Start Listening To: Ben Stafford

Step outside and smell the roses with Ben Stafford.

Ben Stafford has been on our radar as a one to watch since his 2022 release, Beudy Penland. Influenced by the likes of Ben Howard and Big Thief, Ben Stafford’s music is a fresh fusion of familiar audio stems (that you’d find in a typical folk song) layered with fuzzy vintage sounds. For his latest album In The Garden, Stafford took a more relaxed approach to his craft, we caught up with him ahead of the album’s release.

For those unfamiliar with your music can you tell us who you are, where you’re from, and something about the music you make?

My names Ben Stafford and I'm a folk / alt folk singer songwriter from Lancashire.

Can you describe your songwriting process?

So I tend to start off with an idea, or a feeling that I want to convey in the song. Then I’ll sit down and play around with sounds and melodies until something sticks out. Then I’ll ad lib lyrics until ive got a vibe and structure. Sometimes this process happens in reverse order, so I can’t say I have a set structure! 

What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your music?

I’d say I hope they can release to the song and take something from it and maybe help them in their own life, or make them think of things they’ve experienced in their life. For me my music is purely a personal outlet, so I always say if people take something from the songs that’s a bonus for me! 

Can you tell us how you got started?

In terms of playing guitar, I just picked up my Dad’s when I was about 8 or 9, and he kinda taught me the basics while I gradually picked up stuff along the way. I then started writing songs when I was about 15, never with a view to recording and releasing them, bit more of a way of coping with things going on in my life, like most people probably! I was then lucky that a few years later, people started to be interested in my songs and wanted to hear more, so here we are! 

How would you describe your sound?

It’s definitely folk mixed with alternative sounds. Folk music is at the core of my passion for music, but ive always been intrigued by experimenting with different sounds and techniques, which is probably where my love for old vintage music equipment came from! 

Can you describe the recording process for In the Garden?

So my last record I took myself off into the secluded Welsh hills, and recorded the whole album in a week, alone in a cottage, so for this new record I thought I’d be more laid back with it and not put time constraints on myself. So I literally just recorded it all in my bedroom, with all my gear, whenever I felt like recording. I then met up with Kyle Keegan in Liverpool, to record the drums for ‘Ill Never Know’. 

Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind your song I’ll Never Know?

So musically, its very much inspired by the likes of Ben Howard and Big Thief, who I think are absolutely amazing, and then lyrically, the song is about wondering what someone might think, who’s no longer around anymore. But at the same time it's very much about looking inward and seeing the possible flaws about how you deal with sad or traumatic things in your life. 

What track from In the Garden are you most excited for people to hear?

I’d say I was pretty excited for people to hear the first single ‘I’ll Never Know’ purely because I was made up with how Kyle added to the song, he really gave it another life!

Name an artist you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why?

So there’s this old Celtic Irish folk band called Clannad that I still enjoy listening to. And when we were younger, my parents would often play their songs in the car as we drove down to Wales or Cornwall for holidays, so I guess I enjoy listening for the memories they bring, but also because the music is great! 

What do you love right now?

The days getting longer, and warmer! Spring on the horizon. 

What do you hate right now?

..The rain! 

Are there any particular artists or bands that have influenced your music?

So I’d say Bob Dylan and the Beatles inspired me to start writing in my teens, and then since then I’ve listened to a lot of Ben Howard, John Martyn and Joni Mitchell which I think mixed together, is where I get my sound from! 

What’s next for you?

I’ve written and illustrated a short book, which will be accompanied by songs and sounds. That’ll be out in autumn this year, so im really excited about sharing that! 

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians just starting out?

Write everything down, any idea you have or thought. Try and record as much demos or voice notes, so you have things to work on and listen back to, and then just have fun with it. Thats the main thing, is enjoying making and being creative with it.