Be prepared to be serenaded with the latest single by Ben Konarov, “Something Special.” It’s warm, charming, a little bit nostalgic: a number born out of a dazzling collaboration between Brisbane, Australia based Ben and UK based Gary Cubberley and Clay Collins, all of whose added their expertise to produce something immersive and emotionally captivating.
The song is kicked off by bright guitar and steady percussion, the spirited strums of the guitar and groove-sure rhythm. This is the kind of melody that makes you feel like an afternoon in the sun, and every note reminds you about the beauty in simplicity. They are, the lyrics themselves, no more than declarations of praise and love: “You got the face I wanna see. You got the voice I wanna hear…You’re the light in the room. You’re like an angel with that glow. Your warmth could melt the snow.”
The feel-good quality of “Something Special” is far from accidental; it emanates from a very skilled and committed team. Lyrics to a song, writer of lyrics since 2002, Ben Konarov had found a new creative momentum with Songbay – at the beginning of 2022. It was here that he managed to link up with composer and producer Gary Cubberley for this track. Now on their eighth project, it has so far produced a string of soulful and captivating songs. The collaboration helps build upon layers of richness that vividly bring to life, in Clay Collins’ singing and vocal performance, lyrics with ardent sincerity.
Influences are deep for Ben Konarov, through the classic sounds he grew up listening to with his father’s eclectic music taste. Echoes of legends such as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, and The Police resonate throughout his work. These influences blend in a way both timeless and refreshingly original, capturing precisely the very essence of earnest storytelling and melodic craft.
“Something Special” sounds like a warm embrace on a cold winter morning and reminds one of the beauty in human connections—something magical that happens when people with something special want to come together to create something beyond wonderful. Whether you are a Ben Konarov enthusiast or listen to him for the first time in your life, this track will leave you speechless.
So sit back, relax and allow the cool sounds of “Something Special” to wash over you. It’s a journey in music that touches your heart, and you probably will be humming this melody long after the last note has sounded.
Credits:
Gary Cubberley: Composer/Producer
Clay Collins: Vocalist
Ben Konarov: Lyricist
You can find more of Ben Konarov at:
You can listen to ‘Something Special’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.