2nd SINGLE FROM DEBUT SOLO LP
SET FOR RELEASE ON DECEMBER 2nd
WATCH/SHARE LYRIC VIDEO HERE
BC musician Ben Arsenault premieres his new single and lyric video ‘Turning Back’ out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here.
Following the release of ‘Hold On To You’, ‘Turning Back’ is the 2nd single from Ben’s debut solo album launching on December 2nd. Known for his work in Vancouver alt-country/jam band Real Ponchos (as vocalist and guitarist), Ben is now pursuing a solo career in more traditional, roots based country music which is evident on his wistful and straightforward new single.
“‘Turning Back’ was inspired by a walk in the woods that I took on a sunny fall day with a dog my wife and I were looking after for a friend,” says Ben. “The imagery in the song follows that walk. It was so quiet and beautiful in the woods, I didn’t want to turn back until we got to the edge of a canyon where there was a waterfall, and I was worried the dog was going to fall in, so we turned back towards the road from where we had started out. The line that repeats in the chorus was originally ‘I wouldn’t be strong’, but my wife heard me practicing the song one day and heard it as ‘it wouldn’t be long’. I decided that evoked more of the feelings of commitment and responsibility in the song, so I changed it.”
On his forthcoming self-titled debut album, Ben sings about moving through isolation into connection with the people and places that fill our lives. With the road-worn vulnerability of ‘Hold On To You’ and the tension between longing and patience in ‘We’ll See’, the album is an invitation to listen to the feelings and forces that we habitually tune out. As Ben sings on ‘Crow Rooster Crow’, a timeless duet with Aiden Ayers’ fiddle doubling Ben’s finger picked guitar line: “Howlin’ moon dog howl, you can howl all night, the way that you’re howlin’ makes me feel alright.”
While it travels well-worn paths of folk and country music, at its heart the album is a reaction to the heavy pace of modern times. In addition to Aiden Ayers (fiddle, guitar, piano, bass), the album features stalwarts of Vancouver’s roots music scene: Scott Smith (pedal steel, electric guitar); Darryl Havers (organ, piano); Todd Biffard (drums); and Ben’s band mate in the Real Ponchos, Michael Wagler (bass). The playing leans into simplicity and character and the result is natural, down-to-earth music. The instrumental track, ‘Nowhere Else To Go’, is a sublime example of this style.
The album was produced in close collaboration with Aiden Ayers, who, besides playing on all the songs, handled engineering and mixing duties. They recorded everything in a tiny basement studio on the east side of Vancouver to an old tape machine. Ben and Aiden welcomed these boundaries and worked within them to create heartfelt and timeless interpretations of Ben’s songs. Their preference for full takes, the humble studio, and Ben and Aiden’s friendship creates a warmth felt throughout the album.
‘Turning Back’ is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more information, please visit benarsenault.com.