Q&A: Ben Chandler’s ‘TRANSITIONS’ Unearths A Mountain of Emotion

☆ By Whitney Zeimis ☆

RECREATING MEMORIES TO A TEE — Ben Chandler is bringing the feeling of sweet, drowsy nostalgia of listening to music in your childhood bedroom, dripping it out of your old boombox speakers as the glow-in-the-dark stars shine dimly from your ceiling, as you lie against your superhero sheets. With his heartfelt EP, TRANSITIONS, the Naples musician conveys such a feeling with songs such as “Strawberry Candy” and “Let You Go.” TRANSITIONS is both comfortingly familiar and completely new; an ode to life and moving through it.

Read below to hear Ben talk about his hometowns, creative process, the making of TRANSITIONS, and how he’d make the world a better place.

LUNA: Hey Ben! So dope to be talking to you via email (we love 2021 COVID communication) — I’ve been playing “Strawberry Candy” on repeat! I’ve read you grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and then moved to Naples, FL where you really melded into that music scene and made your place — how have you found that each place you’ve lived has influenced your music?

CHANDLER: Hey! Thanks for having me — glad you’re enjoying the EP. I think living in each place has been a good experience. I think when I lived in Pittsburgh growing up, I was just testing the waters; seeing what I [could] do and how much I actually enjoyed making music. Pittsburgh was kind of like the foundation. When I moved to Naples and started to mingle in the scene with other artists, I realized how much I enjoy being in the studio, working on songs from scratch, and creating these demos that can have so much potential. Listening to them in the car ride home on repeat. I don’t know, there’s something so cool about that. I fell in love with that. I’m looking forward to an LA move — I think that’ll bring some crazy energy out of me.

LUNA: For good measure and for those wondering, what’s your best food/coffee recs for the places you’ve lived? I don’t know when I’ll next find myself in Naples, FL, but I always appreciate a good latte.

CHANDLER: I’m not the biggest coffee guy, but Bad Ass Coffee down at 3rd in Naples is gas. I get their smoothies and they hit every time. Food wise, Napoli’s on The Bay in Naples is the best pizza I’ve ever had; I even worked there for a while. So good — I’m a big pizza guy, Badamo’s pizza in Mount Lebanon where I grew up outside of Pittsburgh is absolute gas too. Huge vibes. Best coffee shop in Pittsburgh … honestly I couldn’t tell you. I know La Prima Espresso Company in the Strip District is a couple of my homies’ fav.

LUNA: Back to some music — some of your “influences,” so to speak, include classic rock staples like Grateful Dead and Hendrix, as well as artists such as Tyler, the Creator and Odd Future. How consciously do you feel you incorporate the music you love and are inspired by into your own music?

CHANDLER: I think I incorporate my music inspirations/influences pretty often. Usually whenever I add a little solo/riff, I lean towards more Jerry Garcia vibes. When it comes to chord progressions I enjoy a lot of melodic Beatles-esque and alt progressions. Coming up with melodies usually begins with just me babbling some nonsense and then turning it into something cool. I think when I sing I try to think of Frank-like melodies but also keep it very “me” if that makes sense. I don’t know, I just think of the music I like and try to apply that. If it’s a more guitar-driven song, I’ll go for a more Strokes vibe; if it’s slower and more intimate, maybe Paul Mccartney/John Mayer kinda energy. It all really depends.

LUNA: What song do you feel is your most personal? A song that — when your audience hears it — they think “this is Ben Chandler.”

CHANDLER: I think for right now, “Red Line” or “Addicted 2 U” give the most “Ben” vibes off. I like to experiment a lot with music, but I know there’s times when it’s just a straight up Ben song through and through. Gymnastic vocals, pretty guitar riffs — I think that’s a good way to describe my sound right now. I’m always trying to progress as an artist.

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LUNA: Can you share a favorite moment from the making of the EP?

CHANDLER: Making the “Addicted 2 U” video was so much fun. Flying up to NYC, getting shots in the hotel room, and walking around different parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It was a lot of fun and I think you can tell from the video the energy was really there.

LUNA: What is something you wish more people knew about you?

CHANDLER: I’m a shy person. I’ve broken out of my shell more, but generally, I’m not the type to start a conversation. Sometimes releasing music gives me anxiety, but at the same time it allows me to feel free. I’m a really easy-going person, as well. Nothing really bothers me. If someone’s got a problem with me, that’s cool. I don’t give any energy to that. I just go with the flow of my life and work for what I want. I’m also just starting out here as a serious musician. So give me time to find my way and such and enjoy the journey. It’ll be a good one.

LUNA: How do you think we could all make the world a better place?

CHANDLER: I don’t wanna sound corny but I think if the world’s national anthem was “Imagine” by John Lennon and everyone had to live by those lyrics, the world would be a better place. Not being ignorant or selfish, sharing with others, and caring for others equally and lovingly. I think the world needs a reboot socially. Just because you make X amount of money or look a certain way or anything like that shouldn’t put you in some bracket where people higher up might look down on you or not give you the light of day. Everyone should have a voice and everyone should be treated equally and with respect.

LUNA: What is a compliment you wish you were told more?

CHANDLER: Um, I think compliments on my smile, I guess? I’m real insecure about it sometimes. I never got braces because my mom told me my gap makes me unique in the world. It’s always on my mind, but I think that’s, like, the most uncomfortable thing I have about myself.

LUNA: What is one takeaway you would want your listeners to experience when listening to TRANSITIONS? Whether that be a lesson, emotion, encouragement, new perspective, etc.

CHANDLER: I think that love is something you can’t mess around with. I've been played before and I’ve played others before, and at the end of the day, it’s just not cool. A lot of the songs have to deal with past relationships/love. And others deal with new and amazing love. I think when you really want to love someone, make sure you mean it. The EP has a couple of meanings — that’s definitely one of them. Another is a more personal one. It’s called TRANSITIONS because it’s my transitional phase of going from a bedroom artist to going into my next project with more power and strength and building something cool.

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“I want to set the mood for younger emerging artists in Toronto, to be like, ‘Hey, you could, like, fucking work with literally anyone who has a kind soul.’ I do want to uplift the artist community. I do think collaboration is important, because if you wanna be in the community, you're gonna have to collaborate one way or another." - Cruz ⭐️ 🎞Allowing themself to take a more vulnerable & meaningful approach with their work, photographer Cruz is combining her creative talent with her passion for mental health advocacy. Read more about this incredible artist & how quarantine shifted her work + about the work they are doing for the community in our feature on the site now 💞