Interviewdatum: 30. Mai 2008.

http://www.myspace.com/mylastgoodbyemusic

Authentische Gitarrenmusik, ehrliche Texte und Melodien mit Ohrwurmcharakter – dafür stand Benjamin „Ender“ Young, der vielen Musikfans auch unter dem Namen Ben Young bekannt war. Der am 9. August 1988 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, geborene Musiker lebte zur Zeit des Interviews in North Carolina und arbeitete dort an seiner musikalischen Laufbahn. Schon früh entwickelte er seinen ganz eigenen Stil, der Elemente des amerikanischen School-Rock mit gefühlvollen Singer-Songwriter-Einflüssen verbindet.

Seine Musik lebt von eingängigen Gitarrenklängen, lebendigen Texten und einer Atmosphäre, die sofort Bilder von langen Sommerabenden, Lagerfeuern am Strand und entspannten Stunden mit Freunden entstehen lässt. Dabei gelingt es Ben Young, sowohl energiegeladene als auch emotionale Momente einzufangen und ihnen eine persönliche Note zu verleihen. Gerade Fans handgemachter Rockmusik mit Herz und Gefühl dürften an seinen Songs ihre Freude haben. Über seine Musik, seine Inspirationen und seine Zukunftspläne sprach OBZ am 30. Mai 2008 mit Benjamin „Ender“ Young.

INTERVIEW!

OBZ: Do you write your own songs?
BEN: Yes indeed, I write all of my own music/lyrics

OBZ: What does your songs evolve from?
BEN: Most of my songs stem from the five year relationship with my ex girlfriend Katie, there are a view that I take out of life in general and some from friends experiences, but mostly they evolve from my relationship with Katie.

OBZ: You also write for other artists. Is the collaboration important to you?
BEN: I’ve never written for other artists, not to say I wouldn’t, I just haven’t had the opportunity. But I have written some material for a few people who asked if I could write a song for a tough situation they were going through, that’s always nice 🙂

OBZ: Is music for you a feeling of life? Do you think music should play an important role in people’s life?
BEN: Music is definitely a huge part of my life, without it I don’t know if I’d be sane, haha. Music is also a feeling, the only time I write a song is when I’m really feeling it and that feeling can hit anytime- I remember I was going to go out with some friends and before I left I got inspired to write, so I sat down with my guitar and the next hour I sat and wrote. I believe whether or not we want it to, music plays an important role in everybody’s life. To me and many other’s that I’ve spoken to music has been a gateway for them, a way to channel their feelings and make sense of life, something for them to relate to.

OBZ: Do you always play your music live? Is that important to you?
BEN: I definitely don’t always play my music live, a lot of the time I play my music just for myself- which is where it all starts. I think that’s where and why a lot of people can connect with my songs and really feel the passion that I put into it because when I write a song and you hear it, you’re listening to an important part of my life.
But I also love playing my music for other people and it is important to me because again, there will always be the one who can relate to my songs and make them their own and I love meeting everyone and talking with them, an overall great experience.

OBZ: With whom would you like to work together?
BEN: My dream would be able to work with Chris Carrabba from Dashboard Confessional

OBZ: Do you have a dream project?
BEN: I think my dream project is just to live my life to the fullest, be happy with what I’m doing and get married and raise a family 🙂

OBZ: Tell me about the greatest experience you had with your fans.
BEN: Hands down the greatest experience I have with my fans is when they let me know how they’ve connected to my music, the way they relate to it and how it’s helped them. It’s like they’re letting me in to their own life as I have with them, and then I’m not just a musician, but a friend.

OBZ: Is it important to you to keep in contact with your fans?
BEN: I believe it’s the most important aspect of being a musician. The fans are just as much a part of this as we are, without them we wouldn’t be as far as we are today and they’re more than fans, but friends. They take the time to listen to our music, purchase merchandise and follow us as we continue to grow- I think one of the best ways to say thank you and give back is by talking with them and staying in touch.

OBZ: What is the most important thing in your life?
BEN: hmm, I have a lot of important things/people in my life, definitely Jesus Christ, all my friends and family, my fans, my musical equipment haha, my job and many other things/people 🙂

OBZ: Imagine you had one free wish. What would you wish for?
BEN: „If I had one wish, well I don’t know what I’d wish for, but if I had a million zillion wishes, I’d make a wish to let you know that jibberish is not a nice way to talk to all your friends“ hahaha when I first read that question that line from Relient K popped into my head so I thought I’d share 😉
If I had one wish…well, if I tell you it won’t come true 🙂

OBZ: Imagine now you have the opportunity to thank all your friends and family. What would you say to them?
BEN: Oh boy, you might want to add a couple pages to this haha. But if I had to try and sum it all up I would have to thank all my friends and family for all the love and support that they’ve given me and continue to give me. Thanks for always being there for me, even when we didn’t get along, you all would always put that aside if I needed you. Thanks for all the laughs, smiles and memories we’ve made- let’s continue to do so 🙂 I love you all!

OBZ: What can we expect of you in the future?
BEN: I have no idea what the future holds, but some of the plans that I have is to release either an EP or Full Length Album by the fall, play shows wherever/whenever I can, get my teaching license (I want to be an english teacher as I continue to work on my music 🙂 ) do a triathlon haha, there are just so many plans that I have so we’ll take it one step at a time and see 🙂

Steckbrief von Ben “Ender” Young:
– Hobbies: hanging with friends, playing music, any sport, just having a good time
– Lieblingsfilm: Soooo many of them, but the top: August Rush (Der Klang des Herzens), The Bourne Trilogy, Star Wars.
– Lieblingsmusik: Anything I can bob my head to.
– Lieblingsessen: Anything but Top Ramen.
– Lieblingsbuch: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish :P.
– Lieblingsstadt: haven’t been to enough to pick one 🙂
– Lieblingsland: haven’t been out of the united states so I couldn’t say 🙂

– Lebensmotto: Sometimes the best things in life happen when we take chances, if we don’t, then we may miss out on something wonderful.

© Benjamin Ender.

© Dewey Darko.