Ben Lee - Ripe for the picking

Ben Lee is a strange character. Equal parts sincere, self confident and talented, he’s been a constant conversation point for the Australian music industry. With his new album Ripe, he’s yet again managed to walk the fine line of commercial success while staying true to himself. Manifesting with Ripe as the Sydney promotion show for Telstra, and 'We're All In This together" becoming the new Salvos soundtrack.

“I think it’s a mixture of conscious and unconscious. I definitely carry the intention of being both commercial and altruistic with my career, but you tend to attract things unexpectedly too. I think we are each like little magnets, getting back what we give.”
Ben Lee has given a lot to music, and even more to his fans. With each album he bares a little more of his soul and imagination. He knows no other way, it’s what comes naturally for him.

“For me, music and spirituality are very closely connected. You cannot understand either of them with your mind, only your heart. I’m sure for some people, art or theatre does this too, maybe even sport. But for me, music is where it’s at as far as transcendence.”

He is unapologetically paradoxical, both philosophical and practical in his life and music. His own blog observes the duality of his life; talking one minute to his spiritual advisor Narayani Amma about lie the universe and everything, then next turning to his Blackberry to orgainse album artwork.
“I would prefer to leave holistically. I don’t see why I have to exclude anything from my life. If I do that, I am living by other people's rules. It’s hard sometimes to find balance, but I mostly enjoy the challenge.”

It’s those tenants he lives by that makes Ben Lee one of those guys who is totally comfortable in his own skin, doing his own thing. Be it covering an entire hardcore Against Me! album acoustically; “I heard Tom Gabel saying he was impressed by it, and that it brought out the pop sensibility of their songs, which was my intention. For me, it was an act of fandom. Getting back to what inspires me about music.” Or letting close friend Amiel into his life with a camera over seven years to produce a documentary;“I am slightly nervous. But I believe in Amiel and his vision as an artist. I don’t really need his judgment, just his intuition. His is a good journalist and human being. He will make something interesting, I’m sure.”

Ben Lee has a certain way of doing what he likes, and discovering that other people like it too. His unique perspective on growing up, the complete inverse to popular thinking, is jut one example of how his right brain dominates. “For me "maturity" has meant feeling more free, more playful and more myself. I used to feel much more self-conscious. After you take a few hits, I realized how unrealistic it was to try and please everyone all the time.”
For fans he has always tried to add something a little quirky, some sort of personal signature to his music. Be it early release bonuses, hand etched vinyls or embracing the digital revolution long before most mainstream artists had even considered online delivery.

“Blogging, podcasts, message boards, free tracks on MySpace - to me these are all just as creative and personal as anything that we were doing with vinyl and tape trading etc. It is definitely less physical, but I see that as a positive. There is so much materialism in the world and disregard for the environment, it seems like recognising music to be a primarily energetic medium is a positive move.”

Optimism and positive thinking are ever present in Ben Lee’s work, even through times of emotional hardship. His production of happy pop music is seen by some as inane and simplistic. A point of view that Ben takes no offence to as he knows the reality of producing popular music.
“I always find it amusing when people put it down saying "its just a perfect pop record". "Only"!?!? As if that's easy to do! I don’t think there is anything slight about a pop record. My favourite records are pop records. They mean a lot to me.”

They mean a lot to many others too. For the rest, for the haters in Australia, and the music industry particularly, for those who don’t like it if you don’t fit into a mould, for those even flummoxed if you’re comfortable being categorised, and extremely proud of your talent…. For the haters and nonplussed who aren’t sure how to take artists with the talent, sincerity and self belief of Ben Lee, I have this advice. Just close your eyes, smile, and appreciate what goes into creating such listening pleasure.

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