I had the idea for the song ‘This Is On Me’ (which at the time was called Wrecking Ball…until another song of that title came out, ugh!) and I knew I wanted a duet wherein both parties take responsibility for the end of a relationship but I also knew I wanted ‘her’ to be written by a girl. I can’t believe I get to say I worked with someone like that on my first album. The aesthetics of her music – and the big commercial hits she’s had – might mislead people into thinking she’s a lightweight ‘pop’ writer, but you just have to listen a little deeper to the stories she tells in her lyrics and the way she turns a phrase to realise what a sharp mind she has.
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Sara Bareillesĭescribe your experience working with Sara Bareilles and how you both connected on a musical level?īen Abraham: I think Sara has one of the most beautiful voices in music and also happens to be one of the smartest writers working in pop music. Read Atwood Magazine’s exclusive interview below with Ben Abraham. Thanks to the power of social media, Abraham joined Sara on a few shows and created a stellar track called “This Is On Me.” He’d written a track and thought it was perfect for her, so Abraham did what any driven songwriter would do and wrote a song asking Sara to collobrate with him. This was demonstrated through a campaign that was launched asking Sara Bareilles to collaborate with him on Sirens. Perhaps the most admirable quality about Ben Abraham’s work is his light-hearted, fun-loving nature. The tracks are filled with emotive phrases, in both lyrical and instrumental contexts. Ranging from soul/gospel-esque, to mellow, soft indie sounds there are always truths to be found within the core of the tracks between the chords, and especially within the silence. Many would struggle to pigeon hole Abraham’s sound, and whilst indie/folk with cinematic tendencies sounds quite vague, it doesn’t do justice to the array of sounds that can be found within Sirens. Abraham prides his work upon each track holding particular significance within the album and these are executed with luxurious soundscapes that continue to grasp the film-making talents. The whole album has an inoffensive sound that seeps into the darkest corners of the human soul. His charismatic and fun loving aura bleeds through into every track. Many reviews have described Abraham’s sound as ‘deeply human,’ and it doesn’t take long to understand why.
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It was during this time he began to pour his energy into songwriting, which his cinematic core not too far behind. He pursued his first love of cinematography at university, however also worked part time as a children entertainer in a hospital. Growing up around parents who were part of an Indonesian pop group in the ’70s, Abraham began his musical endeavours quite late. Self-described as a cinematic, indie/folk artist, Abraham has a whole spectrum of qualities which have fused together to create a cherished album. There are a magnitude of experiences that Abraham has drawn upon which have weaved together to create such authentic and honest work. However, it is when passions collide where real magic can be found, and this rare output can be found within Melbourne native Ben Abraham’s debut album, Sirens (March 2016 via Secretly Canadian). Whether this is shown via artistic pursuits or not, one is certainly bound to learn about themselves and the world around them.
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It’s no secret that it takes a combination of experiences to draw out the best in someone.