Press Articles & Interviews
Ben Mills - Life After X-Factor
[Verve Magazine - May 2008]
With 10 million viewers tuning in to see him perform live on the X-Factor every week, a five-album record deal with Sony BMG, and playing Wembley Arena, it's no surprise that local-turned-national star Ben Mills has maintained a continuously loyal fanbase. Ben talks to Verve about his new album, his take on the music industry, and life after X-Factor.
Born in Kent, singer/songwriter Ben Mills has a history firmly rooted in music. After attending the Academy of Contemporary Music and performing in various bands, the chances of making a decent living from his passion were looking slim. Ben was almost ready to call it a day until his shining performances on X-Factor wowed audiences across the country and he finally hit the big time. After appearing on the show, he went on to record his first album which achieved Gold status, selling around 100,000 copies.
Admittedly however, this wasn't the album he wanted to record. "I wrote a song with Mark Owen from Take That and it didn't get on there because there was a dispute between the two record companies. The people from Sony BMG were reluctant to do it, as was the producer from Metrophonic (where I recorded most of my album). He wanted to keep it 'in-house'. So a few of the new songs for the next album are going to be things I wrote and wanted to put on the last one."
Ben has been recording most of his new album in Dublin at Westland Studios with producer Greg French. "We've got about 8 tracks recorded now and I think most of them are staying. We had a big meeting with the management and they were mad about one of the songs saying 'you can't play this to anyone!' So unfortunately I haven't been able to..." Frequently referred to as one of the best voices in the country, Ben's new album promises to raise him onto the international platform, but for now his concentration lies largely with writing and playing a string of gigs across the UK.
At his live shows Ben often pays tribute to his idols, with musical influences that borrow from the likes of Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Dire Straits and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler. Recent musical loves cited include the Fratellis and the more eclectic Basement Jaxx, but still Ben's voice is unmistakeably resonant of a classic rock background combined with the unique soulful edge that struck many a chord with his fans. So what was the driving force that initially drew him to music? Interestingly enough it was the 1987 Hurricane Floyd that struck the UK when he was growing up. "We had a friend over; his name is Robin Falcon and remains one of my best friends today. This hurricane started, blew down lots of trees, and at the time we lived right out in the sticks so he was stranded with his guitar for a few days." Seeing him play was enough to captivate the young Ben Mills and conjure the epiphany that this is what he was going to do. Right from the start he was gaining instant popularity: "From guitar I taught myself piano, and at school that was all I really cared about. Most of the lunchtimes I spent in the music room. Then people began queuing outside wanting to sing along. On some days it was half the school out there - it became like an exclusive lunchtime club for jamming."
Before his interest turned to music, Ben had always been a keen sportsman and played for both the football and rugby teams. "I was into sport big time. But then also, hence the car [new Jag is parked outside], I was always tinkering around with engines and stuff like that. I actually built a motorbike when I was younger. A friend of mine sold me the bike, but literaly the whole engine was just nuts and bolts. I went into school and put together the parts that were missing, almost like a little metalwork project. I put it all together, started it up... and it started! I couldn't believe it. I thought 'this is ridiculous' - I wasn't even old enough to have a motorbike and now it's actually running!" He recalls getting into lots of trouble riding up and down the lanes, and an unfortunate accident with his brother. "He came off the back, went about half a mile down the road and landed on his chin. Explaining that one to our mum was hilarious when we got home. We were like 'Um, Darren fell over... where's the motorbike? We told her quite recently that he didn't fall over and had actually come off the bike."
After a variety of gigging jobs, he performed a 2-year stint as keyboardist in Doors tribute band - 'the LA Doors'. They became popular across Europe but bigger things were on the Horizon for Ben. Cue X-Factor, which propelled the local star onto a national platform, performing in front of a 10 million plus audience coupled with a hyper dose of media attention. So how does a person deal with something like that, did he ever get nervous before performing? "Rescue Remedy is what I used. I had a bottle before every show and that was about as much as I could do. The McDonald brothers used to have Imodium. It was either to stop them or make them do it, one of the two."
During the competitions, Ben was under the judicial wing of Sharon Osbourne. "I think also having Sharon as a Mentor was quite a funny thing because she's quite harsh and might say a performance was complete rubbish just before a very big show. When that happened I was thinking... 'well I'm doing that tonight in front of 10 million people.' So that kind of thing can make you feel pretty nervous. I don't think she ever came up to me and said 'That was amazing, we've got not worries this week', it was more Simon that would come up and go 'I can't wait to give you your comments for this week, you're going to be so pleased, that was great etc.' He'd even come up and say 'I'm going to have a dig at your hair this week because as far as your music goes there's nothing to say, and to keep the show interesting we have to have a go at you somehow. So I'm going to say you look like this person from the dukes of hazard or whatever..."
Despite the enormous pressures that inevitably came with appearing on the show Ben is still incredibly glad he took part, but admits it has opened his eyes to the music business. "There's so much in it that you don't realise. You don't get to do what you really want to do once you get your dream. Once you achieve the goal that is to be in the public eye, to get a record deal etc. Suddenly it all comes tumbling down and the record company says 'now you're going to play what we tell you to play.' I actually had tantrums and stormed out of the studio." Ben recalls one instance where he was asked to record a cover of 'The Tracks Of My Tears' by Smokey Robinson. "It's a great song, but Andy Abraham had done that the year before on his album and recorded it with the same band, plus it doesn't really fit in with the sort of music that I play. I said to the producer, why don't we just forget recording it, use the backing track from Andy's album and I'll just sing over that, and he went 'that's a great idea!' So I just said forget it, I'm not recording that song and stormed out. There were a couple of moments like that where it was getting a bit tense."
Ben is determined to make the new album true to his own style and is a lot more involved with the creative side this time around. Setting up his own recording studio has helped keep the balance between touring and creating. "When I'm not on the road I try to get as much writing and recording done as I can. Once you've come back from doing a few gigs in a row, you just want to relax. The last thing you want to see is an instrument, or to start getting involved in the creative process. So this is why it's so great to have the studio at home - if I'm there, then I literally just have to go down and turn it on."
Despite the myriad of opportunities and experiences that have come his way in the past year and a half, Ben is still doing what he loves best - playing the live shows. "I think anytime I'm on stage with a really good band behind me is the time that I'm thinking 'yes, this is what I want'. Whether it was the Red Lion in... wherever or Wembley Arena, you can just forget everything, go mad and enjoy it. To be honest some of the best gigs I've ever done in my life have been the little pubs or clubs, rather than huge arenas or stadiums where you can't get the vibe of the gig. There's a big row of security in front of you, a barrier, and then all these shadows because of all the lights that are in your face. The Neptune was always my favourite gig and I think it probably still is. That was years ago with the old band (Benzego - a 7 piece funk soul outfit). I remember one time we played for 4 hours and it was amazing. That for me I think was the best gig I've ever done."
So what does the future hold for Ben Mills? "Loads and loads of gigs at the moment. Recording, writing, trying to find that song that is gonna change the world. And really just enjoy myself I think, rather than taking it all so seriously as I have been doing sometimes... and a nice holiday in Barbados wouldn't go amiss."
Scans Of The Magazine Article:
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Author: Ben Francis
Publication: Verve Magazine - a free Kent publication.