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/
Never Enough
Ben Montague Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing on the edge, am I safe here
It's crazy how I can't explain
It's not my fault I'm here again
Spent too long planning my escape
No matter how I try to forget
I stand up to face the truth
Give me something more, give me hope, give me someone to love
It's never enough
Got break away from the pain that is eating me up
No, it's not enough
So move on, coz I'm done
Walking on a line
It doesn't matter what you'd say to me
It doesn't matter what you'd say
It's never enough
The bubble burst but I'm not afraid to cry
The beauty I behold is in my eyes yeah
Help me up before I trip and fall down
It takes the past to realise
I'm not the one to blame
Give me something more, give me hope, give me someone to love
It's never enough
Got break away from the pain that is eating me up
No, it's not enough
So move on, coz I'm done
Walking on a line
It doesn't matter what you'd say to me
It doesn't matter what you'd say
It's never enough
It's never enough
No, no, no
It's not because, not because I'm giving up, not giving up
No, not giving up, no
So give me something more, give me hope, give me someone to love
Yeah it's never enough
Got break away from the pain that is eating me up
No, it's not enough
So move on, yeah I'm done
Walking on a line
Oh, it doesn't matter what you'd say to me
It doesn't matter what you say
It's never enough
You say it's never enough
Mm mm mm
It's never enough
In these lyrics, the singer is feeling drained and tired of his current situation. He feels like he has spent too much time trying to escape the pain and struggles he is facing, but nothing seems to be working. He is standing on the edge, questioning if he is safe there, and trying to face the truth. The singer acknowledges that he needs something more, something to give him hope and someone to love, but every time he tries, it feels like it's never enough. He is tired of walking on a line, trying to keep everything together, and finally decides to move on and give up on his current situation. The singer is imploring for something that will give him fulfilment but is falling short of that, and eventually giving up is the only option to take.
The lyrics show how difficult it can be to break away from the pain and struggles in our life. It can be a constant battle to try and find happiness and fulfilment, and sometimes we might feel like we are putting in all the effort and not getting enough in return. It can be challenging to face reality and admit that things are not working out, but sometimes it's necessary to move on and find something that will give us what we need.
Line by Line Meaning
The warmth is draining away from my face yeah
I feel cold inside me; losing love, friendship or anything that gave me warmth and happiness.
Standing on the edge, am I safe here
I am not sure if I am safe where I am, in this emotional or physical state?
It's crazy how I can't explain
I cannot express in words how I feel right now, it is as if I am beyond words.
It's not my fault I'm here again
I did not choose to come back to this same place again; I just ended up here.
Spent too long planning my escape
I have tried to leave this place or situation for a long time but failed to do so.
No matter how I try to forget
Even if I try to ignore, bury or forget about it, it still affects me.
I stand up to face the truth
I try to confront and come to terms with what happened, as hard it is.
And I gently slip away
I move on from the situation softly, to get closure and not keep it inside me.
Give me something more, give me hope, give me someone to love
I want more than what I have, a sense of purpose, a reason to live, support and affection that I lack.
Got break away from the pain that is eating me up
I need to divorce myself from the hurt and ache that is consuming me inside.
No, it's not enough
I am not satisfied with how my life is or how I am feeling right now.
So move on, coz I'm done
It is time to let go of the past and move forward, close a chapter or turn a new leaf in my life.
Walking on a line
I am living on the edge or a tightrope, barely balancing between sanity and insanity.
It doesn't matter what you'd say to me
Even if someone tries to fake empathy, it does not resolve my inner turmoil or give me peace.
It's never enough
No amount of love, support, money or possessions can satisfy my inner emptiness.
The bubble burst but I'm not afraid to cry
I experienced disappointment or anger, but I am not afraid to express my emotions openly.
The beauty I behold is in my eyes yeah
I can still see beauty and hope around me, and it gives me solace and strength to carry on.
Help me up before I trip and fall down
I need someone's help or guidance to handle my emotions or situations, before I lose control or break down.
It takes the past to realise
I had to go through some trouble or experience to learn something valuable, to grow, to change for the better.
I'm not the one to blame
I am not responsible for something, or I cannot change certain things, and I need to forgive myself or others for that.
You say it's never enough
Others can see that I am not satisfied with what I have, or they can relate to the feeling of emptiness and disconnection.
Contributed by Eliana G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
alohakeakuamusic
I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me. I take my spirit and I crash my mirrors, now the whole world is here for me to see. Jimi Hendrix
Natashas Gaming
seeen him live! he was amazing!:D
Harrison Legg
Give me somthin more,give me hope ,give me somone to love its never enough
Ben montague
Kayla Machado
2 seconds into the song I was like "Yupp I love this song"
Ella-Maira Robson
saw him with the wanted love him
Mikaila _
think this is good? you should see him live.. FWWWUAACKK XD