Music >> Artists >> Singer/Songwriter
Genre:
Singer/Songwriter

Years Active:
'00s, '10s






Ben Howard

Biography

Before launching his career as an acoustic singer/songwriter, Ben Howard grew up in South Devon, England, where his mother’s collection of folk records helped instill a love for Joni Mitchell, Donovan, and Richie Havens. Howard also developed an interest in surfing, catching his first wave at the age of 11 and heading to the beach whenever he wasn’t busy writing music in the folksy style of his influences. While pursuing a journalism degree years later, he briefly moved to Newquay, the surf capital of the U.K., where he received class credit for working at a surfing magazine. Howard dropped out of school six months shy of graduation, though, convinced by the surf community’s enthusiastic response to his music — which, despite its acoustic folk sound and beachy vibe, sounded more like John Martyn than Jack Johnson — that he should ditch the newsroom and focus on songwriting.. Before launching his career as an acoustic singer/songwriter, Ben Howard grew up in South Devon, England, where his mother’s collection of folk records helped instill a love for Joni Mitchell, Donovan, and Richie Havens. Howard also developed an interest in surfing, catching his first wave at the age of 11 and heading to the beach whenever he wasn’t busy writing music in the folksy style of his influences. While pursuing a journalism degree years later, he briefly moved to Newquay, the surf capital of the U.K., where he received class credit for working at a surfing magazine. Howard dropped out of school six months shy of graduation, though, convinced by the surf community’s enthusiastic response to his music — which, despite its acoustic folk sound and beachy vibe, sounded more like John Martyn than Jack Johnson — that he should ditch the newsroom and focus on songwriting.

The surf community proved to be a big stepping stone for Howard, who found himself playing to packed audiences long before his music spread beyond the U.K. beaches. He continued developing his style, too, adding a percussive element to his playing by learning to rap his knuckles across the guitar body between strums. A European tour with Xavier Rudd helped him build a wider audience in late 2008, as did the release of EPs like These Waters and Old Pine. By the time Howard finished recording his full-length debut, Every Kingdom, in autumn 2011, he’d signed a major-label deal with Island Records (the same label that once released music by John Martyn) and graduated to headliner status, thanks to growing fan bases in England, Germany, France, and Holland.

Top Albums

Burgh Island - EP, Ben Howard
1. Burgh Island..
Every Kingdom, Ben Howard
2. Every Kingdo..
Every Kingdom (Deluxe Version), Ben Howard
3. Every Kingdo..

Top Songs

NameAlbumTimePrice
1.
Oats In the WaterBurgh Island - EP4:59$1.29
2.
Oats in the WaterEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..4:59$1.29
3.
Only LoveEvery Kingdom4:09$1.29
4.
Keep Your Head UpEvery Kingdom4:24$1.29
5.
FearEvery Kingdom4:20$1.29
6.
Old PineEvery Kingdom5:28$1.29
7.
PromiseEvery Kingdom6:24$1.29
8.
WolvesEvery Kingdom5:09$1.29
9.
Black FliesEvery Kingdom6:21$1.29
10.
EsmereldaBurgh Island - EP4:44$1.29
11.
Under the Same SunEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..4:46$1.29
12.
I Will Be BlessedEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..5:31$1.29
13.
These WatersEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..4:08$1.29
14.
BonesEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..5:45$1.29
15.
Old PineEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..5:28$1.29
16.
Keep Your Head UpEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..4:24$1.29
17.
Empty Corridors (Live)Every Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..5:26$1.29
18.
GraciousEvery Kingdom4:57$1.29
19.
FearEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..4:20$1.29
20.
To Be AloneBurgh Island - EP5:37$1.29
21.
Black FliesEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..6:21$1.29
22.
Burgh Island (feat. Monica Heldal)Burgh Island - EP8:13$1.29
23.
Only LoveEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..4:09$1.29
24.
Move Like You Want (Live)Every Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..8:21$1.29
25.
To Be AloneEvery Kingdom (Deluxe Versi..5:37$1.29

Top Music Videos

Only Love, Ben Howard
1. Only Love
The Wolves, Ben Howard
2. The Wolves


Comments



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