Ben Abraham? More Like Ben Babe-raham

By Ash London on January 16, 2014 in Arts

I fell in love with Ben Abraham the first time I saw him play in a Melbourne jazz bar in my early 20s. He talked too much between songs, but we all forgave him when he started playing because he was so bloody good. I was lucky enough to catch him supporting Emmylou Harris in Sydney recently and I can happily say that he’s still bloody good. Beautiful melodies, heartbreaking songs and a voice that feels like Marvin Gaye is serving you hot chocolate on a winter’s night. Too far? Perhaps. He’s got a new album coming out and he’ll be in town soon to play some pretty songs for you. Read on…

You could best describe my style as… I’m hopeless at articulating this so I just texted my friend Tim and he said ‘Indonesian Missy Higgins’. I can’t stop laughing. I think he might be right.

The first gig I ever played… was in 2007 and I opened for a mate in the window of a cafe on Smith Street in Melbourne. I was super shy and could barely play a guitar. I think I played the whole set with my eyes closed. That cafe is gone now, but the window is still there.

The best gig I ever played… was supporting Emmylou Harris on her Australian tour last year. I expect that it will be, right to the end of my career, one of the great music experiences of my life. Of the tour I’d have to say the Sydney show at the State Theatre was the best night. The Sydney crowd was super and that venue is so stunning to play in.

My hometown is… Melbourne!

My upcoming album… has taken two years to produce and is something I am extremely proud of. Producers Jono Steer and Leigh Fisher have taken my songs and created the most stunning universe for them to live in sonically. I genuinely am a fan of the work we’ve done.

Growing up, my parents listened to… lots of church music and lots of Chicago. Chicago basically owned the Indonesian market in the 1970s. My dad sings like Peter Cetera. He’s the Indonesian Peter Cetera. Ha!

There was this one time when I was starting out that… I quit music. It was short lived but sincere. It was back when I was young and thought nailing Craig David’s vocal run in ‘Walking Away’ was the most important thing I could do with my life. I stopped singing to study screenwriting for a few years.

Boybands are… genius. I work with kids. I speak fluent One Direction. Liam will have the longest career.

If you come and see me play, you can expect… feelings. You’ll definitely hear about mine and you might even have some of your own.

The best gig I’ve ever been to… was Sufjan Stevens when he played the State Theatre in Melbourne. At the time I hadn’t yet heard ‘The Age of Adz’ and wasn’t prepared for how awesome and kooky it was going to be. That guy is a genius and the show was spectacular. His song ‘Futile Devices’ features a little synth solo and when this guy stepped out on stage dressed as some kind of mad spaceman and played it on a little portable synth it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

My dream gig… In Australia? I’d love to headline the Palais. Beyond? I reckon playing Radio City in NYC would be pretty freaking cool.

To find out more about Ben Abraham’s gigs and music, jump on to www.benabraham.com.au.