Benji was given a guitar for Christmas when he was 11 years old, and...OK, what usually comes next in these bios is, "...and has been writing music ever since, developing a completely unique style..." Well, what actually happened was I played it a couple of times, my fingers hurt, and I did not really pick it up with a true interest until I was 18, in my first semester of college. I toted it along to the dorm and stuck it under the bed in case I had some down time. Well, I ended up having quite a bit of down time that first semester and started fiddling around with the ol' gee-tar. I started liking it, I sucked, but I loved it and I kept strumming, annoying the hell out of my roommates, with no real intention of writing music, but it just gave me something to do. I eventually enrolled in a group lesson the next semester and really learned how to write a song with a guitar, breaking down old Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel classics, and then the words just started flowing. The whole song writing process fascinated me and became therapeutic more than anything, being able to put my thoughts down on paper, and then lift them back up into melodies. In the process I have built up quite a collection of songs.
So, this first released recording, Love Story EP, reflects a lot on the past 4 years of my life, written mostly in dorm rooms, and several songs on the album are some of the very first complete songs I have ever written. It touches on the love, relationships and experiences I have been through and was all originally composed with that same first guitar, which has traveled with me from North Carolina to as far as Quito, Ecuador. This album was recorded in my humble little bedroom "studio", nothing fancy, but I just want you to hear the words, and if you can tap your foot, bob your head, roll your eyes, cross your heart, blink your eyes, or pass out fast asleep, I just hope you get some reaction. And then, if you can relate in any way, well, that just rocks my socks.
So, I hope you enjoy it, and keep on the lookout for upcoming shows and future releases. Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget to take some peace and love with you on the way out.
paz y amor,
Benji
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