By Gemma Brosnan

Ben Taylor is an artist with impeccable musical credentials who continues to cause a stir with his raw acoustic flair and unflinching lyrical honesty.

As the son of acoustic icons, James Taylor and Carly Simon, he was blessed with his father’s legendary vocals and an inspirationally creative environment, but soon found his own distinctive niche through unstructured, experimental diversity, gaining respect amongst the critics and a solid, global fanbase.

He has just released his third album, 'The Legend of Kung Folk Part 1 (The Killing Bite)’ - part of a trilogy still being recorded - which is being championed as his best work to date, spanning sonically spacious acoustics, stunningly executed rifts, powerful, engulfing vocals with occasional tinges of blues-inspired reflection resting alongside harmonious charm.

His acclaimed previous releases include his debut album, ‘Famous Among the Barns’, and ‘Another Run Around The Sun’ and he is currently touring the UK to coincide with his album’s UK release.

We caught up with Ben to find out more.

GEMMA: Hey Ben, how’s it going?

BEN: Oh man, I’ve been better, I’m feeling a bit under the weather, but it’s great to be in England again.

GEMMA: You’re over here on tour - how’s that going?

BEN: It’s going really well, I’m really enjoying it and I think that the English audiences are really great listeners, they are respectful and energetic at the same time which is sweet.
I really love it over here and I hate to brag about it, but the English sunshine likes to shine on me.

GEMMA: So you brought this unexpected sunshine with you?

BEN: I’m not sure about that, but I’ve only seen about four days of rain in the past five years, so I think that the English weather must fancy me or something.

GEMMA: It’s atypically beautiful for this time of year so we are all making the most of it. In terms of performing, what would you say is the main difference between a UK and US crowd?

BEN: If I was going to polarise it, I would say that the best thing that can happen to an English crowd is that they can go out and be surprising impressed and that the best thing that can happen to an American crowd is that they can go out and not be impressed because that is what they want, to go out and say, ‘he wasn’t very good’ and English people want to say ‘actually, he was really good’.

In summary, the English crowd are still cynical, but they are willing to be happy.

GEMMA: You are here at the moment promoting your third album, 'The Legend Of Kung Folk Part 1 (The Killing Bite)’, which has drawn comparisons from other acoustic artists such as Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. How do you feel about such comparisons?

BEN: Comparisons are the easiest way for human beings to explain things to each other. For example, you say ‘what did he look like’ and they say ‘oh, he looks like a cross between Val Kilmer and Barney Buck’ or whoever it is.

People constantly make comparisons because it helps them have conversations with other people and find common reference points.
I don’t mind being compared to any of these people, but my music is distinctly different and I’m glad to be myself, as opposed to any of them.

GEMMA: The first song you ever wrote, ‘Surround Me’ featured on your 2005 album ‘Another Run Around the Sun’. How do you feel that your sound has evolved since then?

BEN: It is a constantly changing process. I think that the songs take on the sound that they need because you want to accent the meaning of the song with the sonicscape you build around it.

GEMMA: Some people describe peaking with their first song as the equivalent of losing their virginity to Sharon Stone. Do you feel that you have reached your peak with this album?

BEN: No matter what, in this business, unless you are on the road for six months and really well practised, it’s like every time you start, you’ve got to hit the ground running. It’s like jumping out of the back of a moving truck.

GEMMA: You describe good Kung Folk as being dependent on making its own way and finding its own level like water. What exactly do you mean?

BEN: I mean that nothing should get in the way of the song. If the song hadn’t been important enough to tell the story in the first place, then it wouldn’t have come out, so all I mean is that the song needs to find its own level and that it shouldn’t try and be anything that it’s not.
It should fill the space it’s meant to fill and that is all it does.

GEMMA: You’ve listed Paul McCartney, Taj Mahal, Neil Young, The Beatles and obviously your parents (James Taylor and Carly Simon) as inspirational figures for you musically. Where else do you seek inspiration?

BEN: From people like John Forté and I have so many friends when I’m on the road such as Ben Thomas, Larry and my bandmates, people who are incredible, there is almost nowhere that I don’t draw influence.

GEMMA: Your album features an acoustic piano/vocal collaboration with Jamie Cullum in ‘After It’s Over’. How did that come about?

BEN: Jamie and I were hanging out in the same studio for a while about four years ago and we became friends, so when it came to recording that song, he seemed like the natural choice.

GEMMA: Do you have any more plans for collaborations in the future?

BEN: I have a tight group of really good friends who are all musicians and all we do is collaborate. I would jump at the opportunity to write songs with absolutely anybody if I think it has the potential to work.

Recently I have been writing songs with my father (James Taylor) and working on an album with my mum (Carly Simon).

GEMMA: Your album was released on Iris Records which you own with your drummer, Larry Ciancia (Everlast, Ray LaMontagne).

How important is for you as an artist to retain control over your sound and the way it’s marketed and was it a disillusionment with the industry that led your down this road?

BEN: It became apparent pretty quickly that it would be the only way to do this and that if I wanted to do this, it had to be completely independent.

GEMMA: I find it vaguely ironic that someone who tries to distance himself from the commercial trappings of the music industry then signs up for a Cheerios advert with your cover of Macy Gray's "I Try". How did this come about?

BEN: They called me. Its good exposure and I don’t feel bad about promoting Cheerios as I ate so many of them growing up.

Of course it’s all about self-promotion and using any alternative means to get my music out there, because artists need to use whatever is available to them these days. As strange as it is, with the radio being so unpredictable, people are just trying to get their stuff out there in whatever form that may take.

GEMMA: There is no denying the advantageous background you had the luxury of growing up in, but you’ve always tried to distance yourself from the celebrity brats and the self-obsessive, vacuous existence they promote by following your own path. How difficult has it been for you to establish your identity?

BEN: No matter who you are, people will always ask about your parents. I ask people about their parents when I meet them, regardless of who they are, so as long as people are polite, it’s up to me not to have a bug up my ass – if you pardon the expression - about it.

I shouldn’t have got into the family business if I did have a problem with it and I am very proud about where I come from. Even though I try not to take too much advantage of opportunities presented to me because of who I am, I am still very proud.

GEMMA: What was it like growing up amongst music’s heavyweights?

BEN: I don’t know what it would have been like any other way, so it was great.

GEMMA: It must have been a fairly inspirational environment?

BEN: Well, I resisted music way more than the other kids in my schools. They were always studying piano from the age of four and I didn’t even start playing the guitar until I was around 13 and I think that as far as going into school and seeing the lives of the other kids compared to mine, I guess I just had a few more behavioural disorders. I mean, it’s hard to grow up as I did and not develop a couple of them.

GEMMA: Of course. So in terms of future projects and recordings, what have you got lined up after this tour?

BEN: I will be back over to perform at Glastonbury on June 25 and I’m planning on being between the UK and States all summer to fit in some gigs.

This is Kung Folk Part 1 and I have Kung Folk Part 2 and 3 halfway recorded already, so I just have to go back and finish off those recordings.

GEMMA: So your album is part of a trilogy?

BEN: Absolutely, I can’t wait for Part 2. You know Ben Thomas (producer, multi-instrumentalist), right?

GEMMA: I do indeed.

BEN: Ben and I are producing Part 2 and it’s a double album. One part is completely acoustic singer/songwriter stuff - just me and a guitar - the other is some hard dub DJ stuff which is a great contrast.

GEMMA: It sounds like a captivating combination. I’m looking forward to hearing it and seeing some live stuff at Union Chapel on Sunday.

BEN: Don’t be a stranger and thanks for taking the time to talk today.

GEMMA: My pleasure.

Ben Taylor plays Union Chapel this Sunday April 26, 20.00

For more information and tickets check out www.bentaylormusic.com