Ben Harper talks Winter Is For Lovers, Black Lives Matter and special relationship with New Zealand – Newshub

What was it like recording a solo project? Was it almost cathartic?

It was like looking through a microscope under a magnifying glass from 30,000 feet. It was a challenge I hadn't expected. I thought I'd be able to play this thing front to back, but there's no lyrics to hide behind - no singing, no band. To be that exposed caught me off-guard. It's one thing to record a song or two as an instrumental, as I've done over the years - but I've never recorded a 30-plus-minute piece in one go with no lyrics. As much as I thought I was going to breeze through it, it took a few passes - full disclosure.

For people who may discover you through this record, what do you hope new listeners will take away from it? Is there a specific journey you had in mind?

I've always approached my music as if every single record I make is my first. If this is the first record of mine that people will hear, that's exciting. It introduces who I am and my commitment to the lap steel very clearly. There's a part of me that loves the fact that [this record] will be my introduction to some people.

Ideally, I would like it to bring out people's individual emotions, and they can use the music as the soundtrack to those emotions. I don't want to sound overly earnest or tell anyone what to feel... but anything that makes you feel - I mean, I go through my day trying to feel something.

With the current climate, it doesn't look like people will be enjoying live music anytime soon. What's your plan with promotion?

I don't know. By the end of the year, if there's nothing possible, I'll probably do one event online. As far as getting out in front of people, that probably won't happen until next American summer.

I just know I want to contribute to whatever is most safe.

Ben Harper's Winter Is For Lovers is available to download on all streaming platforms.

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Ben Harper talks Winter Is For Lovers, Black Lives Matter and special relationship with New Zealand - Newshub