For those of you yet to experience the soulful melodies of Benjamin Francis Leftwich, I sincerely recommend you do so. Rapidly becoming a rising star and tipped in last weekend’s Sunday Times Culture Magazine as the newest ‘Breaking Act’, Leftwich hails from York – which he continues to call home, despite recent success and extended stays in the capital. Leftwich’s songs are captivating, his beautiful voice relaxing and original. Last month he appeared on Huw Stephens’ Radio 1 show, Huw’s Houseband playing live from Maida Vale Studios; his track ‘Box of Stones’ currently features on the Radio 1 ‘B’ playlist; from which the BBC station chooses the majority of the tracks played on a day to day basis. I caught up with Benjamin in the Minster Gardens…
How did you start off in the music industry?
I started playing when I was around ten years old. I hated it at first; I got bored and annoyed with it because I can’t read or write music. I get really annoyed when people try to put music in that box. I then quit for a few years, then started again when I was around 13 or 14, and taught myself from there.
The first real gig you played was at Fibbers – how long ago was that?
It was awesome, I think I was about 17, it was a local bands night. Fibbers was a really nice venue. It’s a shame as it’s kind of changed now, it used to be all old and grotty and a bit dirty in a good way and now it’s changed into a kind of cheesy night club – which is not cool. But the Duchess is really decent.
How did it feel to be interviewed on Radio 1?
I’ve been a couple of times before but that was the first big live thing I’ve done on Radio 1. It was awesome to be at Maida Vale, it’s a really cool studio. Although it was kind of weird; I wasn’t actually with Huw Stephens, he was at the main Radio 1 headquarters in London, I could just hear him on the speakers. That’s a little secret! It was awesome there though, really cool.
Your sound is so original, who do you count among your inspirations?
I love Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, I love Dylan, all those classic singer-songwriters. Neil Young and people like that. I also like records that sound really good, with an interesting sonic element to them; I’m a big fan of Kate Bush and Sigur Rós. That side of it is really important to me as well, getting the sound right as well as the song. You can enhance the effect of a song if you have cool sounds on it.
Where do you get ideas for your lyrics?
Just anything that makes me feel anything. I read a lot of books and watch a lot of films. I’m always on tour at the moment so when things happen on tour, I write about them, so I guess I get inspiration from that.
Do you have a favourite track that you’ve written?
My favourite is probably a track called ‘1904’ thats going to be on the album [for a pre-listen head to Ben’s website – there’s a live recording available]. There’s a couple more that I really like – ‘Bottle Baby’, which is only going to be available on the iTunes version of the album. It’s cool, it was recorded as a really rough demo and it’s going to be released just like that.
What is it about those tracks that you like?
‘1904’ because it’s an old one and I have some great memories of recording it, there’s a lot of other instrumentation going on in that track so it’s a fun one to play. With ‘Bottle Baby’, it’s one of my favourites because of how rough it is, we wrote and recorded it in the same day.
I read in a review of a Manchester gig you played that you chose to stray from the mic in performance, why was that?
When it’s really quiet, I think songs sound best the way they were originally written, in terms of a performance situation. I didn’t need the sound system, it acts like a barrier. If you can hear something clear you might as well not use the sound system.
What’s been your best moment to date?
Probably the last headline gig I did in London, on my last headline tour. I played at a venue called The Borderline; it was rammed, loads of people came down, it was a really cool venue and I played well.
What are your plans for the summer?
Plans for the summer… the festivals! I’m doing Glastonbury, Summer Sunday, Lounge on the Farm, Camp Bestival and some other stuff. I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to Glastonbury most I think, just to be there and be like “yeah, this is cool.” I’ve never been to Glastonbury before so really looking forward to the experience of playing the acoustic stage.
And after that? What are your plans for the future?
I’m going to start working on my second album next year, and I’m touring until Christmas. I’m heading over to Europe for a bit afterwards, then to America as well.
Benjamin Francis Leftwich’s debut album Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm will be available from 4th July. It is currently available to pre-order.
All photos: Ruth Gibson