July 19, 2022

BEN HARPER | Portrait

30 minutes

Music is a universal language, and music is how Grammy-Award Winner Ben Harper feels he makes a connection with others. On this episode of LaunchLeft, Ben sits down in person with Rain to chat about finally returning to live music and what it means to him as a performer. They also discuss his new record, Bloodline Maintenance. Tune in to hear more from Rain and Ben!

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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.

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IN THIS EPISODE:

[07:05] Ben talks about playing live music again and his new record.

[12:00] Rain and Ben discuss impermanence and being present with the people you care about.

[19:00] Staying out of the comparison trap.

[25:00] Making connections with music.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Music is a universal language that helps people from all over make connections.

Being aware of our own impermanence helps us strive to be the best version of ourselves.

Live music is such an immersive and personal experience for every person in the crowd. Every show has something special about it.

BIO:

Grammy award-winning guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader Ben Harper grew up listening to blues, folk, soul, R&B, and reggae. He started playing guitar as a child and began to perform regularly as a preteen. During his adolescence, he focused heavily on the acoustic slide guitar, which eventually became his signature instrument.

Harper enjoyed cult status on the jam band scene in the 1990s largely due to the success of his debut album, Welcome to the Cruel World, and its follow-up, Fight for Your Mind, before gaining wider attention near the decade's end. During the 21st century, he transcended the genre to become a wildly diverse performer, collaborator, and sideman who has worked with artists ranging from the Blind Boys of Alabama and Charlie Musselwhite to John Mayer.

Harper drew his influences from classic singer/songwriters, blues revivalists, guitar slingers, and jam bands like Blues Traveler and Phish, which meant he was embraced by critics and college kids alike. Despite finding commercial success with the radio single "Steal My Kisses" in 2000, Harper continued to explore different (and often challenging) musical textures during the early 21st century, enjoying a solid fan base at home and a considerable amount of fame in Europe, where he was named 2003's Artist of the Year by the French branch of Rolling Stone.

RESOURCE LINKS

Ben Harper

Ben Harper on Instagram

Ben Harper on Twitter

Ben Harper on Facebook

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