With the single “Hometown” dropping, I caught up with Ben E Davis to talk about being that American Boy in London, how he got started in music, the inspiration for this single, and where things go next.
Hi Ben, before we take a closer look at your latest single, can you tell me a bit about your musical journey and how you got to where you are today?
Ben: I started singing as a kid, inspired by Kids Incorporated on the Disney Channel in the 90s, which led to school talent shows. After college, I joined a boy band it didn’t take off, but it taught me a lot. I then became a “working musician,” performing at corporate events and weddings, which took me all over the world from St. Petersburg to Maui. After years of singing other people’s songs, I decided to write my own, and that’s what brings me here today.
And as “An American Boy in London” moving between the UK capital and LA, how similar and how different are the two cities?
Ben: It’s funny, I actually started getting called “American Boy” because of the “American Boy” by Estelle featuring Kanye West. That song later inspired me to flip “Englishman in New York” into my own version, “American Boy in London”.
As for London and LA, I love both, but I always say they’re apples and oranges. They’re very different, but both feel like home in their own way.
“Hometown” is a song about the ending of a friendship. Can you tell me more about it? Does it come from personal experience, or is it more about capturing a universal experience…or perhaps both?
Ben: “Hometown” is a very personal song. I had a close friend who won millions on a TV game show and became quasi-famous overnight. While those circumstances are pretty extraordinary, I think the core of it is something a lot of people can relate to: watching someone level up and feeling left behind.
It’s also kind of a love story, two friends with a deep bond, a bromance of sorts, trying to understand that connection, whether it’s unrequited or simply a love that couldn’t exist because of external circumstances.
For those who haven’t yet heard your music, can you sum it up? Is there a signature style, a sound that you try to capture?
Ben: At my core, I’m pop, but I’d say I’m pretty genre-fluid. A lot of that comes from growing up on Kids Incorporated, which covered music from the 50s through the 90s, and later performing in wedding and corporate bands where I had to sing everything from Frank Sinatra to Black Eyed Peas.
This project leans pop, with some dance and rock influences, while Hometown has a bit of an Americana feel; it could almost be a country song. At the end of the day, I agree with Quincy Jones there are only two types of songs: good songs and bad songs.
_And who would you say your influences are? Both musical inspirations and people whom you look up to outside of music
Ben: My main influences are Michael Jackson and Tina Turner as performers. What I love about both of them is how they transcended race and connected with everyone.
From a songwriting perspective, The Beatles were hugely influential. And I grew up watching Fergie on Kids Incorporated, so I’ve seen her whole journey from Wild Orchid to Black Eyed Peas and her solo career. One thing I really took from that is to never give up. She had been working in the industry for 20 years before she had her major success.
You’ve described “Hometown” as the start of a new chapter, brand-new Ben E. Davis rising from the rubble. What do you mean by that, and how important is reinvention and new directions?
Ben: The friendship breakup was really painful, and “rising from the rubble” meant turning that pain into art. I never intended to create an album, but that’s what came out of it.
For me, reinvention isn’t optional; it’s necessary. In hindsight, I can see that the experience became a catalyst; it pushed me to write more deeply and honestly. Sometimes the hardest moments are what push you into your next chapter.
Are there plans to play live shows in support of the record? If so, where are you looking forward to playing?
Ben: I’d love to play more live shows and festivals. Live performance is really where I feel I thrive. Lately, my focus has been on releasing the music digitally and building things online, but getting back on stage is a big priority for me. There’s also a live version of “Hometown” that I submitted for the NPR Tiny Desk Contest, so people can get a feel for that side of me. And hopefully, I’ll be announcing some live dates soon.
Finally, beyond the latest single release, what does the future hold for you, and what would you like it to hold for you?
Ben: Following “Hometown”, I have another single coming out that features an interpolation from a #1 hit song in 2007, which I was able to clear independently, and I’m really excited about that. After that, there’s a full album on the way, a very personal, tell-all, Lily Allen-style project.
Like Lily Allen, it draws from real experiences without necessarily naming names. I never expected to find myself writing about an ex-friend who’s now in the public eye, but that’s where life took me, and in some ways it feels like it all happened for a reason.
Professionally, I’d love for the album to connect on a high level. And personally, I hope there’s some kind of resolution one day with my friend. I guess I’m still a sucker for a happy ending. Only time will tell.
