Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Foster
Hi Ben, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up on a small farm in Iowa, just 20 minutes from the crash site of the legendary Buddy Holly. Surrounded by the echoes of 50’s music, I naturally developed a deep appreciation for that era. As my musical tastes evolved, I gravitated towards blues and rock legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. My first concert experience was in 5th grade when my mom took me to see John Mayer on his “Room for Squares” tour. That night, I knew I had to pursue a career in music.
Throughout high school, my summers were spent forming bands in my parents’ garage and playing any gig we could find, no matter how small the audience. After graduating, I moved to the Twin Cities, eager to explore more opportunities in the music world. I enrolled in business school but quickly found myself spending more time in a basement studio with my long-time friend, Chase. After a year of studying business, I switched gears and attended a two-year tech school for audio engineering. It was during this time that I truly fell in love with songwriting, becoming fascinated by the power of each word in a song.
After some co-writing experiences in Minnesota, I decided to take a leap and move to Nashville, the heart of the music industry. Upon arriving in Music City, I worked a full-time job while tirelessly expanding my network. I eventually landed a few gigs as a guitarist for other artists, writing with anyone who would book a session. My hard work paid off when I signed my first publishing deal with a small independent company. It was a fantastic learning experience, as it opened doors to writing rooms I wouldn’t have accessed on my own.
After a year and a half, I parted ways with the company and returned to making a living on the road. This led to one of my most consistent gigs with Brandon Ratcliff. We quickly hit it off, and I joined him on his first radio tour across the country. During that time, Brandon invited me into several writing sessions, one of which produced my first-ever song to go to radio. Hearing that song on the radio for the first time was surreal. I was working a landscaping job with my friend Will to make ends meet during the pandemic when the familiar melody played through the truck’s speakers. It was a bittersweet moment, balancing the joy of a career milestone with the reality of having to find work outside of music.
The song peaked in the forties, but it caught the attention of several publishing companies. Eager to return to music full-time, I was thrilled when Sony reached out. After months of discussions, I signed a deal with them in 2021. My representative, Kenley, and the entire Sony team have been incredible to work with. Over the past couple of years, I’ve created songs I’m deeply proud of, and I’m excited to see where the next chapter takes me!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think a lot of the struggles that I faced early on were tied to confidence in myself. Working in a creative field, it can be hard to qualify what is “good” and “bad” because art is subjective. But I’ve found that if you are excited about something and really believe in it, so will someone else.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am primarily a songwriter. I love taking a concept and weaving it into something that you really feel. In the last few years, I’ve been diving more into producing which I’ve been loving. I would say I’m most known for the handful of cuts I’ve had over the years here with artist such as Alana Springsteen, Georgia Webster, Adam Doleac, Travis Denning, Brandon Ratcliff, and Zach Seabaugh to name a few. I think I’ve been most proud of making a living doing music. It is definitely not a conventional way of life, and you have to get creative with it, but I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
When I was saving up to move to Nashville, I worked for a farmer and drove a tractor hauling pig poop. It wasn’t a glamorous job, but it got me here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://benfostersongs.com
- Instagram: @benfostersongs
- Youtube: @benfostersongs
