Chicago native recording artist Ben One is ready to go big time. After 14 years of singing and performing with his brothers in the group, Strong, Ben One is set to bring his self-entitled album to listeners this spring.
Chicago native recording artist Ben One is ready to go big time.
After 14 years of singing and performing with his brothers in the group, Strong, Ben One is set to bring his self-entitled album to listeners this spring.
The 23-year-old artist talked about his music life with the Defender.
CD: Are you more comfortable in a group or solo?
BO: I’m more comfortable solo because just being in a group is a huge responsibility, and I can focus more on my craft (as a solo artist) than what I was able to a long time ago because I was basically the leader of (Strong).
CD: What made you be able to bounce back after the first two deals with RCA and Sony?
BO: I stuck at it, and my focus was to build my own team so if anything was to happen, I was stable enough to move around. I think that was an issue back in the past. I’m making better decisions now.
CD: How did you end up with Universal Records?
BO: They saw a radio play that me and my team got on our own, and they flew us out. They wanted to sign me the same day I got there…it was around June of 2008.
CD: How did your stepfather writing songs for blues legends like Tyrone Davis affect your musical career?
BO: From the age of 2, he had been around, and I would watch him play the piano. And my mother said that she sat me down, put the headphones on me, and I would just sit there hitting the keys for hours. She said she knew that I wanted to do music, so yes, he was a big influence for me.
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