Ben Ottewell

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Ben Ottewell
Background information
Birth name Benjamin Ottewell
Born (1976-06-23) June 23, 1976[1]
Matlock, England[2]
Genres Indie, alternative rock, folk, folk rock
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Labels ATO,[3] MapleMusic Recordings (Canada)
Associated acts Gomez

Ben Ottewell is an English singer-songwriter. He is one of the three lead singers of the English indie rock band Gomez. He was the recipient of the Mercury Music Award Prize in 1998, and is well known for his "deep, raspy voice"[4] and "gravelly baritone".[5] Ottewell has recently embarked upon a solo-project, with the debut album Shapes & Shadows.[5]

Career

Ottewell came into contact with Ian Ball (vocals, guitar) while the two were studying law at Sheffield University.[6] Ball was impressed by Ben's big voice, and along with Tom Gray (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Paul Blackburn (bass), and Olly Peacock (drums, synths, computers), they formed the band Gomez. Ottewell's deep, soulful voice has gained him some acclaim and has drawn some comparisons to Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and artist Tom Waits,[7][8][9][10] and his lyrical style, and acoustical arrangements, especially in his solo work, have drawn comparisons to folk singer Nick Drake.[11]

Shapes & Shadows

Ben Ottewell's first solo album, Shapes & Shadows, is not a huge departure from his material with Gomez, but it has its differences. It is more low-key, melancholy, and acoustic driven than Gomez.[12] One music critic says "lyrically and thematically, Shapes and Shadows (the album) is a very thoughtful and mature recording, as if Ottewell is taking issues of love and relationships discussed in Gomez’s back catalogue to another, more mature level".[13]

Personal life

Ottewell was born in Chesterfield and raised in nearby Bonsall, Derbyshire, attending Highfields School in Matlock.[14] He currently resides in Brighton, East Sussex, in England. He is married, and is a father of twin boys and one girl.[15]

Discography

Studio albums

  • Shapes & Shadows, 2011[16]

Gomez discography

Studio albums

Year Title Peak Chart Position Certifications
(sales thresholds)
U.K.
[17][18]		 AUS
[19]		 CAN
[20]		 N.Z.
[21]		 NOR
[22]		 U.S.
[23]		 U.S. Heat U.S. Indie
1998 Bring It On 11 - - - - - - -
1999 Liquid Skin
  • Released: 13 September 1999
  • Label: Hut / Virgin
 2 9 49 40 19 - 30 -
2002 In Our Gun
  • Released: 18 March 2002
  • Label: Hut / Virgin
 8 5 - 13 - - 37 -
2004 Split the Difference
  • Released: 17 May 2004
  • Label: Hut / Virgin
 35 24 - 39 - 191 11 -
2006 How We Operate
  • Released: 2 May 2006
  • Label: ATO / Independiente
 69 37 - - - 106 1 7
2009 A New Tide
  • Released: 30 March 2009
  • Label: ATO, Eat Sleep
 63 40 - - - 60 - 5
2011 Whatever's On Your Mind
  • Released: 6 June 2011
  • Label: ATO, Eat Sleep
 65 - - - - 81 - 11

References

  1. ↑ "Ben Ottewell Biography". AOL Inc. 
  2. ↑ "Ben's finally bringing it on". Northcliffe Media Limited. 2012. 
  3. ↑ "ATO Records: Shapes and Shadows". ATO Records. 2010. 
  4. ↑ "Music of Neil Young at Carnegie Hall: Ben Ottewell". Michael Dorf. 2010. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Interactive Interview: Ben Ottewell of Gomez on Going Solo". Flavorpill Productions, LLC. 2011. 
  6. ↑ "Gomez Music Bio". Music Entertainment Network. 2005. 
  7. ↑ "Ben Ottewell: Shapes & Shadows (ATO Records)". Spike Magazine. 2011. 
  8. ↑ "Gomez Album Reviews". sfloman. 
  9. ↑ "The Felice Brothers, 2008". Worldpress.com. 2011. 
  10. ↑ "Gomez – Whatever’s On Your Mind". Playground Misnomer. 2011. 
  11. ↑ "iTunes Preview: Shapes & Shadows". Apple Inc. date=2011. 
  12. ↑ "highbrowse.ie". PreMac Inc. 2011. 
  13. ↑ "Ben Ottewell - Shapes & Shadow (Album)". Thedwarf.com.au. 2011. 
  14. ↑ Ben's finally bringing it on. This Is Derbyshire. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  15. ↑ "Ben Ottewell: A Familiar Voice, On Its Own". NPR. 2012. 
  16. ↑ "Starpulse Ben Ottewell Biography". Starpulse.com. 
  17. ↑ "UK Chartlog". zobbel.de. Retrieved 12 January 2009. 
  18. ↑ "UK Chartstats". chartstats.com. Retrieved 12 January 2009. 
  19. ↑ "Australian album positions". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 14 January 2009. 
  20. ↑ "Canadian album positions". RPM. Retrieved 14 January 2009. 
  21. ↑ "New Zealand album positions". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 14 January 2009. 
  22. ↑ "Norwegian album positions". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 14 January 2009. 
  23. ↑ "US Positions". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 12 January 2009. 
  24. ↑ "Bring It On British sales certification". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 January 2009. 
  25. ↑ "Liquid Skin British sales certification". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 January 2009. 
  26. ↑ "In Our Gun British sales certification". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 January 2009. 
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