Ben Fairey Ignites a Thought-Provoking Concept in “Where You Are”

Notorious for his skill set in as a singer-songwriter, music producer, voice actor and motion capture artist, Ben Fairey made a lucrative earning in the UK as a composer for touring theatre troupes.

From being part of a collective to venturing the solo route throughout his musical career, he continues expanding his musical and visual fields.

Ben Fairey has recorded music using a mixture of analogue and digital sound palettes, producing a hybrid of both ultra-modern and retro-inspired material. He even integrated green screen and motion capture technology into the visual accompaniments for the compositions, creating a series of videos reflecting the songs' lyrical subject matter.

This can be seen and heard with the latest release of "Where You Are," a musical endeavor that reflects the unique styling of Ben Fairey's artistry. As we navigate through this dark and enigmatic soundscape, Ben Fairey pours his heart into such an eccentric offering that moulds our minds as soon as we press play.

The larger-than-life atmosphere is graced with sparse percussion, moody synths and the bellowing timbres of Ben Fairey as he conveys pure emotion and catapults through our speakers with abstract wisdom. Yet, within the decadent layers of harmonious bliss he professes, there lays a poignant message ready to be uncovered as "Where You Are" is intended to be a full-circle return prompting our beliefs that being consumed by virtual reality isn't the issue - it's our escape as humans to try and get by as we rely on these tools at our fingertips.

Paired with infectious visuals that have us tunnel-visioned into the black and white illustrations so, creatively inviting us into a parallel play on the human mind - Ben Fairey artistically fuses these images with a message to stay calm and trust the process for something to go well. We're thrilled to embrace the power and well-thought-out narratives that Ben Fairey brings to the table.

"Where You Are" is only a figment of the imaginative expressions he has in store for us as we patiently await his next release.

Welcome to BuzzMusic, Ben Fairey! We're thrilled to have you here discussing your latest release, "Where You Are." With such a witty and bold concept running through this release's veins, was there a particular moment or story that inspired this concept?

Thank you! It was more of an accumulation. The lyrics came from listening to old-fashioned love songs because there’s poetry in them, which you don’t hear so much anymore. Now things are more open, and people reference modern technology, but there’s a subtlety in the work of 1960s lyricists. I spent a lot of time playing with different sounds for this track because I wanted to sing something with an old style using modern production techniques.

We always love when an artist approaches a music video with illustrations in today's day and age - especially if it powerfully embodies the song's charisma. What prompted you to take this route, and who did you work with to execute the visuals?

The CGI footage was captured at the Imaginarium, a motion capture facility founded by Andy Serkis. I do motion capture acting in LA now, but I’d done some training at studios in London, so thanks to them, I managed to get some footage to use for the videos. The video was put together by Joe Patch, a friend of mine who I’ve worked with on some film projects.

How does "Where You Are" compare to other releases in your music catalogue?

It’s probably more peaceful and a bit more reflective. Sometimes I think it’s also got an emotional farewell-at-the-train-station, 1950s movie scenario, making it pretty distinctive from the rest. But that’s just me!

What do you aim to make your audience feel when they listen to your creations?

I don’t aim to make them feel one particular emotion. If anyone listened to my work, they’d have to be willing to ask themselves what they’re feeling or use their intellect to decide what the song means to them. I remember hearing songs about one subject, but it would mean different things depending on where I was or what I was doing. My songs are kind of a reflection of the way the brain reacts when it’s exposed to music.

What's next for you?

More voice acting, more motion capture acting, more music. I’d like to do more travelling soon, too.

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