New Album: Ben Basile, Benergy

Independent Record Label, Wiretap Records, has announced the launch an offshoot imprint label, Sleep Walk Sounds. The newly formed imprint, will specialize in releasing music in various genres from Soul, roots Reggae/Rocksteady, Jazz Funk, Americana, Indie and more.

“For the past 10 years of running Wiretap Records, I’d constantly receive submissions from bands/artists of all types of genres. From soul, country, R&B, roots reggae and more. I love all sorts of music as we all do. While a lot of times, the music and artists were not the ideal for a Wiretap release, I still found it appealing to possibly create an imprint that was able to cater to those sounds that weren’t punk/hardcore, alternative/rock leaning.”-Rob Castellon, Owner Wiretap Records, Sleep Walk Sounds

The newly formed Sleep Walk Sounds, has announced it’s debut release due this spring, a solo record Benergy from Big D and The Kids Table bassist Ben Basile. While Ben has performed and recorded with dozens of artists throughout his career, this is his first album consisting of his original compositions. In February of 2023, Ben enlisted the help of his best friend and bandmate Jon Degen to produce the new album. Recording took place in the spring and fall of 2023 and was completed just before the year’s end.

Ben believes that bassists have a unique perspective for composing and arranging. This “bottom-up” approach can be heard in the meaningful and simple arrangements throughout the new record. The instrumentation varies from song to song; no two tracks are alike! Musicians on the album include collaborators from both of Ben’s musical worlds: ska and jazz. The pun “Benergy” was coined by one of Ben’s students during a bass lesson. From its initial inception, Benergy was simply a collection of compositions; now it is an album that encapsulates the joy, rhythm, and spirit of the music that has helped shape Ben Basile as an artist.

“Benergy” is a pun that one of my bass students came up with. I was explaining to my student what it means to play “on top of the beat” which means playing just slightly early to push the feel of the bassline. “When I play ska punk, like with Big D and The Kids Table, it’s all about playing on top, playing with momentum and energy. Pushing the music the entire time.” Her response was: “Benergy?” with a smile. We shared a laugh and I wrote it down for later.

The debut single is a track by the name of “Mountain Road”, a burst of traditional ska/rocksteady goodness that’ll have you tapping your foot in no time. 

Ben says, “Mountain Road” was written to represent where I am now in life… It’s literally the road I live on currently.” The track is now streaming everywhere via Sleep Walk Sounds.

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