Atlanta’s Ben Bostick forged his name through five highly commended Americana albums, but with his latest release, ‘Become Other’, he’s cutting a new path in his sound. New single, ‘Flying High’, is about as far away as it comes from Americana, but you know what? We like it.
Bostick was listening to an AI generated country song that his friend had sent him, and his wife entered the room, and said, “Who is this? I love her voice!” He was alarmed at AI’s ability to convincingly write and produce music in existing styles, and at that moment, that everything was different. He decided there and then that an artist’s role is to aim for something higher. “One thing AI can’t do is produce things of real meaning,” says Bostick. “It can only produce facsimiles of meaning”. Thus was the birth of ‘Become Other’, a radical experiment in sound, which saw him transform every word, note, and sonic gesture of the album’s opening, reworking it into the material that forms the music to come, and creating an album that is all connected and intertwined.
‘Flying High’ is a trippy track that, if released by anyone else, might not raise an eyebrow. But the fact that it’s come from Ben Bostick, who’s made his name with jangly, twangy, Americana, is something else. It might feel like a brave decision on the part of Bostick, but with any luck his fans will already know he’s a multi-faceted musician, and it’ll also open his music up to a wider audience. Bostick knows this, but he’s unwilling to have his artistry restricted, just because it’s not his usual market. “I just wanted to make an album that would have blown my mind as a 14-year-old. Not a piece of content. I know this album isn’t for everyone, but I know there will be some teenager somewhere who will put on their headphones and go, ‘Wow, I didn’t know music could do this!’ That’s who this record is for.”
Opening with synths and drums, leading onto Bostick’s smooth voice, that soon give way to ethereal backing vocals from Amanda Belair, ‘Flying High’ is warm, encompassing, and filled with the sorts of revelations that come out of a nice joint. The accompanying lyric video certainly adds to this vibe, with what looks an astral projection gently sailing away through the clouds. It’s hypnotic and calming – the perfect chill track for the end of a hard day, when you’ve reached your limit – and “the hourglass is empty”.
Tune in, turn on, and drop out with Ben Bostick’s ‘Flying High’ below. You can find out more about Ben Bostick and his music online on his official website, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
