I want to share with you a song that has been playing nonstop in my mind for the past few days and is both beautiful and moving. The amazing singer-songwriter Ben Boden, and his composition is titled “Without You.”
The song in question is a true gem. The music opens with a straightforward piano melody that establishes the mood for the rest of it. It all seems to come to life during the second verse when Ben’s haunting and calming vocals soar, and it’s impossible not to get absorbed into the song’s alluring melody.
Ben Boden is a UK-based singer-songwriter from Northamptonshire. His influences range from pop music and theatre to storytelling – artists such as Taylor Swift, Kate Bush, Sara Bareilles and Harry Styles being just some of them. He has played many notable gigs and festivals around the country and even won Yamaha’s Unsigned Artist Award!
Five years after choosing sobriety, Ben found solace in songwriting. He took his passion for storytelling on-the-road with just him and his guitar, performing around the world – from Bali to India, Thailand to Malaysia – with nothing but dedication and passion!
Now, let’s talk about the song itself. In Ben’s own words, “I wrote this song about myself when I was going through depression. I was grieving a part of me that had left. A part that had become my driving force-the voice that would motivate and sustain me through rough patches. The song is about missing someone or something important in your life-that raw emotion of grieving for something or someone that no longer exists.”
He certainly captures that raw emotion in “Without You”. The simplicity of the piano keys coupled with his vulnerability make for an unforgettable listening experience. This stripped-back track is one that I hope many can relate to, and I believe it will speak deeply to anyone who has faced hardships.
“Without You” is an enchanting song that showcases Ben Boden’s incredible skill as a singer-songwriter. It will leave you feeling both sad and hopeful at once, just as Ben himself said: “My hope is that this record helps others who may have felt lost and to speak out when it comes to mental health – that it’s okay not to be okay – things do get better. If it feels like part of you has wandered away, remember – you are enough – being lost is part of being found.”
You can find more of Ben Boden at:
You can listen to ‘Without You’ 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.