Ben Abraham is an award-winning L.A.-based singer/songwriter from Melbourne, Australia.
Who inspired you to make music?
My dad. He’s a multi instrumentalist and singer (though now is a church pastor) and growing up he encouraged me and my siblings to sing and play instruments. Music was such a part of our home. In fact, it’s where my stage name comes from. My dad’s name is Abraham and Ben Abraham is me identifying myself as my father’s son.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
Ha. I have so many feelings about this subject but smarter people than I have much better things to say so I’ll stick to my own experiences.
I think the internet helped me find an audience outside of my own neighborhood right at the beginning. It certainly gave me outlets for my work and a way to bypass gatekeepers that I think were incredibly helpful to me.
I definitely have moments where I worry that my type of music isn’t so relevant to the times given how much the internet has rewired our brains when it comes to music and art consumption. But here we are. And I have no other skills so I’m stuck with it now.
Have you got a ritual of sorts when making music?
I think I have habits more than I have any particular ritual. I tend to wait for a feeling before I write any songs for myself – and then that process involves either sitting with an instrument and just noodling or sitting with a notebook and writing out lyric ideas with a pen.
I’m very much a person to whom inspiration comes randomly – when I’m driving, or in the shower, etc – so I do my best to capture those moments and revisit them later when I’m at my piano.
How would you describe your music?
Somebody on Twitter wrote to me that my album made them cry while they walked around William Sonoma looking for a grater. I feel like that accurately describes my music.
What’s next for you?
Touring I hope! COVID makes it impossible to predict what really happens next but the plan is definitely to take this show on the road.
What are your top two favorite songs of all time? Why those songs?
In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel is my number 1. It just has so much heart and soul. And the musicianship is incredible. The production is incredible. I don’t’ know. I just feel it in my bones.
Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell is also an incredible piece of writing. It’s like a hymn. And it’s that perfect mix of melancholy and hopefulness that I love in writing. It’s terrifying that she was able to write something so profound so young.
What was the last series you watched on TV?
I’m halfway through my 5th viewing of Avatar The Last Airbender. I think it might be my favourite series of all time. Don’t roll your eyes. It’s phenomenal. Better political intrigue than Game Of Thrones, better character arcs than The Sopranos, and better action sequences than The Mandalorian. I don’t make the rules.
What do you think the greatest invention has been?
The printing press feels like it was a pretty giant leap forward. Completely changed our relationship to language and communication. Feels like only the internet has eclipsed it as a consequential technological invention.
Do you have any lucky items, objects, or traditions?
Hmm. I used to be much more attached to things like objects of meaning etc. but I kind of purged a lot of it when I moved to LA–just threw out a bunch of stuff. Maybe my version of it is my friends. Great things happen when I tend to be around certain people.
If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?
Should I actually invest in crypto?
If you had to describe yourself as a flavour, what would it be?
Aged honey