Ben Kunder: Being A Singer-Songwriter And Everything That Comes With It

Ben Kunder is a wonderfully gifted singer-songwriter from Toronto. I think many people would be surprised to learn that Ben’s formal training is in Music Theatre and he has a huge Sondheim obsession. That is where Ben and I met; at Theatre school. It has probably been 9 years since Ben and I have gotten together and I truly can’t believe it has been that long. We hung around a lot in our first year of college, and I aways loved his laid- back nature, his sense of humour with a touch of self-proclaimed stubbornness.

Talking with Ben, I suddenly felt transported back in time to being nineteen again, but I was also acutely aware of the here and now and how we have both been shaped by our experiences leaving us different than we last left each other. So much has changed, and yet nothing has changed. I loved rediscovering this person. Ben has been on an incredible journey and has really challenged himself to honour his instincts as an artist and has a real desire to connect with others.

In this episode, we discuss how and why made he made the switch from Musical Theatre to singer-songwriter, how he manages to find room to create with a very full family life, and we also talk about the highlights from his first European tour and so much more!

Go get Ben’s album, Golden, on iTunes! Do it. Like, yesterday.

Ben Kunder: Being A Singer-Songwriter And Everything That Comes With It!

by Chelsea Johnson | Cue to Cue

A Little About Ben:

Part carpenter; Part actor; Canadian singer-songwriter Ben Kunder has spent years honing his craft to become a full-time musician. On May 26, 2015, Ben ventured closer to making this a reality with the release of his DEBUT solo LP, Golden.With a voice that truly fills your heart and keeps you warm, Ben writes songs that everyone can relate to. His powerful voice is a driving force in his music, guiding his songs by creating impressive and tactful melodies and dynamics.

Exclaim! declared, “Kunder’s extra special voice, along with gorgeous production, lends the record an almost velvety quality.” While NewCanadianMusic said the album: “features strong and warm vocals, nicely-crafted folk-rock songs, and top-notch production and playing,” and the Toronto Star had this to say about Ben – “he’s got the kind of mellow sincerity in his voice to take it beyond generic country-pop.”

No stranger to the Canadian music community, Ben has been writing and producing his music independently for over 7 years. Through a chance meeting with John Dinsmore (NQ Arbuckle), the pair hunkered down at John’s, Lincoln County Social Clubstudio to co-produce Golden. The album features 9 stunning original songs by Ben, including the first single and title track, Golden. Ben (guitar, vox, and piano) is joined by a group of Canada’s finest musicians for the studio recording, featuring Brian Murphy (Alvvays) on guitar/piano/Wurlitzer, Rich Knox (Dustin Bentall, Danko Jones) on drums/vox, Anna Ruddick (Ladies of the Canyon, Randy Bachman) on bass/vox, and Aaron Goldstein (Cowboy Junkies, Daniel Romano) on pedal steel. Also, John Connolly lends his voice, along with Kirty, Maia Davies (Ladies of the Canyon) and Jasmine Bleile (Ladies of the Canyon) for select tracks.

Ben has lived all across the beautiful country of Canada, from his solar powered cabin on Salt Spring Island, BC, where he spent his days chopping wood and chasing deer from the garden to Charlottetown, PEI, working at the Confederation Centre for the Arts. Now, Ben is back to where he started his journey in his hometown of Toronto. Golden is an album that pushed Ben to new levels, and will surely see him reach new heights in his career. Ben will continue to tour and write music throughout 2016.

“Soulful Country-Pop with a voice to die for…”

Americana UK, United Kingdom

“Ben Kunder’s voice sounds like filtered sunbeams…”

Altcountry.NL, Netherlands 4/5 stars!