Track of the Week: Temporary Lovers // Benjamin David
When the obscurity of David Bowie and Kate Bush meets the forcefulness of Rage Against The Machine, that’s where you will find Benjamin David. Raised in a family of musicians, Benjamin embraced music early and became a regular performer in London clubs after graduating from The BRIT School. A new fish in a diverse music scene, one may consider it difficult to get your name out there, but this hasn’t been too much of a problem for Benjamin. Featured on The Other Side Reviews, Sinusoidal Music, The Punk Head and Roadie Music, the singer-songwriter is turning heads on an international scale.
Touching on conceptual issues of political upheaval, self-identity and existentialism, Benjamin David uses personal narratives to connect on a deeper level. Following the death of his father, Benjamin explores the effect of trauma on families and individuals. One of the unique aspects of Benjamin’s music is that it is written from other people’s perspectives giving greater insight through the lyricism. ‘Temporary Lovers’ is written from the perspective of his mother after experiencing the loss of her husband – her partner in love and life.
The first track in a series of singles being released in the coming months, Benjamin David turns heads with ‘Temporary Lovers’. I might call ‘Temporary Lovers’ a ballad, especially as it opens with a piano-driven melody; however, this would be unfair to the musician. Several movements exist within the song taking you on an emotive rollercoaster. Opening slowly and softly, you tiptoe through a moving forest before a crescendo in guitars and drums leading to an inspired soul-lifting sound.
If I had to compare Benjamin David to another artist, it would probably be Prince. His obscurity, innovativeness, eclecticism and wide vocal range send the same chills down your spine as Prince in ‘Purple Rain’. One of my favourite parts of ‘Temporary Lovers’ is the abrupt break in instrumentation seeing (or rather hearing) Benjamin take the fore with his exquisite voice. It is this up and down, soft and loud, tender and brusque style that enhances the sincerity and heartbreak of ‘Temporary Lovers’.