Technology a big part in Andress’ new solo album

Tillsonburg Post music columnist Ben Andress recently released a self-produced solo album that was completed by using tracks recorded by other artists and combined electronically. (Jeff Helsdon Photo).

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Technology played a unique role in the production of Ben Andress’ new album with the musicians all supplying their tracks for the same songs remotely.

Called “Benjamin Clean Up and Then Heard A Sound”, Andress is upfront in admitting the name is a parody on the title of a Robert Munsch book.

“His stuff was kind of surreal and a lot of things happen in his children’s books that could never happen in real life,” he said.

The story of how this album came to be follows his career development. He started sol and then was in a band called The Smile Case with bassist Share McElhone and drummer Jackson Cronmiller in 2013.

The group put out two albums and then McElhone retired from music. Andress was up front in saying there are portions of a complete soundtrack he can’t do himself, such as drums. He started sending tracks to people he knew for them to assist him. Then, this thought was expanded through a web site for musicians.

“I even found complete random strangers I hadn’t used before to see what would happen with that,” he said. “I experimented with computers and technology to see how they would turn out.”

Andress describes the album as on the “rock spectrum with punk roots”. He grew up listening to FM 96, and explained there is a Tom Petty influence on the album.

Asked if it’s a goal to have the album play on the new CKOT, Andress answered, “It would be nice. Last time there was a station here, it was ‘We’ll play your stuff but you have to buy a bunch of ads first’.”

A music video for the song “Slit My Throat” was produced by another local, Dalton Puhr.

“His style is sort of DIY, which is my background too,” Andress said.

He went to Niagara College for radio, television and broadcast. Andress now runs Blacktop Records, a record label he owns that promotes lesser-known artists, and is a booking agent for bands.

While Andress did tour with The Smile Case, he isn’t planning that for this album as he has a young family.

The album can be found on Spotify and Apple Music under The Smile Case.