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centred on disillusionment over the organs one is granted at birth
Bodied is an intimate collection of songs detailing the complex relationship we have with our own bodies. These songs emerged during a transformative phase in Ben’s life, following his relocation to study in Manchester following a deeply personal period marked by a mental health breakdown. The EP represents a move in thematic material, with Ben delving into the universally relatable concept of our physical selves – a departure from his intimate and autobiographical debut album episode.
Ben offers a glimpse into the project today with the release of single ‘Memoriam’. The ever-unfolding track builds with spiralling, layered guitars and an irresistibly resonant chorus; the song feels like a conversation with a friend, both deeply personal and universal.
“’Memoriam’ is a song centred on disillusionment over the organs one is granted at birth. During my life I’ve been saddened by certain archetypes I’ve felt it impossible to escape: I appreciate such struggles are all-consuming for many people who must remain stoic and indefatigable under the impossible weight of their own forms. These songs are about bodies and their (non)pliability; trying to lie oblique against archaic parameters; engendering a landscape in which your child need not question which mask they’ll wear tomorrow,” explains Ben.
Lyrically, Bodied explores the intricate interplay between self-representation and the unchosen forms we inhabit, juxtaposing ‘what you are’ against ‘what you can only be.’ The songs within the EP embrace the dysphoric, clouded and bizarre beauty that is inherent within the human body. A deeply intelligent collection of music, it oscillates between driving guitars, infectious melodies and delicate, folk-tinged arrangements with otherworldly vocals and clever lyricism. Involved in every level of the creative process, Ben also designed the artwork for the EP.
Added to FAS Spotify playlist indie pop.
