Photo by John Packman
Who are you and what do you do:
I’m Ben Gunning – I write music and lyrics. I also play guitar and sing. I eventually arrange the various instruments’ parts in order to record (Beigy Blur LP, Mal de Mer LP, High Road b/w Destructive 7″) and to perform those songs with other musicians. I’ve been extremely lucky to do so with some superb players over the years. The result is often musically and lyrically detailed, drawing from genres and influences which are not commonly brought together. Lately, I’ve been playing with a large group whenever possible but I’ve performed my music solo, as a 9 piece, and everything in between. I also participate in other, more compositionally collaborative musical groups in the last few years – mostly instrumental stuff (Swiss Dice, Finalboss w Christine Bougie). I used to be one of the primary songwriters in the group Local Rabbits; we released a few albums and performed a lot in the 90′s and early 2000s.
Why do you do what you do:
To ignore in my answer the conceit that fuels, in part, all artistic pursuit outside the realm traditional folk art would be dishonest. I am confident and prideful enough to feel that what I do has enough cultural value for me to continue doing it and sharing it with others. I am elated by the experience performing, especially with multiple musicians. Writing lyrics awards me with a sense of control by allowing me to organize and document my thoughts, beliefs, and observations into something aesthetically pleasing to me and, hopefully, to others. These are somewhat selfish reasons. By the same token, because I operate in the saturated & cynical arena of popular music, I am aware of the potential for my contribution to add to cultural pollution. For this reason, I guide this absurd pursuit with a sense of responsibility to music and society, as grandiose as that may sound. I truly respect the pop music form and I believe it can be a rewarding and potent vessel for developed lyrical and musical ideas as opposed to a simply potent vessel for selling cell phones and Swiffers.
Current obsessions:
Musically, I’d say Hudson Mohawke – especially the record “Butter”. Absolutely bad-ass tunes, playful at times, tough at times, and really sophisticated with just enough of a crust to make it a really rewarding experience. Apart from music, I’d say pickling is an obsession of late. I’m getting mass quantities of vegetables from a farm share and I’m trying to avoid wasting any so I’ve taken to pickling. One shameful obsession I should make note of is “Word Mole” – a video game that comes with my work-issued phone. I think I’m over the climax of that preoccupation but I’m afraid to assess the number of hours I’ve squandered on it to date. On the positive side, my high score is 17, 165 which I think is an impressive one.
Story told to you when you were a child that you will never forget:
My great English teacher in grade 7, Mrs. Sheehan, told us a story about how, when she was a young woman, she was making her way to work one winter afternoon. She was running late so she decided to cut through a cemetery that was complete with a sick, barking dog and a cackling, old cemetery keeper at the entrance. As she trudged through the snow and around tombstones, she noticed someone in the bushes at the edge of the cemetery. She started taking an indirect route in order to avoid going towards the man, who now seemed to be popping his face out of different spots every so often and getting closer. It was getting darker and darker so, finally, she decided the only option was to B-line it for a far edge of the cemetery which required climbing down a small, rocky cliff to get down to the sidewalk. After running through the snow to reach it and continuing to glimpse the man in the bushes occasionally as she looked back, she proceeded to scale down the rocks, tearing and muddying her clothes in the process. She ended up making it to work and when she got there and told the story to her coworkers, they showed her an article about a rapist who was on the loose in the area. Not sure why this was the first one that popped in my head but it was well told. In fact, she is a published mystery writer so I imagine there was nuff embellishment.
Song you wish you wrote:
I’ve never had that particular wish, though there of lots of songs I admire so much that they actually give me goose bumps or bring a tear to my eye. Despite the fact that I’ve never specifically wished I wrote someone else’s song, I wouldn’t mind being able to walk around saying I wrote “Rainbow Connection”.
Most played track on your iTunes:
According to the “Plays” column in iTunes, which I’ve used to respond literally, it’s “You and Me Both” by Arthur Russell. I do quite like that song.
Most cherished musical object:
I’m really not too romantic about instruments. I like my amp, though. It’s a custom Mark 1 Mesa Boogie from around 1980. It’s attractive – natural wood case and a rattan face – and has a nice clean, rich sound. At the end of the day, though, it’s just a box with wires and stuff in it. It also weighs way too much.
Go-to album on a rainy day:
I have lots but I’ll say Van Morrison “Beautiful Vision” because it’s on my turntable right now. An underrated gem from the early 80′s with nice playing, a really original production style and some strong sentimental power to me.
Proudest moment:
I always try to be even headed when it comes to big life changes and decisions- sometimes to a fault – and the months leading up to the birth of my first daughter Alice was no different. I didn’t realize how excited I was going to be when she was actually born. I remember I briefly left the hospital to get some take-out from Utopia for my wife and I just a couple of hours after her birth and, while I was ordering, I just blurted out, “I just had a daughter!” to the dude at the cash. Clearly, I was not following the “know your audience” rule but I really couldn’t help myself. He sort of mustered up the kind of polite response you’d expect to get from a young, single guy. Lord knows, I couldn’t differentiate a 2 year old from a 5 year old when I didn’t have my own. I definitely spent a few days walking her around the neighborhood with big, dumb smile on my face. Given how little I had to contribute to her creation, it’s weird to call it a “proud” moment but it was most certainly pride that I was feeling.
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Most vulnerable moment:
Some of my top ones are too serious or personal for mass consumption but I had a bike accident about 6 years ago – incidentally involving no other vehicles, I’m embarrassed to say. I was turning around to adjust my saddlebags which were empty and rubbing up against my spokes. When I turned around, I saw a cement pole charging for my face, cartoon style, but had shifted too much of my weight in one direction and couldn’t dodge it. I broke some teeth and ripped open my chin, eventually ending up on a lawn noticing at least 2 people pass without helping. A small crowd gradually gathered to help but I was very confused and just regaining consciousness. My helmet was also cracked where my skull would have been. When the paramedics showed up I was overwhelmed with gratitude because of how helpless I really felt – I thought I was looking at an angel. I was feeling more together by the hospital – I got my stitches then went right to the dentist for tooth repair with a bib of dry blood on my golf shirt.
Are you most influenced by your surroundings or your inner monologue:
I really try to observe and write about the interaction of the two. Given the dominance of relativism in contemporary thinking it is difficult to write about one’s surroundings in a way that doesn’t come off as outdated, cliché or even monolithic. However, I try to work towards making meaningful observations about my surroundings by admitting the potential effect of my own baggage. I weave both together as opposed to treating that admittance as a necessary caveat for academic purposes. My last album “Mal de Mer” is written from the perspective of a cruise ship employee and that concept was meant to afford me the space to do this in a way that, hopefully, seems natural. I have an educational background in Anthropology and I think this instilled my drive to carefully depict the culture with an awareness of my own lens.
Favourite venue to play in and why:
I like Amigo’s in Saskatoon but I have not had the pleasure of playing there in a few years…. There was a really cool roadhouse in Montana that we played at back in the day but that was many moons ago and only once. I remember from experience that the bathroom stalls had no doors, though that wasn’t the selling point per se.
Dream venue to play in and why:
I’ve re-read my answers and my pragmatism might be nauseating at this point but I really don’t have those dreams. I just want to be known and respected for what I do on my terms. If that means playing holes-in-the-wall then so be it. Saying I want to play Massey Hall is equivalent to saying I want to have a million dollars. Sure, I’d love to play there but it’s not a goal nor realistic given the kind of music I play and the current nature of the music scene, at least in Canada.
Top album released this year:
I normally proceed with caution on these matters so I don’t get caught in the cult of anything – I also try to avoid officially ranking music, though I have strong opinions. Right now, I’m loving the new THOMAS EP, Janela. It’s unique, subtly funky, soulful…. a special sound from a next level songwriter/guitarist featuring some amazing personnel.
First band t-shirt you ever purchased from a merch table:
I used to make my own so I really didn’t buy much. I definitely had a homade Sonic Youth “Sister” T-Shirt. I think my folks may have bought me a Rolling Stones Steel Wheels Concert T-Shirt when I was 12. I was really into the Stones in grade 4, 5, and 6. All I did was draw the tongue logo on everything and listen to Some Girls over and over at that time.
Band you’d leave your bandmates for:
I am pretty into my own thing and no one would cry if I joined a band but if I eliminate groups that I’m not quite qualified for I’d say Jaga Jazist – that would be an experience. Some days I want to be in a proper R&B band where I play something really specific, really well, over and over and enjoy the hypnotizing feeling of contributing to the group sound.
Album you wish your parents exposed you to in the womb:
Classical music so I’d be smarter. Ideally Mozart or Beethoven – they are the best ones. I think any music would do at that stage especially given the significant elimination of sound definition that occurs from the womb.
Album you want to expose your kin to whilst in the womb:
Maybe some free jazz that I don’t even listen to in order make sure they are musically advanced upon exit. But I’ve missed my chance! My daughter got to experience a Keith Jarrett trio show from the front row in the womb, though.
Last record you purchased:
Thundercat – “The Golden Age of Apocalypse”. A friend recommended it and it’s interesting. It turned out to be more jazz fusion than I expected or am used to hearing these days – it kind of sounds like George Duke at times, who I really like, but the production is simultaneously a bit more du jour & lower fi.
If for some reason you lost the ability to make and play music, what would fill that gap:
In conjunction with alcohol and excessive food eating, I would continue to write and might explore other art forms. I have some drawing/painting ability but don’t have a very developed style or strong fundamentals. Maybe I would explore that a bit. I enjoy film but the level of organization and collaboration that needs to occur is a bit daunting. Pickling would still be a go.
