Mention the name of Ben Watt, and observe the reactions of shivering delight. That’s a good indication of how much his skills as a DJ, producer and musician are renowned around the world. He rose to prominence during the 80s with Everything But The Girl, a duo that that he formed with vocalist (and long-term partner) Tracey Thorn, but while Missing might still remain fresh in everybody’s hearts, the underground world of house music is now where Ben spends his time. Some twenty years down the track after Everything But The Girl first began belted out their hit tunes, Ben Watt triumphantly steered himself into the 21st century; taking up position behind decks while in his thirties, to surface as a DJ/producer, promoter and record label owner. Now, Ben is armed with the success of his thriving record label Buzzin’ Fly and a stack of remixes, productions, international tours and club nights under his belt that have elevated him to become one of dance music’s most beloved individuals. Australian audiences are looking forward to welcoming back one of the masters of deep house, but with such a demanding schedule that also involves his wife and family, one must wonder how all this can be achieved – and at what cost.
Surrounded by music as a child as the son of legendary English pianist and bandleader Tommy Watt, Ben absorbed the textures of the big-band jazz sound. He remembers his dad waking him as a child in the small hours of the morning after a gig, to listen to Roland Kirk or Count Basie on record. This was Tommy’s way of educating Ben; certainly grooming him for his years ahead as a musician. “Music,” Ben notes, “is everything. It’s what I do. It’s what dominates most of my thoughts. I even wake up most days thinking about it. But I have my own demons; my own periods when I battle and struggle.” Ben is no doubt referring to his courageous recovery from Chugg Strauss Syndrome (a terrible allergic reaction where the body even ends up rejecting its own organs) as depicted in his acclaimed book Patient; and the debilitating effects of depression that marks his life. But he recognises that in spite of his inner demons, “it’s also the thing that drives me; the pushing force in my life,” he says. “It’s a love/hate relationship and hard to live with as much as I love to live with it. I can create with it – but it can also create writers block.”
To many, dance music may have seemed like an unusual direction for someone who grew up surrounded by jazz music. But it’s this very same background as a professional keys player, guitarist and vocalist, who understands the bigger picture of music, that ahs allowed him to achieve so much in the world of electronic music. As he mentions, the multitude of different genres within dance are “enough to do your head in.” He mentions that even his wife Tracey (who herself put out a critically acclaimed solo album last year where she worked with another big name in dance Ewan Pearson) is continually stunned by all the different genres in dance, as musical as she is. “The genre names really don’t mean anything at all,” he says. “Most people don’t even really know what the genres are meant to represent. Journos have to make a living too I guess,” he chuckles. “It can actually be entertaining seeing what names they come up with – but it’s not necessary. I want people to enjoy the sheer beauty of what they’re hearing. Deep house and techno is what I’m known for, but I have the wildcard of being able to play anything. I think I am open minded. Music is about being taken on a journey – you should buy and dance to the tunes you love. The genre doesn’t mean anything at all.”
Indeed, producing beautiful music and taking people on a musical journey is something Ben Watt is adept at. Everything But The Girl continue to be recognised as an accomplished act, remembered for branching out from their status as an alternative pop act to take on an electronic ambience that was encapsulated best in Missing, which reached number 2 on the 1995 US Billboard Charts. With their progression into the underground world of electronica, Ben chose to step up behind the decks and add another set of skills to his immense musicianship “It was hard at first,” he says. “DJing in my thirties was a new discipline, like learning to paint or draw. But I got there easily enough.” Once his DJ technique was established, Ben was on his way and alongside Jay Hannan, his deep house club night Lazy Dog took off at its venue of the Notting Hill Arts Club; with the ‘pavement parties’ that took placer outside as people waited in line for entry becoming as famous as the club night itself. The sales of his compilations reached the unbelievable height of 50,000 units, a staggering figure for a non-commercial album. The foundation of his Buzzin’ Fly record label in 2003 set the underground world buzzing, taking out the ‘Best Breakthrough Label’ at the House Music Awards in 2004, and being nominated as ‘Best British Label’ in the DJ Magazine Awards in 2007. Taking on part-ownership duties for West London clubs Neighbour and Cherry Jam between ‘02 and ‘05, Ben directed the music policy and was responsible for establishing their reputations as among the best clubs in the world.
When I spoke to Ben his attention was on the Buzzin’ Fly Radio Show and he comments that he’s been “in the studio all day working on the radio show”. With Australia on his touring schedule, the deep house carpets will be rolled out to accommodate the massive following for Ben Watt. “I always look forward to coming to Australia,” he maintains. “I do get there every year, but I’m looking forward to taking people on a meaningful journey.” With all his extraordinary experiences littered throughout his musical history, it’s no wonder that Ben Watt can offer his audience such a compelling journey. While his accomplishments might come at a cost and a sacrifice, there’s no doubt that this two-sided sword of the musician is one that he holds aloft with poise and purpose – the curse of the musician, but also the gift.
You can catch Ben Watt bringing his remarkable musical history to full effect on the dancefloor at the following shows…
Friday February 29th: Minimal Fuss pres. Ben Watt, The Cross, Sydney
Saturday March 1st: Darkbeat, Brown Alley, Melbourne
Friday March 7th: Democracy, Shape, Perth
Saturday March 8th: Family, Brisbane
Sunday March 9th: The Playground Weekender, Del Rio Resort, Sydney
mitty says...
I'm sorry, but her name is Tracey Thorn, and the song is called 'Missing' not 'Like the deserts miss the rain'