Ben Montagu… Read Full Bio ↴Ben Montague's Official Website - www.benmontague.co.uk/
Ben Montague
If Ben Montague’s name sounds familiar, it’s because in 2010 his debut single, Haunted was all over national and commercial radio. He sang live at huge promo events such as Children in Need, and joined the likes of JLS and KT Tunstall on stage in London.
From the outside, it looked like Ben’s career was taking off, that the hundreds of gigs he had played anywhere that would have him were paying off. The truth was decidedly different. Listeners loved his songs, but they couldn’t buy them because Ben had no label, no publishing deal and no money to release them himself. When other stations started supporting him, they asked for his album. He didn’t have one, so he headed to a friend’s house in Kent to record a bunch of old songs in the spare room, standing on a plank of wood so the floor didn’t squeak and using a mattress and duvet as soundproofing. He was still playing in pubs and working in a club in Shoreditch to pay the rent, teaching tennis to mums, teaching kids guitar and session singing.
“It was strange going in to shops, sitting in pubs, and hearing my songs, seeing people’s reactions to them, but knowing no one could buy them,” says Ben. “Amazing things were happening for me, but I was still skint, still searching for a deal, still having to take requests at nightclubs to sing Stay With Me or Wonderwall. In every sense, I was unprepared – there was no strategy, no tour, no one to step in and tell me what to do.”
In fact, Ben was so despondent he made the decision to return to his day job, fearing his dream of working in music was unachievable.
"I'm not sure what hurt more, having to go back to work at the bar, or contacting people I'd taught to say I was available to teach again, or the fact my friends and family were so confused I was not a successful artist.” Ben remembers.
It was only when driving home late from his bar job, he heard his 'hit' being played in a petrol station. Inspired, he realised that he needed to get back in the saddle. He quit his job and began gigging again.
Fast forward to the present and Ben has the album he wished he had then. The preparation is in place. No duvets were involved. 'Tales Of Flying And Falling' is an album that does justice to Ben’s sweet, soulful vocals, to his emotional songwriting, to his epic, lighters-aloft pop. Recorded at Rockfield with producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, Idlewild, Kylie), 'Tales Of Flying And Falling' is a set of songs that make perfect sense together; that document a relationship that was right, went wrong, then came right again; that will make his fans fall for him all over again.
“This was always my dream – to make an album with one producer, in one studio,” says Ben. “To take my time and make sure every song sounded as good as it could. Working with Dave was amazing. He’s a rock guy; I write pop songs. We met in the middle. We bonded over old-school desks and old-school mics and a love of authentic, epic music.”
First single Love Like Stars is a joyous, widescreen pop-rock song that captures that glorious moment when you can’t think of anyone else. Pull The Trigger is a piano-driven, strings-drenched song about a relationship hitting the rocks that sweeps you up in its majestic chorus and, lyrically, drops you back down to earth with a bump. Another Hard Fall is a fabulous pop ode to bracing oneself for the next big low moment. The relationship is rekindled on the sun-soaked Liberty Road, with its insistent, toe-tapping bassline, can’t-stop-smiling chorus and lovely guest vocals from Lucie Silvas.
Ben’s route to the release of his debut album proper has seen both highs and lows. He grew up mostly in Kent, was politely asked to leave more schools than he cares to remember and discovered music through his dad, who took him to see The Rolling Stones and bought him his first guitar aged 14. The first song he learnt was Sailing by Rod Stewart.
“From the age of ten, I knew I could sing,” says Ben. “The only things that kept me in any school for any length of time was being in the choir and being good at sport. As soon as I got a guitar I began writing songs.”
A talented singer/songwriter and classically good-looking, Ben was a natural front-man, and spent more time with his rock band than he did studying at university. The band got a development deal, but by then, Ben wanted to be a solo singer/songwriter. A producer he met a party helped him make some demos, which brought him to the attention of songwriter Jamie Hartman who became the perfect person to bounce ideas off. “We got on great, he came to one of my gigs and we started writing together. One of the songs we came up with Haunted.”
Two years were spent playing dingy venues up and down the country. Ben even sang in airports – you possibly passed him at Heathrow or Gatwick – after getting a regular gig to perform acoustic sets in World Duty Free. Meanwhile, he wrote for other artists – twice at writing camps in Sweden, once on a trip to Nashville. (The winner of Singapore Idol had a hit with one of his songs. He reckons he got £4 in royalties.) But really, Ben was always writing for himself. With no deal, he was in the process of self-releasing an EP of some of his songs when, performing at unsigned artists showcase in London, he was spotted by a producer from Radio 2.
“I thought I was finally on my way to fame,” laughs Ben. “But all that happened was promoters paid me an extra £30 because they had heard my music on the radio.”
A few months later, however, supporting former Starsailor singer James Walsh, he was spotted by the agent and promoter John Giddings, who looks after Lady Gaga, The Stones and Iggy Pop. Giddings invited Ben to support Stereophonics in Milan and got him a slot at the Isle Of Wight festival. Now writing with Walsh and Jim Duguid (Paolo Nutini), Ben was signed by Feeder’s management company and, last year, spent three sessions at Rockfield with Eringa recording the songs that would become 'Tales Of Flying And Falling', including a new version of Haunted. By the final session, Ben had secured a joint venture record deal with Nusic Sounds and EMI. He began this year on his first arena tour, supporting The Wanted. “Now I’m glad I didn’t get that album out two years ago,” admits Ben. “I wouldn’t have been happy with it. These are the best songs I have ever written, recorded as well as they could be.”
As for the radio stations that asked for his album, it’s finally here. Better still, it’s been well worth the wait.
http://www.benmontague.co.uk/
Haunted
Ben Montague Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was a storm that lies beneath this dark blue sea
It's calm on the surface, but the truth is
When I sleep at night
It's quietly sinking in
You're not lying by my side.
And I'm haunted
By the only one I've ever wanted
Everyone has their ghost
And when you warned me
I couldn't say you didn't warn me
Maybe I'm afraid cos I know I know
That's what I need the most
Gotta let you go.
You said what goes around, comes around
Well I'm floating in a darkness waiting to be found
So why didn't you tell me
That I could be waiting such a long, long time
Oh quietly sinking in
You're not lying by my side.
And I'm haunted
Still a part of me that's haunted
By the only one I've ever wanted
Everyone has their ghost
And when you warned me
I couldn't say you didn't warn me
Maybe I'm afraid cos I know I know
That's what I need the most
I've gotta let you go.
Yeah ' I've gotta let you know
And I'm haunted
Still a part of me that's haunted
By the only one I've ever wanted
Everyone has their ghost
Oh, When you warned me
I couldn't say you didn't warn me
Maybe I'm afraid cos I know I know
That's what I need the most
Gotta let you go.
In Ben Montague's song "Haunted," the singer is haunted by the memory of a past lover. The lyrics indicate that the relationship was tumultuous, "All you said and all you did to me was a storm that lies beneath this dark blue sea." Despite the inner turmoil, the relationship appeared smooth on the surface but left a lasting impact on the singer, "It's calm on the surface, but the truth is when I sleep at night, it's quietly sinking in. You're not lying by my side." The lyric "everyone has their ghost" alludes to the fact that everyone has a memory or past relationship that haunts them, and in this particular case, the singer's past love is the one that still lingers in his mind.
The singer then acknowledges that he was warned about the consequences of getting involved with this person, "And when you warned me, I couldn't say you didn't warn me." The line "Maybe I'm afraid cos I know I know, That's what I need the most, Gotta let you go" suggests that the singer is aware of the truth but still struggles to let go of this person. The final chorus emphasizes the idea that the ghost of the past relationship continues to haunt the singer, but to move on, he needs to let go.
Overall, "Haunted" is a poignant and relatable song about the lingering memories of past relationships and the struggle to let go of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
All you said and all you did to me
Everything you said and did to me
Was a storm that lies beneath this dark blue sea
Caused a disturbance beneath the surface of my emotions
It's calm on the surface, but the truth is
Superficially, everything is peaceful, but in reality
When I sleep at night
During the night when I'm asleep
It's quietly sinking in
My feelings are settling in
You're not lying by my side.
You're not here next to me
And I'm haunted
I am tormented
Still a part of me that's haunted
There is an aspect of myself that is tormented
By the only one I've ever wanted
By the person I have always desired
Everyone has their ghost
Everyone has their personal haunts
And when you warned me
And even when you forewarned me
I couldn't say you didn't warn me
I cannot deny that you warned me
Maybe I'm afraid cos I know I know
Perhaps I'm scared because I'm aware
That's what I need the most
That's what I desire more than anything
Gotta let you go.
I must release you
You said what goes around, comes around
You stated that people get what they give
Well I'm floating in a darkness waiting to be found
I am suspended in darkness, waiting for a way out
So why didn't you tell me
So why didn't you inform me
That I could be waiting such a long, long time
That I might be waiting for a really long time
Yeah ' I've gotta let you know
Yes, I need to let you know
Contributed by Adalyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DubSlut1020
I've seen a few gigs in my time, in many arenas/festivals and this man blew them all away in a dingy basement singing to 30 people tops, guitar broke and played out the rest of the gig with an acoustic on a chair with everyone in a circle round him. True musician. True Lyrics.
@MazHappy
Oh Ben, you break my heart. Most of us have someone in our lives who we think of when we listen to this song. Still one of my all-time favourites!
@WendyC2469
Absolutely love this song. Really chokes me up every time I listen to it. All I think of is someone who is very special to me that is so far away. Only thing about this song is that I'd omit "I gotta let you go."
@mablechisha928
Heard this song in a movie and I made sure i found it. Makes me think about love....loss and sacrifice.beautiful song!
@jaynelouise1969
Great song, very talented guy...
@jackiegobin9890
Love this song. Heard it last Saturday night live at Blackpool for the first time and couldn't get it out of my head. Ben you are a really good singer and songwriter. I've been spreading the word about you and this song in particular.
@HorsemanUnknown
I really wish you had more viewers dude, your so good. You kind of remind me of a 1 man version of the band lawson, and I love your music, keep putting out songs dude, we appreciate you.
@tuanngominh86
I first heard this song since around 6 years or longer ago. That time I was really dropped down and this song just saved my soul. Now I come back and still so in love with the song. Thanks and wish you so much love.
@MsLadyCatherine
Beautiful song, beautiful voice !!! I love it !
@alanw4031
Heard this song in a movie.....and absolutely loved it. Talented artist.