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Ben Howard

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For other people named Ben Howard, see Ben Howard.
Ben Howard
Ben Howard
Background information
Birth nameBenjamin John Howard
Born (1987-04-24) 24 April 1987 (age 37)
London, United Kingdom
OriginTotnes, Devon
GenresSinger-Songwriter, Folk, Indie
Instrument(s)Guitar, Percussion
LabelsIsland (UK), Communion (UK), Tôt ou Tard (France), Republic (US)
Websitewww.benhowardmusic.co.uk

Benjamin Jon "Ben" Howard (born 24 April 1987) is a British singer-songwriter and surfer, born in West London. He moved to Totnes, Devon when he was about eight and is currently signed to Island and Communion.[1][2] He was raised by musical parents who exposed him to a lot of their favourite records from singer-songwriter artists from the 60s and 70s at an early age, like John Martyn, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel, by which he was strongly influenced.[3]


Early Life

Ben Howard began writing songs when he was around ten or eleven. In an interview with American Songwriter, he stated that "When I was a kid I started playing guitar because I liked to put words together and make stuff up. I was quite an imaginative little kid I guess. So your standard little love songs turned into your standard adolescent love songs. I think you start getting your own take on things when you’re a late teen. That’s when everything changes."[4] After attending King Edward VI Community College and Torquay Boys' Grammar School and then a short stint studying Journalism at University College Falmouth, Cornwall, Howard decided to focus on making music full-time, making melodic rootsy folk music, with progressively darker lyrics. His reputation grew around Cornwall and Devon, and soon spread to other areas of the UK. After a month of sold-out dates across Europe and the UK Howard was eventually asked to sign for Island Records.

Music Career

2008-11: Early Releases

Before signing for a label, Howard began releasing material. His first major release was These Waters, an EP featuring six tracks, including "The Wolves". In 2010, Howard released the Old Pine EP, followed by a number of singles, such as "The Fear" and "Keep Your Head Up". Howard now had enough material to release an album, Every Kingdom, which would feature a number of his previous singles.

2011–12: Every Kingdom

Ben Howard signed to Island Records in 2011, due to the label's history of UK folk singers, including Nick Drake and John Martyn.[5] After singles "Old Pine" and "The Wolves" were released in 2011, Howard recorded his debut album entitled Every Kingdom, which was released on 6 October 2011. It has since been nominated for the 2012 Mercury Prize.

Ben Howard worked alongside India Bourne and Chris Bond to make Every Kingdom, with India Bourne playing cello, Keys, Ukulele, Bass and contributing vocals and Percussion and Chris Bond playing Guitars, Bass, Double bass, Drums, Percussion, Keys, Accordion and also contributing to Vocals. He also toured with India Bourne and Chris Bond on his 2012 Every Kingdom tour, with support from Willy Mason.

In 2012, Howard launched his music in America with Every Kingdom being released on 3 April 2012, and appearances at SXSW in Texas and a US tour confirmed.[6] His song "Promise" was featured at the end of season 8, episode 12 of TV show House.

In May 2012, Howard performed "The Wolves" on Later... with Jools Holland. He played at Pinkpop in the Netherlands on 26 May and Radio 1's Big Weekend in Hackney on 24 June 2012. He also played at the 2012 Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee,[7] the 2012 T in the Park music festival in Scotland, as well as Beach Break Live 2012 in South Wales, Bestival 2012 and Splendour in the Grass 2012. Howard also played a slot at the Austin City Limits music festival in October 2012.[8]

In November 2012, Howard released a new EP, "The Burgh Island EP", which featured four new tracks. Once again released to critical acclaim,[according to whom?] the EP had a darker, more menacing tone than most of Howard's previous work, with Howard also playing electric guitar, rather than his traditional acoustic.


Awards

In 2013 Ben Howard got nominated for a BRIT Award in the categories British Male Solo Artist and British Breaktrough Act.[9]


Discography

Studio Albums

Year Title Peak Chart Positions Certifications
(Sales Thresholds)
UK
[10] 		AUS
[11] 		BEL (Wal)
[12] 		BEL (Fla)
[12] 		CAN
[13] 		NL
[14] 		FRA
[15] 		DE
[16] 		IRE
[17] 		SWI
[18] 		US
[19]
2011 Every Kingdom 6 63 55 2 10 2 52 49 20 59 10 UK: Platinum

EPs

Year Title Peak Chart Positions
UK
[20] 		AUS
[11] 		BEL (Wal)
[12] 		BEL (Fla)
[12] 		CAN
[21] 		NL
[14] 		FRA
[22] 		DE
[23] 		IRE
[17] 		SWI
[18] 		US
[24]
2008 Games in the Dark EP
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Not on Label
  • Format: CD
 — — — — — — — — — — —
2009 These Waters EP — — — — — — 4 18 — — —
2011 Old Pine EP 51 — — — — — — 84 — — —
Ben Howard Live EP — — — — — — — — — — —
2012 The Burgh Island EP 1 21 — — 5 — — 31 — — 25
"—" denotes EP that did not chart

Singles

Year Title Peak Chart Positions Album
UK
[10] 		AUS
[25] 		BEL (Wal)
[12] 		BEL (Fla)
[12] 		CAN
[13] 		NL
[14] 		FRA
[15] 		DE
[16] 		IRE
[17] 		SWI
[18] 		US
[19]
2011 "The Wolves" 70 — 27 — — — — — — — — Every Kingdom
"Keep Your Head Up" 74 — 28 87 — 14 — 68 — — —
"The Fear" 58 — 2 5 — — — — — — —
2012 "The Wolves" (re-release) 70 — 27 — — — — — — — —
"Only Love" 37 — — — — — — — — — 49
"—" denotes single that did not chart

Other Releases

Year Title
2009 "Three Tree Town"
2011 "Soldiers"
2012 "Old Pine (Everything Everything Remix)"

References

  1. ^ Island - Ben Howard
  2. ^ Communion - Artists
  3. ^ YouTube - Ben Howard interview with Absolute Radio's Pete Donaldson
  4. ^ American Songwriter - Ben Howard Interview
  5. ^ http://www.islandrecords.co.uk/group_artists.php?id=174# Island Records UK biography. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  6. ^ Stickler, Jon. "Ben Howard Announces Plans for the US". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival". Retrieved 21 February 2012. {{cite web}}: Text "Bonnaroo Music Festival" ignored (help)
  8. ^ http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2012-10-12/acl-interview-ben-howard/
  9. ^ BRIT Awards - Nominees BRITs 2013
  10. ^ a b "UK Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  11. ^ a b "Australian iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Belgian Chart". Ultratop. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  13. ^ a b "Canadian Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  14. ^ a b c "Dutch Chart". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  15. ^ a b "French Chart". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  16. ^ a b "German Chart". Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  17. ^ a b c "Irish Chart". Chart-Track. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  18. ^ a b c "Swiss Chart". Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  19. ^ a b "US Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  20. ^ "UK iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  21. ^ "Canadian iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  22. ^ "French iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  23. ^ "German iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  24. ^ "US iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  25. ^ "Australian Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2013-01-21.


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