Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Ben Draiman, who discusses his new album “The Past is Not Far Behind,” as well as what it was like t grow up in the same home as Disturbed lead singer and his brother David Draiman. A much different type of vocal monster than his sibling, Draiman shares his thoughts on his style and goals for the future.
Review Fix: What was the inspiration behind the album?
Ben Draiman: I’ve gone through a great deal over the years that preceded it. The album consists of a collection of material that was written at that time. My music is a form of therapy and a way of working out the past in the present. Through the music one can reconnect with the memories of prior experiences in real time and try to work through them. Thus the album’s title “The Past is Not Far Behind.”
Review Fix: What have you learned about yourself as a musician from this album?
Draiman:  I’ve learned that there will always be critics but it doesn’t mean that there aren’t people who will like your music. I honestly never thought my music could be commercial and would appeal to a wide audience, particularly since the lyrics were so deeply personal and intricately tied to my own unique experiences. It turns out that what we think we experience alone, others have experienced as well and can relate very deeply. We’re not as alone as we think we are. I don’t really think I’ve created something new. But what I do, I do in the most authentic way that I can. I mean every word I say. These stories are not fiction, but very intimate details of my life experience. Perhaps this is what people connect to most.
Review Fix: What are the disadvantages/advantages of having a sibling who has succeeded in the music industry?
Draiman: It often makes me the pretty girl at the party that everyone wants to talk to. This is an incredible advantage in a world where everyone is frantically competing for attention, while often getting lost in the noise of the thousands of different things that are going on out there. It puts a bit of pressure to deliver the goods, but as long as I get my shot I can’t ask for much more. It can get old and a bit annoying constantly being compared, but I’ve been doing this most of my life and discovered my unique artistic voice early so I honestly don’t mind. I know exactly who I am and what my music is about and I never try to be anything else. So no one can ever accuse me of trying to copy in any way.
Review Fix: How are you different from David?
Draiman: He likes roller coasters while I prefer the more chilled things in life. I think that kind of sums it up. We’ve always been quite different, though much of my musical tastes were borrowed from his and I was often raiding his music collection when we were growing up. We share a love for the emotionally intense and we both see our music as a form of therapy. But we use different paths to get there.
Review Fix: What was your childhood like musically?
Draiman: I was writing songs even before I learned to play an instrument at age 13. I was ALWAYS listening to something and music has always been a tremendous part of my life. I worked out much of my childhood through my music and it has always been there to comfort me and help me get through the more trying times of my life.
Review Fix: What made you decide to cover “Stricken”?
Draiman: The idea first came about when I was discussing successful covers with my friend and producer, Raz Klinghoffer, who had just released a cover of his own with his project “Earlyrise”. He had said that some of the best covers are ones that change the song 180 degrees and that if I was going to do a slow cover best to choose a fast paced song. I honestly didn’t think it would work. “Stricken” has long been one of my favorites, something about the hooks and the lyrics that resonate well with me. In fact, from a lyrical standpoint it was exactly the sort of thing I myself would write so it was VERY easy to connect to. So that very night I went to the piano and tried it. I play by ear so it didn’t take me long to come up with a basic arrangement. It became instantly clear that the lyrics and the melody lent themselves well to a ballad and I was immediately hooked. I then got together with producer Yuval Kramer and the amazingly talented pianist, Nina Vouraki, both from the Symphonic metal group “Reign of the Architectâ€, and we began working on it in the studio.
Review Fix: What song on the album are you most proud of?
Draiman: I think I’d have to say “Soon Enoughâ€. That is the song that got the whole thing started. A few years ago two producers from Tel Aviv who had a studio, Kfir Gov and Daniel Strosberg, approached me and were particularly interested in recording “Soon Enough†as they felt at the time that it had the most potential. The song alone, which was released before the EP, got radio play in the US and Canada. In fact, it actually charted in Canada on 94X and was one of the top 94 songs of 2011. The response from the fans was incredible and that song allowed me to start a significant fanbase consisting of amazing people from around the world. Some fans connected with the song so deeply that one has it tattooed on his leg. I never imagined what started out as a simple melancholy ballad I put together on the piano and what was one of my most personal pieces could go so far.
Review Fix: What are your goals musically?
Draiman: I was interested in seeing if I could make back the money I had put into the album, and to achieve that more or less, on my own. I’m nearly there. I had dreamed of having people at my shows who were not just my friends and family. I’ve had fans drive 23 hours cross country to come to a show I did in Austin a few years back and I never met them before that time. I had wanted to see how much impact the music could have and over the past year have heard countless stories from fans all over the world on how the music has made an impact in their lives. I think it’s fair to say that I achieved my goals beyond all my expectations. I’m currently just seeing how far it can go.
Review Fix: How do you want this album to be remembered?
Draiman: I’d like this album to be remembered as an emotional beacon of hope that no matter what one goes through with enough belief and enough persistence we can come out the other side.
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