London-based musician, producer and electronic artist OhmField, aka Ben Worlidge, has just dropped a very decent single, “Worm Can”.
Follow up to his previous offering, “Rest” which was released in April. OhmField is attracting attention from various music industry VIPs and here at Music Republic Magazine, we say he is one to watch and set to do very well, if he keeps up the quality heard on the two tracks put out so far.
Ben started working under the guise of OhmField early in 2018, as a direct response to a “discouraging” end of 2017. He wrote “Worm Can” as a study of the contrasting emotions he felt last winter, compared to how he feels today.
“I stumbled across the vocal sample and I immediately became intrigued with the idea that, opening up a can of worms, doesn’t necessarily have to envisage negative connotations. In order to address deeper issues in any situation, it’s important to accept that things may get worse before they get better; and with persistence, the risk is worth the reward.
“Creating an uplifting, bright song in a major key helped to create this image, while lyrically; using a typically negative expression. I’ve always been interested in combining organically recorded instrumentation with futuristic elements”.
The acoustic guitar, piano and field-recordings in this track, contrast starkly to the granular percussion and heavily-processed vocal sample.
A super chilled vibe; the vocal comes in at 55 seconds into the 3.30 cut. The electro-wooshing sounds replicate the ocean gently washing over you.
It has old skool nods, but is well on-trend; a ready-made chill out track for Ibiza and hip clubs anywhere in the world. The geezer has some chops as a producer, for sure. Gonna be in demand from artists galore pretty soon, once the word gets out.
Give “Worm Can” a listen via the Soundcloud link, at the bottom of this feature.
OhmField Q & A
- Your name and your age?
I’m Ben Worlidge and a few days ago I turned 27
- Where you were born and where you are based now?
Born and raised in Bromley, South London before making the perilous journey to Hackney, East London
- Instruments you play?
I was forced at gun-point to learn the trumpet, then moved to guitar, bass and recently piano. Also, any weird instruments I can get hold of (jaw-harp, kalimba, weird synths, triangle etc)
- Age when you started in music and what was your first public performance?
I think my first taste of music was being reluctantly forced into learning the trumpet when I was about seven,. My first proper public performance would have been playing bass in a completely unique and pioneering indie band when I was around 14.
- What song or artist lit the flame inside you to want to be a musician/artist.
I think the first artist I truly fell in love with was Pink Floyd, when I was in my early teen years. For me, “The Wall” completely redefined what I thought an album could be.
- First song you wrote, at what age and what was it called, and what inspired it?
The first song I wrote was as a part of my pioneering teenage indie-band, appropriately named ‘Indie Boys’. It was about the first house-party we ever went to, and is still one that solidly sticks in my mind. There was essentially every 00’s sub-culture you could imagine in one house. We were the ‘Indie Boys’.
- How many songs have you written (estimate) since you wrote your first one?
Through various different projects and including the many still sitting firmly on my hard drive, I’d have to guess close to 700?
- Do you write alone or with co-writers? If co-writers, who?
One of my current projects is scoring music for TV/Film with a close friend I’ve known since I was about 3. I’ve also got a few songs coming out (as Ohmfield) which I’m hoping to have vocal features on.
- Do you write lyrics and music? Which comes first?
I’d call myself more of a producer/musician than a lyricist, but I have made some poor attempts at vocals. I massively admire anyone that combines lyrics and melody, as it’s something I’ve never been particularly gifted at.
- Bullet points of your music career/achievements to-date?
* Honestly, the fact that people are listening to my music and enjoying it is enough of an achievement in my eyes.
* I’ve been approached by a couple of labels which is cool.
* A few people have contacted me about using my music in various medias.
- What music has been released so far? And what format and dates?
As Ohmfield, I’ve released two singles independently over the last couple of months. All are streaming only, but I’d love to see some of my work eventually pressed.
- Name your 3 main influences?
- Drive
- Self-Doubt
- Discovery
- How do you describe your own music style to a stranger who asks: “what kind of music do you play/sing”?
Experimental Electronic Pop (eep)
- Who are you listening to right now; bands/artists?
I heard Oneohtrix Point Never’s ‘Age Of…’ over the weekend, and it’s probably my album of the year so far. It’s a phenomenal achievement.
Loving Ben Howard’s most recent work.
A lot of 40’s blues like Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim and John Lee Hooker. That stuff is so fun to play.
- What is the most personal song you have written and its background?
Probably my most recent single “Worm Can”. The premise of it is, opening up a can of worms can be therapeutic and can help you acknowledge other underlying problems, in any given situation. It was the result of a bad couple of months at the end of last year.
- Who would be your dream collaboration as a songwriter and as an artist; naming one living and one deceased person to write with and to record or to perform on stage with?
Kanye West. I massively respect his willingness to always try new things and re-invent himself.
Speaking of which…
David Bowie. He went to my school (where he was gifted his discolored eye in a fight); and we were sure to hear his name thrown at us at least once a week. He was the first musician that I truly admired.
- What do you want your music to say about you?
That you can’t tie me down to a specific genre, and that I’m constantly experimenting with weird sounds.
- Best compliment you have read or heard about you and your music so far?
A song of mine was played on a radio show as their ‘song of the week’. It was the first time I’ve heard people I didn’t know, talk about my music while I wasn’t present. It felt really odd, but in the best possible way.
Either that or: “This is completely unappealing and various elements clash horribly”, which was another good one.
- What is the dream for your music?
I’d love to be making music for a living. I’m not interested in excessive wealth or fame. Anything that follows would be a plus.
- Who is your biggest fan?
I feel like most people would say their parents or something here. I’m very secretive with my stuff, I don’t think my Mum’s heard anything (not that she’s deaf). Probably my girlfriend, or a close friend of mine who also works in music. They’re both very supportive, but they sort of have to be, right?
- Do you want to be famous?
Not particularly, the idea of it terrifies me. Fame should be a by-product of success. In my opinion, if you’re looking for fame for the sake of it, then you’re probably in music for the wrong reasons and that will eventually become apparent.
- How many gigs have you done and where (countries or towns and cities if only UK).
As a member of various bands, I’ve completed a very modest number of gigs, potentially less than 10. I’m considering starting a live show as Ohmfield – an avenue I’ve always wanted to explore.
- Strangest gig you have done?
In one of my old bands, a drunk friend got on stage, grabbed the mic from our front-man, and started doing ‘spoken word’. Meanwhile, the band before us thought we had stolen some cymbals from them. They knew a lot of people there. We got bottled.
Fast-forward a few years; my girlfriend at the time recounted about this one gig where her and all of her mates had bottled this random band they didn’t know. What are the chances?
- Funniest or most dramatic thing that has ever happened to you?
Well, during my fully-fledged acting career, I was fortunate enough to make it onto one of the Harry Potter films. Most of those scenes are only on the DVD in the prestigious ‘deleted scenes’ folder, but I do pan past the camera a few times.
While I was there, I spoke to Emma Watson for a total of one minute. Jumping forward to my current job as a dubbing mixer, I bumped into her again and (for some reason) asked if she remembered me. I played ‘Extra #109′, so it’s fair to say she didn’t.
- Best moment in music so far?
Probably the feeling of relief and pride when I released my first single, and it did pretty well. It was picked up by a well-known Norwegian producer and he whacked it on a Spotify playlist. A few labels contacted me too. It felt like a lot of attention off the back of my first proper track.
- Worst?
Realising how expensive graphics/publishing/equipment/website is.
- A: X Factor?, B: The Voice? C: Britain’s Got Talent? D: Gouge your own eyes out with a rusty spoon?
I think if I went to sing on any of them, there would be a nationwide shortage of rusty spoons, water and oxygen.
- Day jobs you have done…………………?
I currently work as a dubbing mixer in TV/Film, which I love.
However, such previous highlights include:
* Retail
* At a garden centre, slowly destroying potted plants and giving unqualified advice to OAPs on how to look after their geranium jungle.
* And the crowd favourite; customer service for Hermes delivery company. Being shouted at for hours on end, makes me grateful for where I am now.
- Your favourite musician joke (or any joke if not)?
No wonder Bob Geldof is such an expert on famine. He’s been dining off of “I don’t like Mondays”, for 30 years.
- Pet hate?
Slow walkers. Surely everyone has somewhere to be? Wouldn’t it be better to get there faster?
- Guilty secret?
A few weeks ago, I got a free ticket to Taylor Swift and it was the best gig I’ve been to. When you put millions of dollars into a single show, it had better be good.
- What two recordings could you not live without if you were stuck on a desert island?
Daft Punk – Discovery (for the good times)
Pink Floyd – The Wall (for the ‘I’m-trapped-alone-on-a-desert-island’ times)
- If you believed in reincarnation; who or what would you want to come back as?
Jesus. I would want to come back as Jesus Christ and use my super-Jesus-powers for really mundane, lazy things. Curing someone of an ingrown nail or something. Or the Pokemon. Ditto.
- Plans for rest of this year and next year?
Plenty more singles planned and maybe an EP, if things go well. I’ve got a couple of live concepts that I’d like to explore in more detail.
- Gigs?
Eventually, I will venture into the exciting and terrifying world of live music, but I want to make sure it’s unique and interesting enough. I was recently hugely inspired by a Bink Beats show. Everyone should see his live set.
- Please provide a personal message to our readers, as to why they should listen to your music and go see you live – in one or two paragraphs.
My music is ever-changing, and I try not to sit in the same spectrum for too long. Variety is the spice of life, and all that. You should come and see me live (eventually), as I guarantee it’ll be engaging and not just your average guy-pressing-buttons/guy-with-guitar gig. OhmField…
Streaming: https://soundcloud.com/ohmfield/worm-can
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP3Johh6yfg&list=PLgxzITFqB7kk5xSLDGA1tjim4EI1h9lSe
