Melbourne-based singer Ben, aka Strath, often reminisces of home, where he would play keys and sax from an early age in class bands and would often stick around after school to put beats together on the computers.

He spent the first two years of his studies writing screenplays alongside his film course, as well as having joined the University comedy organisations. It wasn’t until his trip to Way Out West in Sweden that he decided to return to music after a particularly inspiring Frank Ocean set.

Have a look at his exclusive interview

Looking back, what were some of your earliest entries into music appreciation? And music production?

I remember watching someone play the saxophone on Sesame Street when I was really young and knowing immediately that I wanted to play it. I began producing tracks when I was about 13. There was a music class at my high school where the task was to compose a piece that went through 5 different variations of the “happy birthday” theme. This was when dubstep was just starting to take off, and I went on YouTube and learnt how to create that kind of synths and then made the filthiest happy birthday banger.

Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?

I like to map out as much of the song as possible in my head before picking up an instrument or sitting at my laptop.

What gets your creative juices flowing?

Walking and coffee.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?

Yet to play my first live show so I’ll have to get back to you!

What’s on your current playlist?

Vegyn, the whole of Only Diamonds Cut Diamonds.

Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you in the near future?

Another release in Feb, and then a bunch of live shows

 

Follow Strath online:

Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Instagram