Ben Howard
| Ben Howard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Benjamin John Howard |
| Born |
24 April 1987 London, England |
| Origin | Totnes, Devon, England |
| Genres | Folk, indie folk |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, percussion |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Island (UK), Communion (UK), Tôt ou Tard (France), Republic (US) |
| Associated acts | Chris Bond, India Bourne |
| Website | www.benhowardmusic.co.uk |
Benjamin John "Ben" Howard (born 24 April 1987) is an English singer-songwriter. He self-released his debut EP Games in the Dark (2008) followed by two more EPs These Waters (2009) and Old Pine (2010). He is currently signed to Island and Communion.[1][2] His major debut studio album came in 2011 titled Every Kingdom followed by two more EP releases, Ben Howard Live (2011) and The Burgh Island EP (2012). He performed at 2013 Glastonbury festival on the Pyramid Stage on Saturday 30 June.
Early life
He was born in West London in 1987 and moved to Totnes, Devon when he was about eight. He was raised by musical parents who exposed him to their favourite records from singer-songwriter artists from the 1960s and 1970s at an early age, such as John Martyn, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel, by whom he was strongly influenced.[3]
Howard began writing songs when he was around ten or eleven. In an interview with American Songwriter, he stated that when he was a kid he started playing guitar because he liked to put words together and make stuff up. "I was quite an imaginative little kid I guess. So your standard little love songs turned into your standard adolescent love songs. I think you start getting your own take on things when you’re a late teen. That’s when everything changes."[4] After attending King Edward VI Community College and Torquay Boys' Grammar School he began studying Journalism at University College Falmouth, Cornwall. Six months prior to completion of his course, Howard decided to focus on making music full-time, making melodic rootsy folk music, with progressively darker lyrics. His reputation grew around Cornwall and Devon, and soon spread to other areas of the UK. After a month of sold-out dates across Europe and the UK Howard was eventually asked to sign for Island Records.
Music career
2008–11: Early releases
Before signing to a record label, Howard had already released some material. In 2008 he self-released his debut EP Games in the Dark. His first major release was These Waters, an EP featuring six tracks, including "The Wolves". In 2010, Ben Howard released the Old Pine EP, followed by a number of singles, such as "The Fear" and "Keep Your Head Up". Howard now had enough material to release an album, Every Kingdom, which would feature a number of his previous singles.
2011–13: Every Kingdom
Howard signed to Island Records in 2011, due to the label's history of UK folk singers, including Nick Drake and John Martyn.[5] After singles "Old Pine" and "The Wolves" were released in 2011, Howard recorded his debut album entitled Every Kingdom, which was released on 3 October 2011. He was nominated for the 2012 Mercury Prize.
Howard worked alongside India Bourne and Chris Bond to make Every Kingdom, with Bourne playing cello, keyboards, ukulele, bass and contributing vocals and percussion and Bond playing guitars, bass, double bass, drums, percussion, keyboards, accordion, contributing to vocals, and also producing the record. He also toured with Bourne and Bond on his 2012 Every Kingdom tour, with support from Willy Mason.
In 2012, Howard launched his music in America with Every Kingdom being released on 3 April 2012, and appearances at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Texas and a US tour confirmed.[6] His song "Promise" was featured at the end of season 8, episode 12 of TV show House.
In May 2012, Howard performed "The Wolves" on Later... with Jools Holland. He played at Pinkpop in the Netherlands on 26 May and Radio 1's Big Weekend in Hackney on 24 June 2012. He also played at the 2012 Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee,[7] the 2012 T in the Park music festival in Scotland, as well as Beach Break Live 2012 in South Wales, Bestival 2012 and Splendour in the Grass 2012. Howard also played a slot at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in October 2012.[8]
In November 2012, Howard released The Burgh Island EP produced by Chris Bond, which featured four new tracks. Once again released to critical acclaim, the EP had a darker, more menacing tone than most of Howard's previous work, with Howard also playing electric guitar, rather than his traditional acoustic. The second track from the EP, "Oats in the Water", was featured in Internment, the 5th episode in Season 4 of AMC's The Walking Dead.
Ben Howard played on the main Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2013, on Saturday 29 June 2013, in which he played five tracks from Every Kingdom.
Awards and nominations
BRIT Awards
Howard has won both BRIT Awards for which he has been nominated.[9]
| Year | Nomination | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | British Breakthrough Act | Himself | Won |
| British Solo Male Artist | Won |
Mercury Prize
Howard has been nominated once for the Mercury Prize.[10]
| Year | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Every Kingdom | Nominated |
Discography
- Every Kingdom (2011)
Guitar style
Howard's method of laying the guitar flat against his knees and playing it percussively was influenced by contemporary folk songwriter and guitarist John Smith.[11]
References
- ↑ "Ben Howard - Artists". Island Records. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ↑ "Artists – Communion". Communionmusic.co.uk. 2011-11-11. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ↑ "Ben Howard interview with Absolute Radio's Pete Donaldson". YouTube. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ↑ "Ben Howard". American Songwriter. 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ↑ "Ben Howard - Artists". Island Records. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ↑ Stickler, Jon. "Ben Howard Announces Plans for the US". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ↑ "Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival". Bonnaroo.com. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ↑ "ACL Music Fest - ACL Interview: Ben Howard: Ben Howard - Music". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ↑ "Ben Howard wins best British breakthrough act and best male solo artist at Brit Awards 2013". The Independent. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- ↑ Green, Thomas H. (30 October 2012). "Mercury Prize countdown: 9-7. Michael Kiwanuka, Field Music, Ben Howard". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- ↑ "Ben Howard talks about John Smith's influence on his guitar style.". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2013-03-09.
External links
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