Ben Reel Interview by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show

Ben Reel Interview by Christian
Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show

Lamitschka:  Music has many new fans throughout
Europe who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe
yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?

Answer:  Passionate, soulful, Deep, Heartfelt

Lamitschka:  How was the last year for you? What were
your highlights?

Answer:  Last year was busy the highlight was playing
The Musiktan festival in Bilbao, Spain

Lamitschka:  What is your latest CD and how’s it
doing?

Answer:  Land Of Escape is the new album, It is been
received well by the critics

Lamitschka:  How did you choose the title for the
CD?  Is there a story behind the name?

Answer: It is taken from the first line of the the
first song Landscapes.

Lamitschka:  Do you write the songs yourself? If not,
how do you go about finding the songs for your CD?

Answer:  Yes I write all the songs

Lamitschka:  Please tell us about the songs on your
album (influences, etc).

Answer:  I
think the whole album is about escapism. I have a wide range of influences
which merge into something that is uniqely mine. I don’t want to dwell on
influences as it deflects the listener into comparisions. It is what it is.

Lamitschka:  What is the difference between your last
CD and your current one?

Answer:  The last record was Rock n Roll, blues style
while the new album is more ambient alt folk vibe

Lamitschka:  Your current single is being played by
radio. What do you feel is special about this song that makes people want to
hear it?

Answer:  Soldier of Love is a big sounding almost
Phil Spector – Beatles production. It was hard to get right in the mix but Im
happy with the outcome.

Lamitschka:  What will your next single be?

Answer: Not sure yet maybe ‘Some Mercy’ or ‘ Fields
Of Dreams’ as a summer single

Lamitschka:  What kind of songs do you like to record
the most?

Answer:  No favourite in particular but I would like
to record in future with my whole band live.

Lamitschka:  Do you have any interesting stories
about how fans have been affected by your music?

Answer: Yes , lots of fans have told me my music has
helped them through hard times in their lives, whether losing a loved one. A
dutch fan had my song Raise Your Glass played at his fathers funeral and it was
also played at an Irish funeral, I do melancholy good

Lamitschka:  Who inspires you musically and how deep
do your musical roots run?

Answer:  People like Springsteen, Neil Young, Dylan,
Bob Marley. My mothers side had the singers and my fathers side the poets.

Lamitschka:  What do you think about today’s music
scene versus its post and where do you see it going in the future?

Answer:  I’m afraid of whats happening because the
kids are not into Rock n Roll, there are too many other distractions. We need
another Nirvana to blow the shit apart but I can’t see it coming as the kids
are to dumbed down these days. Its the age of mediocrity hence Ed Sheeran etc.
Thats the way the major labels like it now , shallow harmless love songs for
the masses.

Lamitschka:  If you had the chance to change
something about the music industry, what would it be?

Answer:  We need more diversity in the mainstream. We
need Rock nroll heroes like I had growing up who actually can play and sing
without autotune

Lamitschka:  As an artist, you so many tasks such as
recording, touring, interviews. What do you like best, what’s your favorite
activity?

Answer:  I like touring but then I also like getting
home and locking myself away to record. Definitely not interviews lol

Lamitschka:  Are you doing anything to take music
beyond its current borders or are you happy where it is?

Answer:  well I think my new album is beyond my
comfort zone, I always try to make a different record although I know I haven’t
reinvented the wheel.

Lamitschka:  What inspired you to become an artist?

Answer:  Seeing Bruce Springsteen at Slane in 1985
when I was 13 yrs old

Lamitschka:  What drives you?

Answer:  I can’t go back now and Its too late to stop
now as Van Morrison once said

Lamitschka:  When you get time off, how do you like
to relax?

Answer:  I like to chill out at home with Julieanne
with a bottle of red. I also like to play football.

Lamitschka:  Is there anything in your life that you
would change if you could?

Answer: Yes , I would have liked to have been a
professional footballer. Too late now I’m afraid.

Lamitschka:  What hopes and desires do you have?

Answer:  Just to continue making a living at what I’m
doing and bringing it to a higher level and bigger audience

Lamitschka:  What has been the biggest disappointment
in your life?

Answer:  In this business I have had a lot of knock
backs, but I have a thick skin and I am very stubborn. Oh not becoming a
professional footballer lol

Lamitschka:  Many European fans travel to the United
States to attend the several of the music festivals for the opportunity to see
so many of their favorite artists, bands and celebrities. Will you be
participating and how will the fans be able to find you?

Answer:  Well I will be in Nashville in Sept 2018.
And I will be back in Netherlands and Germany in November

Lamitschka:  Is there any place you haven’t played
that you would like to?

Answer:  LA, Japan

Lamitschka:  Many music fans today get their
information about artists online. Do you have your own website and what will
fans find there?

Answer:  www.benreel.com

Christian Lamitschka ( Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de ) for
Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show

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