Benjamin’s Plague Interview

Benjamin’s Plague Interview for Wicked Spins Radio

A true undiscovered gem of the electro world is Benjamin’sPlague and it was a chance discovery for me. When I heard Benjamin’s music I had to find out more and what I found was not only amazing music but a true gent behind the darkness of his music. So do you want to know more about the plague? Read on and you shall find out.

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WSR – Thank you so much for giving Wicked Spins Radio this interview, could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
BP – Thank you for approaching me for an interview! My name is Benjamin I’m a 21 year old student from the Netherlands and in my free time I spend my time on my dark electo project Benjamin’sPlague.

WSR – What is the plague and how does it effect those who engage with it?
BP – The plague is everything what I am not in the daily routine. It’s my getaway, my own world, a drug where I hold on to every time. It can be experienced as something very emotional but also very confronting when it comes to sensitive subjects. It’s a little mind game.

WSR – You are currently recording a music video, how is this coming along?
BP – The production of the music video is going very well, we already finished one editing session and we might have still two sessions to go until it’s finally finished. I’m working with an awesome director. I know him for years and I think we’re setting up something great.

WSR – In what way does the song reflect on the video itself?
BP – I don’t want to tell much about it until the result itself. I want people to experience it the way they see it. I’m posting little teasers on my facebook page until the real thing comes out.

WSR – You are a real undiscovered gem of the electro scene, for those reading this now then what can you offer to delight their ears?
BP – My project is dark with a great amount of atmosphere and melody’s with a solid beat. I’m currently working on my coming full-length album and the files of my coming EP are currently in the hands of Pete Crane from Shiv-R/Blind Mice Productions, the label where I’m signed to. The EP will be very melodic and dark.

WSR – The central European alternative scene is vibrant and exciting, to you what are the positives and negatives of the European scene?
BP – I love it how close everyone can be it’s very welcome and open especially the smaller dutch scene feels like one big family.

The negative part of it is that most of the people don’t take the effort anymore to discover new bands. People don’t attend events as much when there’s not the usual band like Combichrist. There’s a lot of awesome stuff coming from amazing acts but I’m afraid they will never see the daylight because there’s a big VNV Nation planet in front of it. People want to compare things to what they’re known with and don’t give the space to develop something new. I think things will become better after all but it’s going slow and people need to convince each other that there’s more than the usual stuff. It’s more fun when you discover something awesome and it makes your scene less boring. 2BSPHOCICOSUPPORT2015

WSR – The UK scene has a lot of bitching and backstabbing, has this ever happened to you?
BP – It’s actually very funny, since I’m visiting the UK at least two times a year. So I pick up some gossips ‘n nasty stuff all the time over there even when I’m not there. I experienced a lot of drama coming from everywhere but it seems never to be about me. Of course everyone has his little incidents but I’m more like the in between person who picks everything up from both sides. A lot of friends seem to have drama but I don’t really care, (it’s their drama not mine) so I guess it’s never really worth it to backstab or bitch about me. Which is nice, I guess I’m a nice person and I like it to keep it that way. 😛

WSR – Your stage presence is very strong, what’s the most important thing to you that you do whilst performing live?
BP – Getting really pissed-off. When I get on stage I turn into a very different person, I guess it’s a bit of ‘ the plague’ side coming out. For me a live show as a lot of value because I can throw out all of my frustrations reflecting it into my music. I want to keep it real so only get tipsy/drunk after shows when I deserved it.

WSR – What is the inspiration and meaning in the stunning photos you did with Alexandra Sleaze?
BP – The inspiration has come from my stage make-up but a little more extreme than I usually do on stage. I really like to put on liquid latex. The pictures were supposed to give Benjamin’sPlague a representation of what it is today. I’ve worked with Alexandra quite a few times the past years and she’s really good at what she’s doing I recommend everyone to check her out she makes stunning photos!

WSR – You have done some remixing, what has been the track that you have enjoyed working on the most and why?
BP – It’s hard to choose but I think it’s the one I did for the Zigeunerjungen EP from Acylum released through Alfa Matrix. It got great response. But honestly I really like every remix I did so far and I’m always happy when a band approaches me to ask me to do a remix. But I wish bands approached me more to remix my material.

WSR – And if you had the chance to remix ANY track then what would you choose?
BP – I really like a lot of artists and bands and this answer can be very different in a few months or weeks, but I think I might want to go for CHVRCHES – Sience/Visions.

(….Or something from Moby or wulfband or Youth Code or Baths …etc. etc. too much…)

WSR – Apple, Android, Windows Phone or some other?
BP – Android, I’m hooked to the Sony Xperia phones for years now. This does not mean I hate apple or anything I own a Macbook. And the first Xperia was a windows phone. 😛

WSR – What is your favourite deviation?
BP – Alcohol! preferably vodka. Or liquor with weird and unusual flavours or colours especially sweet things. I’m just to curious about weird stuff in general I guess.

WSR – What one part of your life could you never be without?
BP – The cliché answer: Music. I really get mad when I have no music with me. 1BSP_HOCICOSUPPORT2015

WSR – Ask me a question and I will reply :p
BP – If you were to about to organize a festival, which 3 bands would you add to your line-up based on their music and stage presence or what they mean to you?

Phlis – The headline would have to be Front Line Assembly, the band holds some good memories for me. I have seen them live and their stage presence is immense, amazing music with a great stage show. I had the pleasure of interviewing Bill Lieb and I must say he is such a gentleman. Also they were the first band I ever saw with my girlfriend and the memories are that of some of the best times of my life.
Second would have too be Cyberpunkers, great bunch of guys and they really have the power to take control of the audience with the music they play. I saw them at Resistanz festival in 2014.
The last would be En Esch, a man who sets trends in music and fashion too. I have never seen him live but I would put him on the line up just to be able to see him play live.

WSR – Thank you so much for giving Wicked Spins Radio this interview, is there anything you would like to add?
BP – Thank you for the interview, I really enjoyed answering your questions. I hope that I left a good impression to the readers and hopefully they will check out my project and wait for my coming material!