We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Benjamin Wilson-scott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Benjamin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’ve been in love with Songwriting since I was a child. A lot of Producers & Engineers gain their skills from a love of music & trying to find ways to record their writing better or work with friends. I always wanted to find ways to improve everything about my work so I started learning & continue to learn today.

I went to University for a Music Degree which helped ground my skills but I found they elevated once I was touring and working with new artists every day. A lot of skills you learn when you need to overcome a problem and Music Production worked that way for me.

The most important skill any Producer needs to have is the ability to take a step back from your work and ask yourself what the simplest solution is. If you spend too long on a problem you can lose sight of the easiest way to tackle it. Taking breaks, taking care of yourself and being single task orientated is key.

I’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing people and have a community of like-minded Producers & Songwriters who support each other. One of the most valuable things any creative can do is to make connections.

Benjamin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hey there! I’m a Producer and Songwriter based in West Sussex, UK, specializing in vulnerable indie-folk music. Think Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, or Lizzy McAlpine. I love creating honest, intimate music and bringing your songs to life in my studio.

Whether you need a co-writer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, engineer, or just a fresh pair of ears, I’m here to help you every step of the way. I’ve been lucky enough to have my work played on major radio stations, streamed billions of times, and even win some awards.

I love the craft of Songwriting and that will always drive my work. I aim for intimacy in my work and am always looking to highlight the most personal moments in each song.

I’ve recently opened my new studio and am taking new clients.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

It’s easy to keep working on something when you feel it’s not right but I’ve learnt an important part of creating relatable music is to take a step back and clear your head when you’re stuck.

A lot of the time when I’m unable to move forward, there are usually too many options. The ability to experiment without limits can be such a hindrance. I like to place loose guidelines in my work so that the structure can focus me and then once the project has momentum I can be as creative and experimental as possible.

In fiction writing, there’s a phrase that “rewriting is writing”. This is true for Songwriting & Production too. I can’t bring my best writing and editing to something that doesn’t exist.

My main takeaway would be: have fun, write something simple, build a simple structure & then experiment till you’ve made it your own.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

There are three important concepts I try to remember in my working day.

The first is to keep that love of the art and craft of Songwriting alive. There are a lot of hardships associated with the music industry but remembering why we love what we do is a big step at keeping ourselves sane and creating.
That way Songwriting is about communication and connection.

The second is community. Finding people who you love to work with and finding people who will support what you do will be so beneficial to anyone starting. I feel so lucky to have an incredible community filled with Writers, Engineers & musicians.

The third is knowing your weaknesses. There are so many skills that are essential to Songwriting & Arranging but being honest with yourself and allowing self-improvement is one of the most important.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.benjaminwilsonscott.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminwilsonscott
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wilsonscottbenjamin
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@benjaminwilsonscott