Ben Slip

Alice springs musician Ben Slip showcased at the Adelaide’s Fringe festival’s Fuse on Stage last night.

Singer Song writer Ben Slip said he felt privileged to be selected for the event.
Fuse on Stage organisers describe the aim of the event as bringing together artists, promoters, Festival management, managers, publishers, A&R representatives, press and live music lovers to network, share there knowledge and discuss the topic at the fore of the music industry.

The Program focuses on the live contemporary music industry and features showcases events, conferences and seminars designed to help musicians build their performances careers.

Slip hopes that by attending the same festival and conference as rising star Amira who had a song featured on Triple J album last year, it may result in the same benefits for him.
Slip said Amira was telling him about last year and how it opened her eyes.

More and more the music industry wants you to build your own following and radio play before they take you on she said.

The Velvety-voiced musician, who can also play keyboards and Drums, has already done well locally.

Tracks from his Cd Time Tix On have been air played on Roots Radio Fm, 8HA,Caama, 8ccc and ABC Territory Radio. - “Centralian Advocate”- Rebecca Falconer

Ben Slip has come a long way from beating out tunes on a billy tin around a campfire in the Central Australian outback. In time for Christmas, he released his first EP, a six song mini CD recorded in his bush studio and in Sydney.
But this is no folk or country melody. Slip’s Time Tix On challenges the Australian perception of what music from Alice Springs should be. The songs are a confident proclamation of what contemporary life is like for the busmen-experiencing the universal emotion of love, loneliness and self-discovery.
“It’s a pity people might pigeon hole the kind of music that comes out of Central Australia. There is a variety of music here,” says the unassuming Slip.
Does he think his EP will help bust the pigeon hole? “I’m all for that and I hope it does.”
Slip practices his music mainly at night or early, early in the morning, in between his work on a cattle station near Alice Springs. He says a great deal of his rock-pop inspiration comes from living out bush – the major red colours, sunsets and sunrises, big skies but also from his travels across America and Europe.
“I’ve had a wonderful chance to see other worlds,” he says. “I’ve learned everyone’s busy doing their own thing.”
Born and raised in rural Central Australia, Slip says he’s always loved music and says sticking as it has been the reason for his success. Listening to Dire Straits, U2 and T Rex while doing School of the Air at home, then to Tool and INXS when at boarding school down south (where he first stated playing in bands), now going to as many concerts as he can. “There’s a wonderful expo of talented people in Australia. It’s thrilling when I go to big festivals [like Homebake and the Big Day Out] and listen to the beats, and I like going to the dance and trance areas- it’s really cool to dance to Or head to the Stage to watch the best live bands.

What’s the attraction of staying in Alice Springs when all the major recording studios are in the cities?
“In some ways it’s a hindrance, in other ways a gain.
I can focus on what I’m doing here. The bonus is I can be noisy!”

“It’s a healthy music scene here. There are a large number of original artists playing, it’s a great place to be and really exciting.
“Hopefully the scene will grow in the short term.”

“It’s a small circle [of musicians here] and usually each of us will support the others.
When someone’s doing something exciting, everyone likes to support it.

“Like Ron and Ross [both local musicians] who put the sound together for the launch of the EP, and Chris Neck at Murray Neck – he was very supportive in putting the launch together.
“Café, bars, the radio people are with you.
With three quarters of one written, Slip says he’s trying to build an album for the coming year, and is aiming for some festival gigs in Adelaide in March plus others throughout 2006.

Slip generally comes into town every other week to perform at places like The Lane, Bar Doppio and Sean’s Bar and the Tavern. He plays the guitar and sings, performing by himself at the moment, recording himself on drums, keyboard and sometimes base on a backing track to perform with.
“Occasionally I go acoustic but I prefer to work electric. It has much more sustain and is much more powerful. I find it quite creative.”

Time Tix On in available at benslip.com or at Murray Neck Musicworld. - "Alice Springs News" - By Elisabeth Attwood

HOME-GROWN rock musician Ben Slip launches his debut CD at the Alice Plaza tomorrow.

Slip plays a variety of instruments, including the guitar, keyboards and drums. And the singer-songwriter has a velvety voice to go with it.
He will perform on stage with his guitar and has pre-recorded some of the other instruments for the show.
Slip said: “It’ll be the full band sound.”
“I write about the Centre and the heart and life and love and world issues.”
Shaun Nancarrow is among artists featured on Slip’s six-track CD. He provides some great electric riffs to track three Lady.
Tomorrow Ben Slip Cd Launch TIME TIX ON 11am Alice Plaza - “Centralian Advocate” – Rebecca Falconer

Central Australian musician and cattle station Boss. Ben Slip lives in the best of both worlds. His Career as a singer-songwriter is achieving acclaim from Adelaide to Darwin.

While his Ben and Breakfast venture is fast growing in stuture.

Ben was raised on Bond Springs Cattle Station, a sprawling 1515 sqr-Kilometer property north of Alice Springs.
The Station was first established in 1870s, and later bought by Australian most significant Cattle baron Sir Sydne Kidman.

His parents moved to the Station in the 1950's and Ben fondly recals his days grownig up out bush.

I was born in the old hospital in Alice Springs where the Flying Doctor is now,
Ben Says i grew on the station so i am a bush kid, i did my schooling on school of the School Of The Air and went to boarding school in Adelaide but i came back because i just love it, its in my blood.

I have spent time in other places but i always seem to come back here."

Ben plans to release an album of his melodic Rock tunes later this year.

He recently played at an event as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and hopes to return to Darwin as part of the Darwin Festival for more gig's.

With his partner Laura, Ben runs an exclusive four and a half star Bed and Breakfast for inbound tourists.

The self contained stockman's quarters have been fully renovated for guests wanting to exsperence life on an Outback Cattle Station in the luxury of deluxe accommodation.

Ben believes Central Australia provides unmached opportunity for young people hoping to make it big in there careers.

I think the Red Centre is great because there's less competition than other places, whether it is in the tourism and hospitality industry, or trade's or station work," Ben says.

"There's plenty of opportunity if you're motivated." He loves the Central Australian landscape, and is inspired by its "big sky, cold winters and hot summers".

Similarly his family is a guiding part of his life. And despite Aspirations to write a hit song , Ben Slip plans to call Bond Springs his home indefinitely.

Meanwhile, punters can check out his music at
www,benslip.com
or the bed and breakfast venture at wwew.outbackretreat.com.au


- residentmagazine.com.au ISSUE 3 MAY - OCT 2006 DRY-COOL

MAY 2006

Ben Slip got an Email from a we Are Listening new music scout

suggesting to submit Ben Slip Music
in the International song writer competition

Ben Slip came in as Runner Up - Lior Shamir - Managing Director WE ARE LISTENING