English singer-songwriter and producer Benny Fisher is a master of his own craft, creating amazing tracks like Love Come Back with a DIY backbone. With the modern music industry in its current state of disrepair, it’s really important to push deserving DIY artists like Benny and give them a voice. As such, I felt it was a perfect time to have a chat with him to find out more about his music!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a new track called Love Come Back. What can you tell us about the song?
It’s a soul ballad with an important universal message… but don’t let that put you off. It’s a fun tune too!
How has the reception to the track been so far, and where can it be purchased?
Several positive reviews in various languages including a nice one from yourself. Thanks for that, Jane. You can buy it on Bandcamp or stream it everywhere else.
Do you have any more singles planned for the near future?
I have a new single called Constellations out in May. It’s about a girl who lives upstairs who’s into astronomy. It’s factual.
Are there any plans to release a full length album or EP anytime soon?
I’m in talks with music labels and publishers to make that happen. The bidding war is reaching a climax. We’ll see.
Your music has a really unique sound. What/who are you most influenced by?
There’s plenty of great music being made today. People like Daft Punk, Kindness and Avalanches have made amazing albums in the 21st century which are arguably just as impressive as St. Pepper or Pet Sounds. And if you love the Beatles and Beach Boys, check out The Lemon Twigs; if 1970s soul is your bag, then you must hear Durand Jones & The Indications; if you like indie pop with a seasoning of soul and psychedelia, then why not try Benny Fisher… and so the list goes on.
Still, I don’t see why I should give these big names more oxygen. As if they need it. So here’s a big shout out to one of my favourite singer-songwriters: Edgar Jones from Liverpool. A true original with oodles of Scouse pizzazz. Please buy his records. All of them.
What have you been listening to recently?
I was just on a family holiday in South Tyrol, the German-speaking part of Italy. In the mid-afternoon slump, these traditional mountain hotels have their own brand of gloom. I was sitting there, letting the cheesy background music waft over me, most of it in German, when suddenly my ears pricked up. Jeans On by David Dundas came on.
“When I wake up in the morning light, I pull on my jeans and I feel all right. I pull my blue jean on …” It really cut through. I immediately felt happy. So simple and throwaway but actually a stroke of genius: a song about pulling on a pair of trousers.
Jeans On was a global hit in 1976 and a number one in Germany, of course. To have the same success today, you’d probably need to write a song about pulling off your trousers and twerking. Hang on! That’s not a bad idea. I might be onto something here.
Do you have anything else exciting coming up over the next few months?
I’ll be doing the music for The Ghost Reel. It’s a new short film by Peter Spence, the award-winning filmmaker famous for Christmas in Huddersfield, the story of a children’s party given by the Sex Pistols on Christmas Day 1977. Crucially, and this is typical of Peter’s gifts as a storyteller, his film does not focus on the band, but on the people who attended the party as children. He did a great job of tracking them down.
Any last words for the fans?
A big thank you for listening, especially to all my fans in the North. My parents are northerners: mum from Halifax and dad from Hyde, so the North will always be in my heart. And, Jane, can I say a special hello to my niece who is at York Uni? Hello Charlotte!