Ep. 173 Ben Dehan

Ben DeHan creates a unique sound somewhere between Machine Gun Kelly and Angels & Airwaves.

His meticulously programmed beats, LoFi keyboards, and singalong choruses have drawn comparisons to artists like the 1975 & The Band Camino, while the use of acoustic guitars and a “wear your heart on your sleeve” vocal performance will feel right at home for fans of 90’s pop/rock and New Alt in the vane of Valley or THE WLDLFE. Melancholically optimistic lyrics and the haunting swells of a cello accompaniment make it easy to connect with a litany of catharsis, joy, & introspection.

The distorted guitars of his pop-punk influences have been traded for atmospheric string arrangements and the intentional space left in production is filled with a vocal performance oozing with a pop sensibility. Whether it’s a trip to the beach or driving through the mountains, these are songs to roll the windows down, sing out loud, and make memories too. Something nostalgic but new, his music becomes a life soundtrack.

As a member of the Baltimore-based pop-punk band American Diary, Ben cut his teeth playing the 2008 Warped Tour. Feeling despondent in a broken scene, line-up changes, and upside-down record deals, Ben took a hiatus from the music business before re-emerging as a solo artist. Equipped with a DIY work ethic and a decade more of life experiences, Ben came out the other side with a greater appreciation and love for the records he grew up with and the process it took to make them. What had started with an acoustic guitar and hundreds of voice memos became fleshed out arrangements with the help of girlfriend/collaborator/cellist Lauren White. Together they enlisted the help of producer Sam Pura (The Dangerous Summer, The Story So Far) to help find the sound that would bring their ideas to life. Littered with Catharsis, Joy, and Introspection, his songs connect on an emotional level. Something nostalgic but new, his music becomes a life soundtrack.

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Ben DeHan

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