Ben Cook-Feltz is a prolific musician and he’s coming out with a new album with a release party on October 26 at the Icehouse with Mary Bue. It’s an interesting album with some of his fun songs but also a few that leave a listener feeling introspective. Glad he could take a moment to answer five questions.
I really enjoy Q-Chord Experiment for Stan. Does having a son (or being a dad) change anything with your music?
Absolutely. Becoming a dad recalibrated my brain, all the stuff they say about what is and isn’t important anymore is absolutely true. At this point, nothing is more important to me than Stan, and my family. So my perspective is different, and my ambitions are much more relaxed. Making music, making records and gigging always felt like the next building block towards something I hoped was greater, regardless of whether or not it was healthy – now, I feel like I’m in a great place, I have a life I love and a pretty wonderful kid and I don’t feel that urge to chase the next big thing. And I really feel like there’s a pace and an ease on Trucks I’ve never tapped into before.
Dreams reminds me of certain moments in our lives when we take stock, assess and think about recalibration. It feels honest. What is the inspiration for the song?
Recalibration is a good word! I mean, it’s a good word in general but also a good way to describe the song! Originally, I planned to write a song about pandemic life as of early 2021 – having been locked down for a year, rolling through this because it’s the only thing we could do, etc. I think there’s some of that still in there, but it’s a lot more personal. Even though I’m happy where I am and live a very lucky life, there’s always the big “what if.” If you think too hard about where you might have wanted to be in your life or career, it can be pretty consuming and unhealthy. So you keep the pace and do your work. But the “what if” is always there, and it’s all about learning to live with it in a healthy way. I tried to write and arrange the song within that framework – the verses are controlled and measured, the choruses more open and emotional, and then by the end of the song the two ideas are more intertwined and connected. You know, like a controlled fire or something.
Will you be doing a video of Destroy All Metaphors? I hope so!
That’s the plan!! I’m in the early stages of talking with Corby Ortmann, who recently made animated videos for Ted Hajnasiewicz and Sarah Morris, and who made a video for my song “Run Around” several years ago. (He also did the artwork for Trucks! Super talented dude!) We have much to discuss, but the general plan is for the video to feature a giant Godzilla-like creature who keeps trying to express his affection for a major city, but instead he knocks everything down and scares everyone away. Monsters can be so misunderstood, man.
I looked it up and the average song released on Spotify in 2020 was 3:17. Seven of your songs on this album are longer than that – a few (Dreams, Grilled Cheese, Destroy All Metaphors) are considerably longer. And I like those songs but it seems like a brave move to release a nine-minute song. Was it? Did you think about it? (As I recall, you do have a longer song but this collection seems more luxuriously paced.)
I like that you said “brave,” and not “foolish!” I was conscious this time around to let the songs breathe as they needed to. I think part of it goes along with what I was talking about re: where I am as an artist, but it was also a by-product of the way we made this record. We recorded Trucks over a two-year period. I wrote the album as we recorded it, and the whole project took shape and revealed itself as I went along, which I’d never done before. It was very easy and natural, and I think that’s reflected in the songs themselves. I’ve always admired artists who are able to write longer pieces of music that hold people’s interest – Radiohead, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell etc. I certainly didn’t start this project thinking “I’m gonna write longer songs! Take that, algorithm!” It happened pretty naturally, and I’m proud of that.
Please tell us where people can see you play live and celebrate the new album, Trucks.
I have a big release show at Icehouse this Thursday night, October 26, at 8 PM! Mary Bue is opening, we’ll play the album in full, and then we’ll play a short set of Dad Rock tunes. After that, you can catch me at the Aster Café on Saturday, November 11, and at I’m at Dusty’s every third Sunday. And if you’re feeling festive and willing to accept Christmas is just around the corner, my annual Holiday Shindig will be taking place on Sunday, December 10 at KJ’s Hideaway, a benefit for Rein In Sarcoma. So, all kinds of fun stuff coming up!
Mostly Minnesota 