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Hi Ben, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
I’m great thanks! It’s been a whirlwind of activity since I signed to Napier Records in March. They immediately released “The Spacecase EP” and followed up with “Going to the Store”, “Sunnyvale”, now “Midday Lullaby” and we have a series of singles still yet to be released that I’m excited to share with the world.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Midday Lullaby”?
Midday Lullaby is about giving yourself permission to hit pause on the daily grind and recharge yourself with a nap. I didn’t realize how tired I was until the world locked down last year. I finally had time to sleep and it felt like eating potato chips because I couldn’t have just one.
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
I don’t want to give the Pandemic credit for inspiring this song, but it did create the vast expanse of free time that allowed me to write and record music.
Any plans to release any sort of video for the track?
That would be cool! I have been focused on completing the vocals on a handful of songs, but it sounds fun to step away from the microphone and get in front of a camera. I have some really cool pyjamas that would make you jealous, and those leopard-print sheets on the cover art are my real-life bed linens.
How was the recording and writing process?
The instrumental elements of the song were recorded over a decade ago and languished on a dusty hard drive while my life unfolded. I graduated college, got married, my brother took his life, my mom passed away, and I got divorced. When things calmed down and I had some time to heal, my desire to play music returned and I started putting words to the melody I’d been humming all those years ago.
What role does Sunnyvale play in your music?
Sunnyvale {Ben’s hometown} nurtured my creativity from an early age. There were opportunities to take music lessons, play in the concert/marching/jazz bands. I started each school day playing music with my friends. After class we’d meet up in a garage and play rock and roll until the neighbors complained. The city also had an all-ages music venue called the Fishbowl, where we played some of our first shows.
How did your musical perspective [change] as you move over to LA?
I went to a party a few days after moving to LA and a lady said to me: “I bet you feel like an insignificant little speck now!” She was not wrong. I was overwhelmed being in a new city and wondered where and how I could fit in. Over time I felt less like a speck and more like a seed germinating; putting down roots. I value the sweet and sincere people I’ve met along the way, and would like to make music that reflects those qualities.
How does your film background influences your music as a whole?
Filmmaking is done on a tight schedule with an end-goal in mind, and the cast and crew will do as many takes as they can to get the right performance. That work ethic helps me make music swiftly with a sense of purpose.
Does the new single mean we can expect a new material – how’s that coming along?
Yes! I have a lot more songs mixed, mastered and cued up for release. I’ve been been a busy bee in my home studio and you’re about to have hella honey over here.
Any tentative release date or title in mind?
After some more single releases we plan to release a full-length album called “Shelter In Place” later this year, but I don’t think I can get more specific than that right now.
What else is happening next in Ben Lazarus’ world?
I am about to travel to an undisclosed location to work on a project I can’t talk about yet, and I’ll be posting daily on social media to share that adventure as well as the upcoming song releases with you all.
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