Norfolk musician Ben releases his debut album

Norwich based Christian singer-songwriter Ben Lawrence has released his first album, created after the death of his twin brother.

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O Wide World is a 13-track album divided into three acts designed to take the listener on a narrative expedition through Ben’s story of losing his twin brother, Dan, to cancer aged 25.

The boys spent their formative years together, writing songs, playing in bands, and crafting films. Ben’s desire to continue creating thought provoking art led him to write songs about his experience, processing his grief and finding hope in the aftermath of bereavement.
 
Ben said: “I had experienced this tragic loss, and then the pandemic hit and it seemed like lots of people were experiencing grief and loss in a way we hadn’t felt before. It was as though these songs now meant something to other people too, so I felt like I needed to make this record.”
 
He began developing his sound at his home studio in Norwich crafting nine full length songs and three instrumentals. After a successful crowdfunding campaign that raised over £10,000, Ben built links with Iain Hutchison, a producer based in Glasgow.
 
In 2022, Ben and his band travelled to Glasgow four times, spending over a month in the studio with Iain, crafting the sound and shape of the album. Iain also travelled to Norwich, where they recorded a full string section. Additional strings were recorded in Billericay, along with additional tracking sessions in Norwich and collaborations from musicians as far as Redding, California.
 
Over 2023, Ben and Iain worked tirelessly to mix each track, spending countless hours and late nights fine tuning each song. O Wide World was released on November 24, preceded by six singles and two music videos, which can be viewed on Ben’s YouTube channel.
 
“The result is a magnificent eclectic collection of songs, shaped into a story that is bound to move you to tears, make you dance and open your eyes to the beauty of life. The album touches on themes of nostalgia, mental health struggles and a desire to keep adventuring, even in the face of loss,” said Ben.
 
“My hope is that this album connects deeply with those who have suffered bereavement, but also that it becomes a soundtrack of hope to people’s everyday lives. This album has been an incredibly life affirming project for me.”
 
 
O Wide World is available to download and stream now.
 
benlawrence.co.uk

images courtesy of Ben Lawrence