Meet Ben Lester: a 28-year-old recording artist from London with an unhealthy Beach Boys obsession. Having already released one album and just finished another, he is carving out a distinct lane in the modern musical landscape. Describing his sonic identity simply as "chamber-dream-pop," he feels a strong connection to the superb retro-modernist pop of Magdalena Bay, aiming to take inspiration from the classics without simply retreading the past.
W: Perry Jackson I: Tony Palmer
"Chamber-dream-pop! Taking inspiration from the classics without simply retreading the past is the aim."
Behind his new record lies an overarching concept album about the inevitability of change, the inexorable passage of time, and how humanity is gradually stumbling towards extinction, "cheery stuff", as he puts it. Rapidly approaching 30 has heavily influenced these themes, though he frequently has to remind himself he is not an old man just yet.
"It’s a concept album of sorts about the inevitability of change, the inexorable passage of time, and how humanity is gradually stumbling towards extinction, you know, cheery stuff!"
As an independent creator who performs and produces every note himself, Lester enjoys complete creative freedom, allowing him to work entirely at his own pace and on his own terms. However, this perfectionism has its downsides; his first album took eight years to complete and release. In stark contrast, he set himself a goal of finishing his latest record within six months and managed it in just six weeks, proving how quickly momentum can pull things together.
"I perform and produce every note myself, so I can do everything at my own pace and on my own terms."
Musically, fans can expect a much more dynamic listening experience on the new record. With quicker chord changes and faster-moving sections, it carries a restless energy alongside what he calls "lyrical dissonance", where the bleakness of the words contrasts with an upbeat musical mood, resulting in a slightly less depressing listen. His musical DNA is heavily imprinted by Brian Wilson, whom he regards as a god of musical language, alongside Todd Rundgren, Prefab Sprout, and Steely Dan.
"The new album is a lot more dynamic than the first. The chords change quicker, the sections move by faster, there’s quite a restless energy I think!"
When it comes to the live arena, Lester keeps things refreshingly low-maintenance. A self-professed clean-freak who dislikes backstage mess, he is happy playing to crowds of any size and is especially eager to unleash rockier tracks like 'Into Place' and 'Someday' in a packed room. Among his most cherished memories is supporting a show at the Islington O2 Academy years ago, when a member of the audience walked up to him in the crowd and shook his hand, telling him, "You're the real deal."
"I went into the audience to watch the headliner when someone came up to me and shook my hand—'you’re the real deal' he said! That always stuck with me."
Looking ahead, after intentionally dialling back his focus on chasing audiences to concentrate purely on making the best possible music, he is ready to share his new work with the world. Should cinematic opportunities arise, he envisions his album 'I Could Change' soundtracking an existential, brooding film in the vein of 'Lost In Translation' with Sofia Coppola firmly in mind for the director's chair.