Nashville, TN, – From the south of Australia, to Nashville by way of Route 66 and all the other routes through the 49 states of the continental USA, comes Ben Watts, musician, record producer and audio engineer. Ben has worked with the freshest new talent in music such as Kelby Costner, Lee Brice, Paul Gilbert, Luke Combs, Terra Bella, Rudy Parris, Bobby Barth, Mark Pinske, Darin Warner, Dustin Huff, Morgan Lynsey and many more.
Watts spent four years teaching music full time before relocating to Los Angeles in 2009 to study at the world-renowned Musicians Institute where he completed a degree in music performance, production and audio engineering for which he received an award for the ‘most outstanding student’ in the program.
“After finishing at the Musicians Institute my first job was with Henson Studios , one of the most prestigious recording studios in LA. Of course I was starting from the bottom there, but the experience was great and most of the clients were A-list. I ll never forget walking down the hallway on my first day and Mick Jagger was walking the other way! Although I was grateful for the experience I was quickly reminded that I m not entirely suited to being part of the corporate structure and left to play guitar for a California country band now based in Nashville named Terra Bella.”
A specialist in live band recording and mixing, Watts also has a wealth of experience recording various genres of music and soundtracks, as well as playing in a touring band and co-writing original music. In the short time that he’s been in the US, Watts is one state shy of visiting all 50: “I’ve been lucky enough to see touring in the U.S. from many different perspectives – from slogging it out playing the smaller venues and living in hotel rooms – to living on a tour bus and waking up in a new town every day. Coming from such a small town, for me it didn’t t matter where we were, I just loved to travel and I was always excited to go out and explore. Now, I only need to check off Hawaii from my list and I have seen all the 50 states in the USA, which was amazing to experience in such a short time. I have the upmost respect for the people that are out on the road week in and week out. It is harder than most people realize to be away from friends and family. For me it was the realization that I wasn’t satisfying my creative side that inspired me to focus on the music production side of things which is what fulfills me most.”
Watts now focuses on his work as a producer and engineer, with a full range of multi-media services. Working individually with each songwriter, producer, and artist, Ben Watts develops a unique roadmap to success for each client and provides a sanctuary where artists are free to reach and exceed their full potential.
His thoughts on the future of country music? “In country music, there’s no escaping the past. The impulse to look back to figures enshrined as icons, to sounds that conjure shared references, to historical dependability in general. But so is the imperative to let the music evolve with changing times and expand its reach in the process. That’s because country music is simultaneously a genre defined by its enduring relationship to tradition and a hit-driven radio format like the Top 40. Built into the very foundation of mainstream country music a tension between continuity and changeability that never really goes away. Undoubtedly there is massive change going on in the industry. I think it’s fair to say the musical landscape has changed dramatically, but what will define it going forward is less clear. Perhaps that in itself makes for an exciting time, as there is room for people to blaze a new trail and to change the face of the industry. We can be down on the negative aspect of the fact that music has been greatly devalued as an art form but we’ve also never been so connected worldwide. So you just need to shift with the landscape and love what you do.”
To listen to Ben Watts’ recent projects, visit: www.benwattsproductions.com/listen