Ben Sigston

John Goodman, North Shore News
Published: Friday, October 30, 2009

- Ben Sigston at The Cellar (1006 Granville St.) Thursday, Nov. 5 as part of the Peak Performance Project Concert Series. Doors at 7 p.m. 19 only. Tickets available in limited quantities at the door. Listen to 100.5 The Peak FM or live online at www.thepeak.fm for a chance to win tickets to the show.
North Vancouver musician Ben Sigston has competed at the highest levels as an athlete and now he intends to do the same thing as a musician.

For several years Sigston, 26, was a member of Canada's national cycling team. Growing up on the North Shore he attended Westover elementary and Argyle secondary schools and raced in the North Shore Mountain Bike League. But all the while he also kept up a keen interest in music and ultimately decided to pursue that as a career.

Sigston recorded his first demos at NAL Sound in North Vancouver and shopped his music around. At one point he was close to signing a label deal but negotiations fell through and he decided to work as an independent.
He'd already finished recording his debut eight-track EP, Free Now, earlier this year with producer Warne Livesey when he heard about the Peak Performance Project. The project, created by 100.5 The PEAK and Music BC to help with the development of emerging artists in B.C. sounded like it was the perfect fit for him. All he had to do was get in.

"I had heard through the grapevine that there was this program happening and you had to apply for it," he says. "They did submissions in June and they apparently got over 450 applicants."

Sigston and his band were one of 20 acts chosen to participate in the first year of the project which takes artists back to school to learn how to market and make music in the real world.

About a week after congratulating Sigston for getting into the program the first Peak communication asked the participants: "What have you done so far to take advantage of being involved in this program?"

"Right away they were doing PR stuff," laughs Sigston."Everyone was freaking out and going, 'Oh what have I done?' Then they took us all to boot camp."

At the end of August the Peak Performance Project took their 20 chosen bands to an outdoor retreat for a week of intense sessions to learn more about the music business, live performance, songwriting, marketing and promotion. "It was absolutely amazing," says Sigston. "It was at this place called the Rockridge Canyon up near Princeton B.C. It was the perfect place to go with a bunch of musicians. It was picturesque perfection on the top of these mountains in this big, beautiful complex that has been built up there. We ended up bunking together in dorms -- that was a bit crazy too. They did enforce the dry camp so nothing too crazy happened."
Every day the musicians attended workshops to learn about different aspects of the music industry. "They had some really cool people up there," says Sigston. "Ken Beattie of Killbeat Music talked about doing a publicity campaign and gave us some hard facts about what it costs. Shaun Verreault of Wide Mouth Mason talked about touring and being on the road and conducting yourself in front of audiences. They had a rotating cast of faculty as different guest speakers came up. I think there was probably about 20 total over the week."
Each night at the camp different bands would play for a panel of judges. "The level of talent was un-freaking believable," says Sigston. "Every night people were like, 'Holy cow, I can't believe this.' It may be the best thing that has come out of the whole project is getting all these musicians together."

Next up for Sigston is a live show at the Cellar on Nov. 5 where he will perform with three other acts (Alexandria Maillot from Courtenay, Kuba Oms from Victoria and Wassabi Collective from Nelson) competing in the Peak Performance Project. Listen to 100.5 The Peak FM or live online at www.thepeak.fm to win tickets to the show. The live set is one of three categories in the competition and will count for 30 per cent of the total mark. Online voting for your favourite artist (at www.peakperformanceproject.com) counts for 20 per cent while 50 per cent is left for other aspects of the competition.
The three top winners in the project will be announced in January and will share $275,000 in cash for career development: first place receives $150,000; second place $75,000; and third place $50,000.

"The Peak (radio station) has been unbelievable," says Sigston. "They are playing all of our music on it. I've played live on there. The project has been a really great experience in terms of learning development stuff on a grass-roots independent level and meeting a bunch of musicians who are all doing the same thing."

Go to www.bensigston.com for free downloads of some of Sigston's new songs.
- North Shore News (CanWest)

PEAK PERFORMANCE PROJECT - BEN SIGSTON
POSTED NOVEMBER 4, 2009 BY BOB K
The PEAK Performance Project is a seven-year, 5.29 million dollar contest open to all musicians in British Columbia. The project was created by Vancouver’s very own 100.5 The PEAK and Music BC to develop BC based emerging artists.
Every year, twenty finalists from BC will receive an intensive, one week training program in the music business, live performance, songwriting, marketing and promotion. From these, the top three will be crowned as the PEAK Performers of the year and will share $275,000 in cash for career development!

Over the coming weeks we’ll be introducing you to all of this year’s participating artists with quick interviews about the project, the other artists, and a little bit of Vancouver! Vote now for your favourite top 19 at www.peakperformanceproject.com.

Next up is Ben Sigston from Vancouver. He’ll be playing The Cellar on Thursday, November 5th, and the only way to get into the showcase is by listening to 100.5 The Peak FM to win tickets! Limited tickets will also be released at the door.

Who’s your favorite artist(s) in the Peak Performance Project and why?
It’s too hard to choose. There are so many great acts!
Seriously…

What was the most valuable thing you took away from Boot Camp?
For me it was the basic of message to tour, tour, tour….
The faculty gave such great info on so many topics of the industry that all related to getting out there, marketing ourselves and supporting it with live shows.

What is one thing you wish you brought to Boot Camp, but didn’t?
A computer and digital camera!

What’s your favorite venue to play at in BC?
The coolest place I’ve played is the Vogue Theatre, but in terms of a fun room there is a little café in Kitsilano called Corduroy that has a great vibe. I also really dig the changes that have been made at the Media Club on Cambie St. It’s a staple for all bands in Vancouver.

Where is your favorite hangout in Vancouver?
Hmmm. I must say that there is a little café near where I live called Higher Grounds. I love coffee.

If you win the grand prize, what are you going to put the money towards?
That’s another tricky question! Obviously it would go a long way and really have to be spread out. Firstly, I’d put money into online marketing and promotion including advertising.
Secondly, I’d use a bit of it for recording.
Thirdly, I’d access it for tour support and as a way to get to all of the major music festivals and conferences in North America such as NXNE, SXSW and many others! There are so many other things to use it for but I’m sure it would be boring to read about!

www.bensigston.com
www.myspace.com/bensigston
www.twitter.com/bensigston

www.thepeak.fm / www.peakperformanceproject.com / www.musicbc.org / www.cellarvan.com
- Vancouver is Awesome

Artist: Ben Sigston
Where from: Born and raised in North Vancouver

Sounds like: Alt-pop rock drenched with strong elements of acoustic guitar, piano and buttery smooth vocals. Imagine if David Gray and Damien Rice had a love child (physically impossible I know…but you get the picture).

Why worth checking out: Sigston actually started out as an athlete, not a musician. He was a Canadian National team cyclist who ultimately had a life epiphany, sold his bike, and bought a guitar. The bold move
wasn’t too much of a stretch however, since Sigston was brought up in a home saturated with music. Growing up he started playing piano at the age of fi ve and later went on to learn drums. Sigston’s music is lyrically dense and emotionally rich. His music unfolds as a picture book to his life experiences and manages to draw the listener into his thoughts, fears, loves, and bygones. His fi rst EP Free Now was released this summer with standouts including the catchy harder edged, “Cold Killer” and the softer “Quiet Conversation,” with it’s romantically entangled acoustic guitar riffs and melodic vocals. You can check out Ben Sigston at The Cellar with Wassabi Collective, Kuba Oms, and Alexandria Maillot on November 5th.

Check him out on myspace.

-Kendra Hart, Culture Coordinator (Broadcast Journalism)

Link: http://bcitstudentnewspaper.ca/2009/10/26/canadian-indie-spotlight-ben-sigston/ - The Link Newspaper (BCIT)

BY MEGAN MCCLEAN- OCT 22, 2009

Vancouver’s own Ben Sigston is making a name for himself in the music scene. He has recently released Free Now, an EP containing eight dynamic alt-pop tracks. Ben recently stopped by Youthink HQ to share some insight into his music.

Growing up, Ben was surrounded by music, his dad being his main influence. “My dad is so crazy about music so there was always old school stuff like The Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Eagles around,” he recounts. “We had a music room growing up so I used to play the drums. I took piano lessons when I was about five, but I never totally got into it and was like, ‘Okay, I really wanna make a go of things’ till I was about 19.’”

At 19, the ex-Canadian team cyclist turned to music after making the decision to stop biking. “Cycling was kinda a little too much training so I started playing music a lot at university and it just seemed like the natural thing to do,” says Ben. “I’d always been into music and I had a bit more time after I stopped cycling.”

After selling his biking gear, Ben bought a laptop in hopes of making electronic music. Frustrated by what he calls its “dodgy” operating system, he later returned the laptop, purchased a guitar and taught himself to play – with a little help from his family. “My dad totally helped me out with some chords and stuff and my mom’s actually a pretty good guitar player, which I didn’t know till I bought a guitar!”

Working with different instruments and polishing up his songwriting meant Ben could start evolving as an artist. His songs reflect a wide pallet of subjects, but mostly describe personal experiences that are important to him. “I’m inspired by daily experiences, whether it’s personal relationship experiences or experiences with other friends’ relationships. I’m really into writing just what comes out naturally.”

Ben worked with legendary producer Warne Livesey (Matthew Good, Midnight Oil) to create his latest EP and Livesey’s over 20 years of experience helped shaped the final product in a positive way. “He’s not a guy who’ll tell you what to do, but at the same time, he’s always kind of pushing you to try different sounds and try different things,” says Ben about working with Livesey.

Currently one of the top 19 finalists in The Peak radio station’s Peak Performance Project, Ben is learning a lot about the music business in a competition that could potentially be the turning point in his career. In fact, the winning band will walk away with $150,000 to put towards their project! “For any of us who are involved, it’s a pretty big deal just because that much money isn’t really thrown around now,” says Ben. “So whoever does win that, it could potentially be the career changer in terms of recording and then actually having the money to promote what you’re doing.”

Focused on his future, Ben’s passion for music is evident and it’s what keeps him motivated through the challenging times, “The bottom line is it’s just the love of the music, because the actual odds of making money from it and being successful are like under one per cent. There are so many good bands out there, so it’s really one of those things you do just because you love it.”

If you’re into catchy tunes with heartfelt lyrics, check out Ben Sigston’s Free Now.
- Youthink Magazine

Ben Sigston @ MIX Lounge
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
Posted by: Eileen Rothe

What do good coffee, local radio, and live music have in common? Oh come on people!

So if you haven’t heard yet, our CREATIVEMIX Exhibition includes the Mix Lounge, where you can enjoy some good coffee . . . we’ve told you about the coffee . . . and meet some new peeps. But what we haven’t told you is that you’ll also get to experience live performances by some amazing local talent.

For those of you who are tuned in to the newest and coolest local station here in Vancouver, 100.5 The PEAK, you will have heard of a little thing called the “PEAK Performance Project.” This is a seven-year, $5.29 million contest open to all musicians in BC, and was created by 100.5 The PEAK and Music BC to develop BC based emerging artists. To say the least, they hit the mother load right off the bat and we are ecstatic to have two of the finalists performing at CREATIVEMIX this year. Let me start with Ben Sigston.

Ben is one of those rare artists who can capture an audience’s attention with only a piano or acoustic guitar. He crafts melodic gems that work as well stripped down as they do produced with a full band. His early works, filled with bright, tasteful piano playing, weeping Beatle-esque guitar lines and instantly memorable vocal melodies, found instant success with numerous placements in both TV and film. A 2007 development deal with Warner Music put Sigston into contact with producer Warne Livesey (Midnight Oil, Matthew Good). The two discovered that they shared a common musical vision and enjoyed collaborating, and so decided to work together to record Ben’s first EP “Free Now.” It is Sigston’s unique ability to marry the abstract with the well-crafted pop song that makes him such a unique addition to the current crop of singer/songwriters.

Not to mention he goes great with an Americano. Mmmmmmm!

Ben will perform in the MIX Lounge on Thursday, Oct.22 at 10:30am and exhibition-only passes are $10 (but they’re FREE if you register online here.

- www.creativemix.ca

What: Sigston’s one of those acoustic guitar-toting hunks who can belt out a song, like the expansive ditty, Free Now, that is moving but not mushy. His tunes have been features on TV shows too, including Word Travels on National Geographic.

From: Vancouver

It is the rare artist who can capture an audience's attention with only a piano or acoustic guitar. Ben Sigston crafts melodic gems that work as well stripped down as they do produced with a full band.

From a young age Ben's imagination was captured by some of the great singer/songwriters of the late 60's and early 70's, with The Beatles and Bob Dylan being of particular influence

Sigston spent his late teenage years and early twenties developing his songwriting skills and performing. His early works, filled with bright, tasteful piano playing, weeping Beatle-esque guitar lines and instantly memorable vocal melodies, found instant success with numerous placements in both TV and film. Highlights included 2006's internationally award-winning TV series Make Some Noise and the adventure show Word Travels, currently airing in Canada on The Outdoor Life Network and internationally on the National Geographic Channel. In addition, the use of five of Ben's original compositions in the critically acclaimed 2008 indie movie Mulligan's cast a bright light on the songwriter's considerable talents.

A 2007 a development deal with Warner Music put Sigston into contact with producer Warne Livesey (Midnight Oil, Matthew Good). The two discovered that they shared a common musical vision and enjoyed collaborating, and so decided to work together to record Ben's first EP "Free Now".

"Free Now" confidently explores the tension between spiritualism and physicality; reflection and action. The record juxtaposes spare yet emotive songs filled with honest, personal reflection, epitomized by Quiet Conversation, with forceful, dynamic, beat-driven pop, evident in Days Go By. It is Sigston's unique ability to marry the abstract with the well-crafted pop song that makes him such a unique addition to the current crop of singer/songwriters. - Vancouver Sun

Over a smooth, funky, jazzy groove, Ben Sigston belts out some phenomenal lyrics in his tune, “Desolation High.” Backed by a very talented Vancouver-based band, Sigston has clearly found a delivery for his singer/songwriting style that is effective and powerful.

What I like most about this song is the chorus, which rings out, “Desolation high now / There’s something on your mind that you’d better let out.” It hits your ears with a vocal intensity that will have you singing along every time it comes around.

“Desolation High” has many exceptional qualities. The musicians involved in this project are pros and offer a stellar performance. I also like Sigston’s impressive story-telling lyrics. They are colorful, unpredictable, and crooned strongly by his smooth and powerful voice.

Ben Sigston’s Canadian alt-rock band has an impressively professional, polished sound that is one big break away from something huge. “Desolation High” is a hit, and any fan of catchy hooks and great lyrics will love it. - ListenersGeneration.com

Even before strumming the first chord to fill the room with memorable echoing harmonies, Ben Sigston takes a moment to absorb his surroundings.

Toronto caught its first glimpse of the indie artist hailing from Vancouver at the Supermarket as similar talents like We Are The Take and Kyle accompanied him.

Easing into his set with acoustic simplicity, Sigston quickly created an atmosphere of complete delight with his signature strong vocals. His music possesses somewhat of a folk country style with contemporary, emotional rock. The singer songwriter says his approach to modern acoustic rock is humble and doesn’t necessarily fall into a strict category.
“I would define it as something real because it is singing about emotion feelings,” Sigston said. “They’re things that happened to me or happened to my friends so it’s colloquial; a collage of everyday life experiences.”
Normally performing with a full band, his first show in Toronto allowed him to deliver exactly what he’s capable of as the solo musician that he is. He says his main objective is sending out positive messages through melodies, a reflection of real life experiences.

His influences range from Elliott Smith to U2 to David Gray covering similar styles from different eras. He believes the rarity of capturing an audience’s attention with only a guitar or piano brings interesting challenges that he rises to at every show.

“I view my music as passionate that’s from the heart and that’s what drives me. I’m trying to create this painting of songs that’s genuinely emotional. I like to bring awareness through my music by really personalizing it.”

Inspiration is a main ingredient in Sigston’s work, though he keeps his distance from who he views as iconic legends in the musical panorama. From day one, he’s created his own personal space where originality comes so naturally, that results stream in faster than his imagination could bear.

With several American record labels curious to hold his magical creations in their den and showcase them to the world, the 23-year-old Canadian heartthrob has undeniably paved a road for himself alongside the highway of rock doom where he can accomplish his one and only goal – produce and contribute well-crafted songs freely to the expanding roster of orchestral geniuses.

The passion as he describes was almost visual as he sang about a clouded conscience and appreciation for real beauty. The audience stared at him as if trying to read something deeper than the face value of his music.

Developing himself as a talented, young Canadian musician, Sigston sees a future of growth and stepping-stones to a wider audience. “What I’ve been doing thus far has given me the freedom to be myself and I haven’t fallen into some sort of pigeon whole. Musicians like who we see tonight are much smarter than they’re given credit for sometimes.”

By: Ashkon Hobooti
- Ashkon Hobooti