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DERRINGER DISCOVERIES

EP43: Ben Arthur & SongWriter

Alton Derringer • February 15, 2023
e p i s o d e s

The featured artist in this episode is Ben Arthur – a New York-based singer, songwriter, novelist, and podcaster – with Virginia roots. Ben is passionate about exploring how inspiration works and how creativity functions and relates to art. Ben strongly believes that art can alleviate people’s suffering and how the connection of art to money by society is a cultural sickness. He spearheads multiple projects that probe the intersection and interplay between literature, music, and visual art.

Ben's SongWriter podcast “turns stories into songs” by pairing literary and musical artists together. Featured artists include Questlove, Joyce Carol Oates, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Roxane Gay, Amanda Shires of The Highwomen, Cheryl Strayed, Susan Orlean, Steve Earle, George Saunders, and Katie Melua.

In Ben's Emmy-nominated SongCraft Presents video series, each segment brings together two artists, unknown to each other, to write a song in a three-hour session. From developing the concept and lyrics to its actual composition and arrangement to performance, the artists are challenged to make not a good song, but a great song.

Since 1997, Ben Arthur the musician, has released 10 albums since 1997 and has been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, and American Songwriter magazines as well as the New York Times. He has opened for Tori Amos, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby, Sophie B. Hawkins, Toots & the Maytals, Old 97s, and many years ago, he shared an open mic stage with an up-and-coming artist Charlottesville, Virginia’s very own Dave Matthews.

Join Team Derringer as they delve into Ben's catalog of music, discover the stories behind his songs, and learn about the interesting artists he has featured on his SongWriter podcast.

The playlist for this episode features songs by Ben Arthur, as well as songs by the artists who Ben has opened for or have been featured on his SongWriter podcast. Share the love by streaming and "Liking" this playlist: Check Out Ben Arthur.

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