Ben Westbeech
Encyclopedia
Ben Westbeech is a male DJ, singer and producer originating from Bristol
, but who now lives in London
, UK. Trained as cellist and vocalist, his influences include House
, Soul
, Jazz
and hip hop
.
who snapped it up. This led to Ben being signed to Gilles Peterson's new label, Brownswood Recordings
. His debut album Welcome to the Best Years of Your Life was released in March 2007.
He later appeared on Later... with Jools Holland alongside Paul McCartney
and Björk
. He also appeared on the track "Squeeze Me" on Kraak & Smaak
's album titled Plastic People, released in April 2008.
's album titled "Of all the things", released in January 2009 on Verve/Universal. Ben also sang in the song, Shame, for DJ Marky
& Artificial Intelligence
. Currently Ben is working with Professor Green
(producing for his new record,) Kutz
(Soul Jazz) Redlight
(Lobster Boy) and Rusko (musician)
(Mad Decent).
Then, in 2009, widely respected house label Strictly Rhythm approached Ben and suggested he record something for them.Reinvigorated by the fresh challenge, he began work on what, a few months down the line, has developed in to his second album, There’s More To Life Than This. The record features an impressive roll call of collaborators - including; Soul Clap, Henrik Schwarz, MJ Cole, Motor City Drum Ensemble and Georg Levin – and Ben describes it as, “house inspired, rather than straight up house music”.Falling will be released on 1 March with remixes from The 2 Bears, Deetron, and Dark Sky. Ben’s album, There’s More To Life Than This, is due out September 12, 2011.
Ben has also produced and DJed under the moniker Breach, releasing two records on Pattern as of 2011.
2011: There's More To Life Than This
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, but who now lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK. Trained as cellist and vocalist, his influences include House
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
, Soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
, Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
.
Beginning Carrer (2007-2008)
Ben gave a CD containing his first single "So good today" to a friend in London. Two months later she played it to Gilles PetersonGilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson , is a DJ, record collector and record label owner from London, UK. Through his labels Acid Jazz, Talkin' Loud, and latterly Brownswood Recordings, he has been associated with the careers of well-known artists of the 1990s such as Erykah Badu, Roni Size and Jamiroquai...
who snapped it up. This led to Ben being signed to Gilles Peterson's new label, Brownswood Recordings
Brownswood Recordings
Brownswood Recordings is a London-based independent record label launched in 2006 by DJ Gilles Peterson.-Artists include:* Ben Westbeech.* The Heritage Orchestra.* Soil & "Pimp" Sessions.* José James.* Gilles Peterson.* Elan Mehler.* Ghostpoet....
. His debut album Welcome to the Best Years of Your Life was released in March 2007.
He later appeared on Later... with Jools Holland alongside Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
. He also appeared on the track "Squeeze Me" on Kraak & Smaak
Kraak & Smaak
Kraak & Smaak are a musical producer trio from the town of Leiden, the Netherlands consisting of Oscar de Jong, Mark Kneppers and Wim Plug.-Biography:...
's album titled Plastic People, released in April 2008.
There's More To Life Than This (2009-2011)
More recently, he appeared on the track "I can see", which was the main single for JazzanovaJazzanova
Jazzanova is a German Berlin-based DJ/producer collective consisting of Alexander Barck, Claas Brieler, Jürgen von Knoblauch, Roskow Kretschmann, Stefan Leisering, and Axel Reinemer. Formed in 1995, the group is one of the foremost proponents of the nu-jazz, chillout and jazz house styles of music...
's album titled "Of all the things", released in January 2009 on Verve/Universal. Ben also sang in the song, Shame, for DJ Marky
DJ Marky
Marco Antonio Silva a.k.a. DJ Marky is a Brazilian drum and bass DJ.Together with DJ Patife, XRS Land and Drumagick, Brazilians were forging a new sound in drum and bass that became popular around the world with releases such as LK and Só Tinha Que Ser Com Você.-Career:He was brought to the...
& Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
. Currently Ben is working with Professor Green
Professor Green
Professor Green , better known by his stage name Professor Green, is a British rapper. He was signed to The Beats, a record label run by Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem, until 12 February 2008, as the label went under. He won the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in July 2008...
(producing for his new record,) Kutz
Kutz
*Kazimierz Kutz*Helmut Ruetz *Kenneth Copeland *The Rough Kutz*Union for Reform Judaism*Constant factor rule in differentiation...
(Soul Jazz) Redlight
Redlight
Redlight is an album by The Slackers, released on September 23, 1997 on Hellcat Records. It solidified the Slacker's sound, with ska, reggae, and dub remaining prevalent. The track "Watch This" received airplay on college radio stations. The band's lineup was finally solidified...
(Lobster Boy) and Rusko (musician)
Rusko (musician)
Christopher Mercer, more commonly known as Rusko, is an English dubstep record producer and DJ who was born on 26 January 1985 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:Rusko graduated from Leeds College of Music with a degree in Music Performance...
(Mad Decent).
Then, in 2009, widely respected house label Strictly Rhythm approached Ben and suggested he record something for them.Reinvigorated by the fresh challenge, he began work on what, a few months down the line, has developed in to his second album, There’s More To Life Than This. The record features an impressive roll call of collaborators - including; Soul Clap, Henrik Schwarz, MJ Cole, Motor City Drum Ensemble and Georg Levin – and Ben describes it as, “house inspired, rather than straight up house music”.Falling will be released on 1 March with remixes from The 2 Bears, Deetron, and Dark Sky. Ben’s album, There’s More To Life Than This, is due out September 12, 2011.
Ben has also produced and DJed under the moniker Breach, releasing two records on Pattern as of 2011.
Singles
- Get Closer (12")
- So Good Today (12")
- So Good Today (Domu Remixes) (12", Promo)
- So Good Today (Osunlade Remixes) (12")
- So Good Today / Beauty (12")
- Dance With Me (MJ Cole / Switch Remixes) (12")
- Hang Around (Remixes) (12")
- Hang Around / Pusherman (7", W/Lbl)
- Falling (Strictly Rhythm)
Albums
2007: Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life- 1 Welcome (3:39)
- 2 So Good Today (2:59)
- 3 Get Silly (3:51)
- 4 Bright Future (3:52)
- 5 Nothing Else (2:44)
- 6 Gotta Keep On (2:56)
- 7 Taken Away From (2:49)
- 8 Grey Skies (1:49)
- 9 Stop What You're Doing (2:49)
- 10 Dance With Me (4:02)
- 11 Get Closer (4:55)
- 12 Hang Around (3:38)
- 13 Pusherman (3:16)
- 14 In/Out (2:44)
- 15 Beauty (4:35)
2011: There's More To Life Than This
- 1. The Book (produced by Georg Levin)
- 2. Something For The Weekend (produced by Danny J Lewis)
- 3. Falling (produced by Lovebirds)
- 4. Same Thing (produced by Chocolate Puma)
- 5. Justice (produced by Motor City Drum Ensemble)
- 6. Stronger (produced by Midland)
- 7. Inflections (produced by Henrik Schwarz)
- 8. Sugar (produced by Redlight)
- 9. Let Your Feelings Show (produced by Georg Levin)
- 10. Butterflies (produced by Rasmus Faber)
- 11. Summer’s Loss (produced by Rasmus Faber)
Samples
- Get Silly samples Ray BarrettoRay BarrettoRay Barretto was a Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican jazz musician.-Early years:Barretto was born in New York City of Puerto Rican descent...
's cover of Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's song Pastime Paradise - Stop What You're Doing samples Dionne WarwickDionne WarwickDionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
's Wives And Lovers - Get Closer samples Linda WilliamsLinda WilliamsLinda Williams is the name of:* Linda Williams , folk singer in duo Robin and Linda Williams*Linda Williams , Dutch singer*Linda Williams , American academic...
' Elevate Your Mind - Pusherman samples Lover’s Theme by Bob Cunningham