There’s nothing more pleasant than an approachable talented artist. Ben Rusch has intrigued me through his music and warm persona. Through music Ben expresses his is seemingly organic and fresh European influenced sense of humor and passion for music. Talented, quick witted, outstandingly engaging and hilarious; it’s clear he’s living his dream through music.  Ben’s music has been kept silenced like a hidden treasure but once you stumble upon him the desire for more is overwhelming. Based “across the pond”, this award winning artist has progressively changed the sound of pop, folk, jazz and classical music. I was granted to opportunity to sit down with this experienced artist and interview him via Skype here’s what he had to say…

Deanna Collins: So first off how are you? I know it’s a little late over there sorry about that lol.

Ben Rusch: Quite alright musicians are night owl’s anyway. Im good, I just finished up the album about seven or eight weeks ago so now it’s a different phase of the process a lot of work focused on the promotion and marketing of the album.

DC: How long have you been in the music industry?

BR: I have a lot of experience I started playing live pop music when I was 12; I have been playing for 20 years, Im almost surprised every time I say it.

DC: As I reviewed your biography I saw that you played a number of instruments; impressive. When did you find the time to learn all these things and were any self taught?

BR: (Laughing) all the eclectic ones bagpipes being one of the extremes are self taught. But Im classically trained in the piano I learned that first then the violin. Although Im the most comfortable playing the piano and guitar everything else I have to concentrate hard on. Like if I was using the bag pipes on a song it would need a couple takes at it lol. Once I was asked to play the violin at a wedding. Although I was flattered I had to decline I didn’t want to get arrested you know on a count of bad music lol.

DC: There was one instrument in particular, the Mandolin, what’s that!?

BR: It’s a mini guitar but not like a ukulele, the tuning is different and it has 8 strings it creates such a unique sound

DC: Glad you cleared that up. So I see you have been winning awards and honorable mentions, which one have you been the most proud of so far?

BR: With any review or award the most recent one is always the one fresh in your mind. Your songs are like your babies so you want to make sure they are looked after and that’s what this is all about all the awards it lets you know people take notice. But I would have to say right now Im the most proud of the international songwriting contest song door 2009 because its my most recent….I got an honorable mention…it would have been nice to win though (chuckles)

DC: Ah, ok I see. So what would be your dream award, the one you want to win the most or do you not set out to win awards?

BR: (Laughing) secretly, more then I like to admit I know all the deadlines or when they are going to announce the winners for most of the competitions. Like I know they will be announcing finalist for the international song writers competition is on the 26 so Im counting down the 9 days till that it’s kind of like torture. When I don’t win I say things like they had hundreds of songs to go through or they have bad taste. But when I win you know I always like to think they have good taste!

DC: Well let’s hope they have good taste! Ok, so let’s talk about college… Oxford University; wow. Talk about prestige how was that experience for you?

BR: Oxford, yea I mean someone has to go…If no one goes it becomes kind of pointless you know (laughing) No really though it was fantastic, some of the best times of my life and absolutely incredible. They were wonderful people; I created fantastic friendships with people I still see no matter where in the world they are. Also my scholarship gave me free reign on whatever music equipment the school had to offer. We used to sit around the piano and have a ball it was kind of like our version of a campfire.

DC: That sounds like the college dream! What’s your motivation and how do you stay focused?

BR: That’s just it you have to stay focused! One thing I try to establish is a good work ethic. I completely sequester myself. You have to find the time to do it once Im in the zone I can write a song a day but to get to the zone is a process

DC: Are there any radio station here in the states that you feel as if they really support you?

BR: On your side of the pond most of the stations that I have been on outside of the UK are from the united state or Vancouver. Even the music magazines that I have been in are from the US and Canada Im happy Americans have accepted me and have taken to me

DC: I listened to “tomorrow”  and it seemed to a blend of rock and classical. Have you ever tried to fit into one genre?  Has it always been an infusion of different styles?

BR: “Tomorrow” is much, much older”. It’s about 15 years old so in terms of composing “until the coast is clear” is much more sophisticated. Back then with “Tomorrow” the sound was so much different. I never try to fit into anything sons just come about to me and I just go with it.

DC: Ok, so I noticed you have this running theme in pictures where there are two of you what’s that all about? Did you always want a twin? Lol

BR: (laughing) maybe its some type of Freudian slip lol it’s my subconscious showing my want for an identical twin brother (laughing). But no it came about because my friends is sort of a photo wiz, I saw he had a photo where he was in like three different places in one picture and I wanted to do it too. He gave me some very vague instructions and I had to figure out the rest myself but I got it

DC: What are five words you would use to describe yourself and your music?

BR: What I’m trying to achieve is Interesting, Engaging, Rewarding, Intelligent music.  As for me I would have to say my music is amazing and ridiculous people have to decide that for themselves.

DC: That’s a pretty sound answer. What’s one thing you would like people to know that have not heard of you yet?

BR: I’d say go to the website! (Laughing) No really I would tell them its music for people who really love music, those people who find themselves moved by interesting music would like mine

DC:What’s your ultimate goal?

BR: The more mundane answer is to say one day being able to retire from music. Wait no that’s not what I mean!  To keep doing music forever! As a song writer my goal is not to be with a record label. It’s to network make contacts be creative and navigate through this industry and make that a living.

DC: What comes first lyrics or music?

BR: Music! Music is always there it’s as if it already exists and lyrics work their way around it and there is a point in the process where they influence each other. But the music is always in existence and the cross harmonize

DC: That was an amazing answer honestly! Ok so last question you ready? Last day on earth what are you eating?

BR: That’s easy Chocolate! There’s no contest I eat chocolate every day so it would be no different. It would end the way it’s done.

DC: Good lol so ill be in touch any last words

BR: Great uh i dont know God bless America lol

To preview music from Ben Rusch

Click here—-> Until The Coast Is Clear

Click here—-> Fissilelse

~Written and interviewd by Deanna Collins 2010

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