Ben Bledsoe Interview
5-03-06
(Rock/Funk/Acoustic Singer)
*Formerly in the band Natural
Listen to the audio here.
Transcript:
Tracey: Hey I’m Tracey.
Michelle: And this is Michelle.
Tracey: And we are from Pop Blitz Magazine. Today we are speaking with Rock song Acoustic singer, Ben Bledsoe. Ben, can you please introduce yourself?
Ben: How’s it goin? (laughs)Ben Bledsoe. I think your introduction was pretty good.
Michelle: Thanks!
Tracey: We get a lot of people asking if you’re coming back to Germany. Any plans to go overseas and tour anytime soon?
Ben: Yeah, actually I was just talking to a few artists out there. First off, to maybe do some tour deals, tours out there. But more than anything, I’ve been talking to a few labels and distributors and promoters out there. It’s been a lot, actually the past few weeks. It’s been a lot less sleep (laughs) because the hours over there are a lot different, so I could call in the middle of the night. But yeah, I’m looking to get back out there probably in the next handful of months or…
Tracey: That’s great! So I’ll be very happy to hear that.
Ben: (laughs)
Tracey: What’s the silliest or sweetest thing a fan has ever done for you?
Ben: Uhmm…the silliest or sweetest?
Ben: One girl that gave me a…this isn’t really I guess that big of a deal, but it was kind of a big deal to me. This one girl gave me a stuffed animal that she’s had like ever since she was like a baby. And, it’s one of those things you know, it was just really emotional. And she was like, “I want you to have this so you could remember me. I’ve had it since I was born.” And another girl gave me a bracelet, same thing, that her grandfather gave her, then he died. You know, things like that. Those kinds of things mean a lot to me. Like, I can’t imagine giving something like that away. You know, but the silliest thing, for some reason, people have literally silly stringed the bus while we’re driving. (Laughs) If that counts. Uhh…I don’t know. I mean, it’s different. Obviously, the underwear being thrown on stage, stuff like that. I have no idea; it’s always something different.
Tracey: I would find that very, very weird. I don’t see why girls even think that people would like it if they do it, ‘ cause I would be scared.
Ben: To throw underwear on stage?
Michelle: Yeah, I don’t understand throwing stuff like that I mean.
Tracey: Yeah, I don’t see why anybody would like that.
Ben: (Laughs) I think it’s more of like a humorous thing more than anything. You don’t hang like, a bra, at the end of a mic. stand. Like they do at the end of the show. For some reason, they keep throwing purple underwear, I don’t understand. I have no idea.
Michelle: Purple?
Tracey: (Laughing)
Ben: It’s always that. And then usually, the phone number is on one of the pieces of clothing.
Tracey: Of course it is!
Ben: Yeah (Laughs)
Tracey: That’s how they get you their number to you. That’s the only thing they have on them, so they have to throw it.
Ben: Exactly, see!
Tracey: Now we figured out why they throw stuff!
Ben: Exactly, so they have to throw their undergarments.
Tracey: Well that answers my question.
Ben: (Laughs) I’m sorry. This has gone off track. Alright, go ahead.
Tracey: No, I meant that answered my question of why girls probably throw, you know, undergarments on stage, to get the phone number up there. How do you feel about the reforming of Natural?
Ben: The reforming of Natural, what do you mean?
Tracey: Yeah, I ran across a website with a band called Natural, and Josh mentioned it was being reformed or something.
Ben: Josh…? Oh uhh, no, well for a little while after we broke up, Patrick had tried to continue with the name with four new people, but it didn’t really work out so they changed their name again, then they actually broke up.
Tracey: Oh, that’s probably the website I ran across then.
Ben: So yeah, that was mostly short days. It was fine, I didn’t really care. I just didn’t understand it was all.‘ Cause it wasn’t at all the same even type of music, but it was cool. We’re all still cool, in the band. Like, we talk every once in a while. Like, I talked to Mark this morning and Michael yesterday, so…
Tracey: That’s always good.
Michelle: cool!
Ben: Yeah…
Michelle: It’s cool that you see them and contact each other.
Ben: Yeah, and it’s a little bit tough too in general. Like it’s not easy ‘cause Michael lives in LA and Mark lives in Germany, you know so it’s like we’re all kind of spread out too. But, I still make sure to keep in touch and find out what’s going on with everybody.
Tracey: That’s good. What do you like the most about yourself, and what do you like the least about yourself?
Ben: Uhh…it’s probably the same thing. Uhm…I, on one side that I don’t like, but somewhat I do. But on the same note, it’s one of those things where I like to look at both sides of every situation. I feel like, usually, my opinion is really well judged. I guess it’s kind of, they go hand in hand. I don’t really make rash decisions that they end up being, I regret. I usually feel like I’m very confident in what I’m deciding. But at the same time, it’ll take me a while to decide. So, there you go. (Laughs)
Michelle: Cool.
Tracey: Okay, this one has a message with it. The next couple actually have messages with them. So I’m just gonna read the messages that the fans sent to us.
Ben: Okay.
Tracey: As you know, I met you a few weeks ago at the celebrity softball game with my kids. Your personality blew me away. You’re so kind hearted and really show a love for your fans of all ages. You amazed me at how you waited until every last fan had a paper autographed, and you had no problem jumping into the stands to sit with friends, family, and fans. You even missed your turn on the field because you were mingling. My question is this, do you feel you gained this personality because of the way your were brought up or is it something you decided to do on your own? It is defintely a wonderful trait to have and I thank you for sharing your talents with us. I can only imagine how proud your family must be of you. – Patti
Ben: Aw. I honestly completely, I think my parents have a huge play in everything that I’ve done with my life, so I’ve blamed them for anything good. So I’d say it had a lot to do with them, growing up. I just like, people are there to have a good time, so I like to have a good time with them, you know.
Tracey: Exactly.
Ben: The appreciation, hanging out. That was a charity event. So even more so, people are there to help out.
Tracey: Right, and it makes it a lot more fun from a fan point of view.
Michelle: Yeah.
Ben: Yeah.
Tracey: You know, if the artist is willing to interact with you and hang out, pose for pictures.
Michelle: Yeah, I love when I go to concerts and they actually interact with the crowd.
Ben: Yeah (laughs). Michael and I have always been the two that like to do crazy stuff. Like we used to, I still do stuff, but back in the days we used to run to the back of the arena or stadium. Like we would run through the middle of it and just see the reaction time of people. We would just keep running and running, until we got to the front of the stage, and that’s how we’d start performing. So that was one of those things, not a whole lot of interaction really, but it was something different. It was a little more involved with the people out there, then most people were able to do. I love doing that kind of stuff, and hanging out. I’ll hang out after a show or signing, until I can’t talk anymore. Yeah, I think it’s as fun for me as anyone, you know. So I guess it works both ways.
Go on to Page 2.