Questions w/ Ben Shive (part one)

Ben Shive is somebody that I've always had a huge amount of respect for as a singer/songwriter, producer, and musician. You may recognize his name from his September "Artist of the Week" post here on StSL, or as the producer of our friend Eric Peters' new album, "Chrome". In addition to being an exceptional artist on his own, Ben is also a member of the great "Square Peg Alliance", and has produced or played with a whole host of artists that I also count as favorites. His album, "The Ill-Tempered Klavier" is available now on iTunes or at The Rabbit Room, and it's one you really need to hear. I'm proud to bring you part one of "Questions" w/ Ben Shive...

StSL – Producer, Musician, Singer/Songwriter. You’ve done it all. What’s it like wearing so many different hats?

Ben – Man, I love it. I love the variety. If I had to do any one of my jobs exclusively I think I could get burnt out pretty quickly. But playing musical chairs (so to speak) like I do keeps me on my toes. Also, it's really a joy to get to look at music from these different vantage points. Each of them gives me a different perspective that helps me do all the other things better. Production is making me a better songwriter. Playing live is making me a better producer. And so on, ad nauseum.

StSL – After years of working and writing with other artists, you finally released your first solo album last year. What can you tell us about “The Ill-Tempered Klavier”?

Ben – I can tell you it was really hard to get it out there but I'm so glad I did. I'd been moonlighting as a writer for years with no outlet for my songs. For a while that was okay, but eventually I started going a little crazy. Getting the record out there was just what I needed. Records are sort of my love language and it's nice to have one with my name on it. The title is a reference to Bach's "Well-Tempered Klavier." It means "The poorly tuned piano." And the poorly tuned piano is, in turn, a reference to me and my clunky old heart. The great Cason Cooley produced it with me and together we were fearless and inventive. Like Princess Leah disguised as a bounty hunter. We had a blast.

StSL – My personal favorite from “The Ill-Tempered Klavier” has to be “Rise Up”. What’s the story behind that song?

Ben – It started when I turned on Republican talk radio in my car, which was a mistake. There was some scandal going on with a Republican senator at the time and of course Hannity or whoever was somehow spinning it to make the entire Democratic party the villain. I didn't have any idea what the real story was and it was really disorienting to know that I couldn't just change the channel to find out the truth because they'd just tell me a different lie on NPR. One that suited their agenda. Anyway, I started thinking about this whole tangled mess down here and how there's only one person who knows the ends from the beginnings. That gave me a little peace, knowing there's a day when Christ will set the record straight. Even though politics got me started on the song, Rise up isn't really a political commentary. It's more about oppression--social and spiritual oppression--and about the day of the Lord. The phrase "Rise Up" refers both to the resurrection of our bodies and to the day when Christ will "rise up" (ala the Psalms) and bring history to its right ending.

StSL – A stranger comes up to you and says, “Play me the best song ever written.” What do you play?

Ben – "God Only Knows" or maybe "Surf's Up" by The Beach Boys.

StSL – What’s your earliest memory of music and how do you think that helped shape who you are today?

Ben – I remember I was four or five and my dad was singing "Your love keeps lifting me higher" while he lifted me up to the ceiling. He's a clarinetist (but a chemist by day) and I remember him practicing Pete Fountain solos in his bedroom with a metronome while I went to sleep. I remember listening to "I Am The Walrus" while playing Super Mario Bros 3. Man, I don't know how all that has shaped me. I do know that when I'm eighty years old I want to think of music as an old, dear friend.

Visit BenShive.com for more info and be sure to check back here tomorrow for part two!