I think that I know you, but you are not my friend.
In Know You from the debut EP Something in the Water, Ben Lamb combines dreamy, beatifully dark, nicely detuned sounds with introspective and sincere lyrics. Read our discussion below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Punchy, groovy, vulnerable.
Tell us a few things about Know You and Something in the Water in general. What is the story behind it?
My track ‘Know You’ is about my desire for calm and control, conflicting with my distractible and restless nature. I wanted these contradictions to come across sonically, with sleazy guitar lines against jolly synth sounds, mixed with laid back grooves ins one sections and disjointed drums in others.
My First EP, ‘Something in the Water’ explores themes of masculinity, vulnerability, dependance and restlessness. I’ve always been fascinated by my internal conflict to be strong and intimidating vs my aspiration to be liked and make people feel comfortable. I think a lot of my ideas stem from this and come out in wild natural imagery, which is a place in which I find great comfort.
The detuned synths mixed with the hazy guitars in “Know You” evoke a profound sense of melancholia. Why does melancholia feel so good?
I think sometimes people just want to feel strong emotions. We spend so much time striking the days off our calendars, so we look to art for emotional triggers, and not necessarily positive ones. Perhaps melancholia specifically, also gives us a feeling of empathic connection which can be comforting in an odd sort of way. Or we’re all just bloody masochists!
Favourite album of the past year?
Always a tricky one to answer, but ‘Follow the Colonnade’ by Febueder is full of sonic treats and is wonderfully recorded. I also have to sneakily shout out ‘Angels and Queens’by Gabriels and ‘Heavy Metal Greasy Love’ by King Garbage.
Artists and people that have influenced you?
I’ve always been hugely influenced by the story telling and gritty sonic world of Tom Waits, especially his album ‘Real Gone’. I strive to be as brilliant with abstract lyrics as Bon Iver and to use sampling as subtly as James Blake. Febueder have recently inspired me sonically and Fink’s voice is like butter. Prodigy and Rage Against the Machine drive my groves. I’m also inspired and influenced by all the musicians I work with daily, these beautiful artists shape everything I do. I also have to thank my parents for getting that weird little twitchy kid his first drum lessons.
As a drummer, I’m inspired by great players like Steve Gadd and Jeff Pocaro and my old drum tutor Dave Hassell left a big mark on my approach to playing and sound.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
Universal income for artists would be nice. Industry wide artistic and ideological tolerance would also be super.
What isn’t a crime but should be?
Being fucking idle!
What is your favourite place to be in London on a Friday night?
It’s always nice to be playing/making music, but also blathering to pals in a bar somewhere or cooking a big old meal for people I love.
Thank you!
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