Ben Brown “Kathmandu” – Americana UK

Listen to the latest single from Essex singer-songwriter Ben Brown. ‘Kathmandu’ comes from the brand new EP ‘Blue’which is out now and is well worth a listen. Complete with a kazoo solo, this is a melodious song that shows off Brown’s vocal range and his flair for catchy tunes. His voice is soft and warm, drawing you into his lovelorn words: “I lost my heart in Kathmandu, oh what can a boy do?” In the video, directed by Catalina Carvajal, Brown can be seen singing and playing in the street, displaying his trademark humor during his performance.

The former Dingus Khan and SuperGlu member met Frank Turner at a barbecue. This chance meeting took place when Brown was writing songs for a new record and he was invited to record in the studio at the bottom of Turner’s garden. Now a friend and mentor, Turner produced all the songs on the new EP, trying to capture and improve on the songs he heard at the barbecue. Brown says of the session: “There was a lot of laughter during the recording and when you listen back to the performances you can really hear how comfortable I was in Frank’s garden studio. At lunchtime Frank cooked me his special dish… pasta surprise – which is apparently the only thing he can cook. Being a good producer requires technical ability as well as communication and personal skills. Frank has both. The songs themselves are kind of vignettes in my head – when I sing them I can imagine a scene. The way the camera would move, the grain of the film. I think they are well done – both structurally and melodically – they are more understated than my previous work, there are no loud drums or overdriven guitars to hide behind. For me it’s more vulnerable and, to be honest, more exciting!” Indeed, Brown’s new solo material is charming and intimate, with brilliant melodies to hum and sing along to.

Look for Brown on tour with The Meffs this fall – he is a truly engaging live performer whose shows are full of wit, humor and storytelling.

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