Ben Sommers Interview

After experimental folk artist Ben Sommers released his debut album ‘Avocado Chip’ in October,
BBM’s Ella Delancey catches up with the infectiously alternative Londoner to talk tours, nightmare gigs, and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Firstly, how are you?

I’m OK thanks. I’ve just eaten a dodgy peach. There were some green bits on it that I didn’t see when I first took a bite so I’m worried about making it through the night. It shouldn’t have been mouldy, I only bought them today.

Were you happy with how the album launch party went?

It was a good night. I showcased a few new songs which is always exciting for me. I also had a singer/songwriter called Cara Winter play with me (she sings on the Album). I played the last few songs of my set with an amazing band called Jack in Water who I have become a very big fan of over the past year or so and who I hope to be playing a few more shows with over the coming months.

Your new album Avocado Chip was released in October – can you tell us a little about it?

It’s a concept album I guess. When I was writing the music I had these ideas of characters and a place where they all would live. I was watching a lot of animation films at the time too (namely Bruce Bickford) and so I started to film some of my own. It all just kept evolving until I ended up with the album, the book and the animation videos. The time came to booking gigs and playing the material live so I had the idea to work with different bands for a limited period of time to explore stylistically how the songs could be presented. The first band I worked with in 2010/2011 were called Pandora’s Box – now I am working with Jack in Water.

What’s the meaning behind the name ‘Avocado Chip’?

The name all lies in the story I’ve written that accompanies the album. If I explained to you what Avocado Chip meant then I would be giving away part of the plot and I don’t want to do that just yet! The story follows a handful of characters who live in a fictitious town called ‘Starving Jane’. The town is ruled by an evil man called Old Tall Sam who lives in a castle that overlooks the town. The whole story has been inspired in part by books like George Orwell’s “1984” and Arthur C Clarke’s “The Fountains of Paradise” plus a lot of conspiracy theories that I have read from various websites and books over the years. Not to say I believe all I read but it does make for interesting reading – very thought provoking material is always an inspiration and for this project in particular, the subject matter lends itself very well.

Some of your lyrics are really powerful. How do you write songs (the creative process)?

I always start with the phone book. I pick a page at random and which ever name I land on I’ll take that name and write it on a piece of paper. I’ll then make an anagram of that name and turn it into something poetic. I’ll just do this over and over until I have complete sentences and then try and fit them into the music. Also, I’ll sometimes hang around the library and beat up the kid reading Keats and steal his notebooks, then just plagiarise what he’s already written. Creativity is in all of us, it’s no big deal. Our society tends to single out one person to put praise on them, but really it’s just how much we can all say yes to the ideas that come to us.

Where are you planning to tour?

I’m thinking space. I’m currently in talks with the russian government to hitch a ride on their next Mars moon mission. I figure I’ll then just pull favours from passing flying saucers to get myself and my guitar from planet to planet until I reach Alpha Centauri. I’m going to call the tour The ‘I told you I was going’ Tour. Then next year I’m concentrating solely on playing retirement homes.

Our main readership is based in Australia – have you considered taking your music out there or have you been there?

I’ve not been out there yet – I’d love to though. My Uncle lives out there. He’s a racing driver called Steve Cramp. I’d always get pictures sent to me of him while I was growing up – him in his racing car. I think he was formula two or something? I don’t even have a driving licence so it’s obviously not in the blood. When I was little, apparently I knew all about cars, I could name them all from my child seat in the back of my Mum’s honda while we were on the motorway. All that information has since left my head though, I couldn’t tell you the difference between an Audi and a Roller now. Australia seems like a cool place, yeah it would be good to visit sometime.

Have you ever had a nightmare gig?

I’ve experienced every emotion imaginable at my gigs. Probably the most nightmare-like was one in Brick Lane, East London where half way through a song I fell backwards off my chair and smacked my head on the stage. I got so into the song that I’d been stomping my foot against the make shift stage which consequently caused my chair leg to fall between the gaps. Pretty embarrassing.

Who has influenced you musically throughout your life?

Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Who are you listening to right now?

Pandora’s Box, Jack in Water, Cara Winter and two Pomeranian/Poodle cross breeds chewing their bones.

By Ella Delancey

Twitter: @ellaaadxb