Ben Forster
With a great career already underway it is hard to consider Ben Forster a newcomer to the music world. He is currently performing in Thriller at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End while he prepares to release his debut single Fall Apart later this Spring.
From the same neck of the woods as Cheryl Cole, Ben Forester is proof that it’s not only the North East lasses that are able to hold that spotlight.
Was moving to London an instrumental part of becoming the singer you are today?
Without doubt moving to London was a massive part of growing up for me. I moved from Sunderland at the age of 16. So being alone and responsible at that age had great effects on my life. I founded great friendships with the circle of friends I still have, 11 years on. When I write, I use all my life experiences to create, even though I am still inspired by the North East and my hometown, I think London is an amazing place to draw from, as there is so much to experience, so many different cultures and different people to meet. And that’s what as an artist I use; my everyday surroundings and experiences.
Having experienced the talent show route, do you think this is a viable way to get noticed and why or why not?
I was part of a reality documentary, probably one of the first of its kind, which, dare I say, inspired the influx of reality television. It was called the “ Dream Academy” made by BBC1 and was a great experience for me. I think it opened some doors that lead on to other things, which then lead onto other things if you know what I mean.
I think TV Talent shows are GREAT! I love watching them. I get quite addicted, especially if there is someone I like. Also it’s a great platform for talented people. The record business isn’t always about how talented you are. Its mostly about if a record company executive thinks your marketable or you have a definite 3 singles to release to sell a album. The great thing is with these TV shows is that the public decide. Usually over the past few years the public have picked talent over the underdog and some amazing talent has been discovered!
Was singing something you always saw yourself doing?
I have been inspired by so many different musicians and kinds of music. When I was growing up at home my mam would play lots of music from opera to folk. I loved Joan Baez to Puccini’s Madam Butterfly. I remember hearing a recording of Andrew Lloyd Webbers “Starlight Express” and being totally amazed with the singing.
Then as I grew up and started to buy my own music I loved vocal ability over anything, so I bought albums like Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Stevie Wonder. I used to practise singing along to them every night till I could recreate the sounds they made! Ha! I was a strange child! But I think that’s what inspired me and in some way trained my vocal ability and helped to create my sound. Nowadays I love India. Arie James Morrison and I loved the Robyn album last year!
Who has inspired you?
I’ve always been in love with singing. I think its because it was one of the first things that got me noticed in a school of over 1600 pupils and when people say your good at something it kind of becomes addictive. It’s an ego thing! Lol! Then the more you do it the better you get. And suddenly I realised I could pick singing to be my job! An ambitious realisation I know, but I went for it. And touch wood I’ve been so lucky since being 17 I have been in work and have been able to maintain a great lifestyle for my self.
You have garnered some amazing reactions from credible musicians and singers along the way, do you ever feel pressured at all or does this just come naturally to you?
Every time I find my self singing to some amazingly famous musician its some how unexpected and almost by accident. So the pressure is instant, I remember singing a gig in London’s Met Bar last year. I had England Cricketer Kevin Pietersen and Wife Jessica Taylor From Liberty X on one table and The Gallagher brothers of Oasis, sitting at the bar. It’s was surreal having the guys at the bar! They were really nice though and were singing along with the songs they knew. It’s a part of it that makes it very exciting. Especially when the feedback is positive.
Having starred in musicals if there was to be one leading role on the stage you could claim as your own, which one would it be and why?
At the moment I am currently starring in “Thriller live” in London’s West End and it’s an amazing role, mainly because of the songs! I get to sing Man in the Mirror, Beat it, She’s out of my life and Dirty Diana! It is such a pleasure to be able to sing these iconic Michael Jackson songs; I’m totally loving it! I think if I return to the West End my dream role would be Jon Val John in Les Miserables. However I have to be about 40 to do that role so I’ll have to wait a few years! I’d like to do it because it because the role has such an epic journey.
There are so many festivals and concerts throughout the UK during summer; can people expect to see you perform at any of them this year?
As I’m currently in Thriller live at the lyric Theatre, I will be limited in my gig schedule for this year so between shows I will be putting together some special performances for my fans so please go to my myspace page to keep up to date on my performances as they are announced! I will still also be performing in ‘thriller live’ so also come down to see that too!
What is the one lesson you have learned so far in your career?
The main lesson I have learned is to believe in fate and your self and not people or the promises. YOU! Have to make it happen, no one else.
Melanie Cornish
With a great career already underway it is hard to consider Ben Forster a newcomer to the music world. He is currently performing in Thriller at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End while he prepares to release his debut single Fall Apart later this Spring.
From the same neck of the woods as Cheryl Cole, Ben Forester is proof that it’s not only the North East lasses that are able to hold that spotlight.
Was moving to London an instrumental part of becoming the singer you are today?
Without doubt moving to London was a massive part of growing up for me. I moved from Sunderland at the age of 16. So being alone and responsible at that age had great effects on my life. I founded great friendships with the circle of friends I still have, 11 years on. When I write, I use all my life experiences to create, even though I am still inspired by the North East and my hometown, I think London is an amazing place to draw from, as there is so much to experience, so many different cultures and different people to meet. And that’s what as an artist I use; my everyday surroundings and experiences.
Having experienced the talent show route, do you think this is a viable way to get noticed and why or why not?
I was part of a reality documentary, probably one of the first of its kind, which, dare I say, inspired the influx of reality television. It was called the “ Dream Academy” made by BBC1 and was a great experience for me. I think it opened some doors that lead on to other things, which then lead onto other things if you know what I mean.
I think TV Talent shows are GREAT! I love watching them. I get quite addicted, especially if there is someone I like. Also it’s a great platform for talented people. The record business isn’t always about how talented you are. Its mostly about if a record company executive thinks your marketable or you have a definite 3 singles to release to sell a album. The great thing is with these TV shows is that the public decide. Usually over the past few years the public have picked talent over the underdog and some amazing talent has been discovered!
Was singing something you always saw yourself doing?
I have been inspired by so many different musicians and kinds of music. When I was growing up at home my mam would play lots of music from opera to folk. I loved Joan Baez to Puccini’s Madam Butterfly. I remember hearing a recording of Andrew Lloyd Webbers “Starlight Express” and being totally amazed with the singing.
Then as I grew up and started to buy my own music I loved vocal ability over anything, so I bought albums like Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Stevie Wonder. I used to practise singing along to them every night till I could recreate the sounds they made! Ha! I was a strange child! But I think that’s what inspired me and in some way trained my vocal ability and helped to create my sound. Nowadays I love India. Arie James Morrison and I loved the Robyn album last year!
Who has inspired you?
I’ve always been in love with singing. I think its because it was one of the first things that got me noticed in a school of over 1600 pupils and when people say your good at something it kind of becomes addictive. It’s an ego thing! Lol! Then the more you do it the better you get. And suddenly I realised I could pick singing to be my job! An ambitious realisation I know, but I went for it. And touch wood I’ve been so lucky since being 17 I have been in work and have been able to maintain a great lifestyle for my self.
You have garnered some amazing reactions from credible musicians and singers along the way, do you ever feel pressured at all or does this just come naturally to you?
Every time I find my self singing to some amazingly famous musician its some how unexpected and almost by accident. So the pressure is instant, I remember singing a gig in London’s Met Bar last year. I had England Cricketer Kevin Pietersen and Wife Jessica Taylor From Liberty X on one table and The Gallagher brothers of Oasis, sitting at the bar. It’s was surreal having the guys at the bar! They were really nice though and were singing along with the songs they knew. It’s a part of it that makes it very exciting. Especially when the feedback is positive.