truly engaging live performer whose shows are full of wit, humour and stories.
