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Ben Howard

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For other people named Ben Howard, see Ben Howard (disambiguation).
Ben Howard
Ben Howard
Background information
Birth nameBenjamin John Howard
Born (1987-04-24) 24 April 1987 (age 37)
London, United Kingdom
OriginTotnes, Devon
GenresFolk, Indie
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, Percussion
Years active2008–present
LabelsIsland (UK), Communion (UK), Tôt ou Tard (France), Republic (US)
Websitewww.benhowardmusic.co.uk

Benjamin John "Ben" Howard (born 24 April 1987) is an English singer-songwriter. He self-released his debut EP Games in the Dark (2008) followed by two more EPs These Waters (2009) and Old Pine EP (2010). He is currently signed to Island and Communion.[1][2] His major debut studio album came in 2010 titled Every Kingdom followed by two more EP releases, Ben Howard Live (2011) and The Burgh Island (2012)

Early life

He was born in West London and moved to Totnes, Devon when he was about eight. He was raised by musical parents who exposed him to their favourite records from singer-songwriter artists from the 1960s and 1970s at an early age, like John Martyn, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel, by whom he was strongly influenced.[3]

Howard began writing songs when he was around ten or eleven. In an interview with American Songwriter, he stated that when he was a kid he started playing guitar because he 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 to a record label, Howard had already released some material. In 2008 he self-released his debut EP Games in the Dark. His first major release was These Waters, an EP featuring six tracks, including "The Wolves". In 2010, Ben 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

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 3rd October 2011. He was nominated to the 2012 Mercury Prize for "Breakthrough act".

Howard worked alongside India Bourne and Chris Bond to make Every Kingdom, with Bourne playing cello, keyboards, ukulele, bass and contributing vocals and percussion and Bond playing guitars, bass, double bass, drums, percussion, keyboards, accordion, contributing to vocals, and also producing the record. He also toured with Bourne and Bond on his 2012 Every Kingdom tour, with support from Willy Mason.

He is often bracketed in the Indie folk genre which he shares with his idol Bon Iver and many other award winning acts such as Ed Sheeran, Of monsters and men and Mumford and sons.

In 2012, Howard launched his music in America with Every Kingdom being released on 3 April 2012, and appearances at South by Southwest (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 the 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.

Howard's most recent album, "Every Kingdom", was released by Republic Records on April 3, 2012.

Awards and nominations

BRIT Awards

Howard has won both BRIT Awards for which he has been nominated.[9]

Year Nomination Nominated work Result
2013 British Breakthrough Act Himself Won
British Solo Male Artist Won

Mercury Prize

Howard has been nominated once for the Mercury Prize.[10]

Year Nominated work Result
2012 Every Kingdom Nominated

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Peak Chart Positions Certifications
(Sales Thresholds)
UK
[11] 		AUS
[12] 		BEL (Wal)
[13] 		BEL (Fla)
[13] 		CAN
[14] 		NL
[15] 		FRA
[16] 		DE
[17] 		IRE
[18] 		SWI
[19] 		US
[20]
2011 Every Kingdom 4 63 55 2 10 2 52 49 17 59 —

EPs

Year Title Peak Chart Positions
UK
[21] 		AUS
[12] 		BEL (Wal)
[13] 		BEL (Fla)
[13] 		CAN
[22] 		NL
[15] 		FRA
[23] 		DE
[24] 		IRE
[18] 		SWI
[19] 		US
[20]
2008 Games in the Dark EP
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Not on Label
  • Format: CD
 — — — — — — — — — — —
2009 These Waters EP — — — — — — — — — — —
2011 Old Pine EP — — — — — — — — — — —
Ben Howard Live EP N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
2012 The Burgh Island EP 32 — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes EP that did not chart

Singles

Year Title Peak Chart Positions Album
UK
[11] 		AUS
[25] 		BEL (Wal)
[13] 		BEL (Fla)
[13] 		CAN
[14] 		NL
[15] 		FRA
[16] 		DE
[17] 		IRE
[18] 		SWI
[19] 		US Rock
[20]
2011 "The Wolves" 97 — 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" 9 — — — — — — — 37 — 49
2013 "Promise" — — — — — — 179 — — — —
"—" denotes single that did not chart

Other releases

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

Guitar style

Howard's method of laying the guitar flat against his knees and playing it percussively was influenced by contemporary folk songwriter and guitarist John Smith.[26]

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. ^ "Ben Howard wins best British breakthrough act and best male solo artist at Brit Awards 2013". The Independent. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  10. ^ Green, Thomas H. (30 October 2012). "Mercury Prize countdown: 9-7. Michael Kiwanuka, Field Music, Ben Howard". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  11. ^ a b "UK Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  12. ^ a b "Australian iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Belgian Chart". Ultratop. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  14. ^ a b "Canadian Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  15. ^ a b c "Dutch Chart". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  16. ^ a b "French Chart". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  17. ^ a b "German Chart". Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  18. ^ a b c "Irish Chart". Chart-Track. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  19. ^ a b c "Swiss Chart". Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  20. ^ a b c "US iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  21. ^ "UK iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  22. ^ "Canadian iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  23. ^ "French iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  24. ^ "German iTunes Chart". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  25. ^ "Australian Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  26. ^ "Ben Howard talks about John Smith's influence on his guitar style". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2013-03-09.

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