BEN GILLIES REVEALS INCREDIBLE DEBUT SOLO SINGLE“BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT”
Australian artist Ben Gillies has just revealed his debut single “Breathe In, Breathe Out,” his exciting first release as a solo artist. The Silverchair drummer has been working on his forthcoming body of music for the last five years, and “Breathe In, Breathe Out” represents the first statement of Gillies’ unique sound, while also providing a hint of what’s to come.
The track features a triumphant melange of contemporary sounds and classic 1970s rock moments; as the instantly memorable chorus expands and contracts, you are carried deep into a subtly crafted anthem for our times.
LISTEN TO "BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT" HERE
“‘Breathe In, Breathe Out’ is a microcosm of the human experience,” said Ben Gillies. “To recognise every moment. To stop, be present, take it in, and not to take it for granted.”
With its push and pull of elements and emotions, “Breathe In, Breathe Out” is an exhortation to pay attention: to yourself, to the people around you and to the world. Sonically, it is a journey through layers of consciousness, with the clear message of the lyrics keeping us in the present.
Ben Gillies started learning to play drums at the age of eight, and quickly discovered a love of performing, becoming the drummer in the school band. He was still in primary school in Newcastle when he formed a band with a friend, which initially performed rap songs.
It would undergo several name changes, add a member and take on a distinctly different musical direction before it became Silverchair. Silverchair released five albums (all of which reached #1 on the Australian charts), and would go on to win 21 ARIA Awards, the most won by any artist. A dynamic and irresistible live act from the start, Silverchair toured the world - and Australia - several times.
For his debut solo project, Gillies drew upon his experience with not only drums, but also guitar and piano - all instruments he has played since childhood. Going into the studio with Byron Bay-based producer Jordan Power, Gillies found a collaborator who, he says, knew how to push him to get the best out of each track and also gave him the freedom to explore, to the point that some songs were created in the studio.
Gillies sings and plays many of the instruments on the tracks, and has also called in some musician friends, including Scott Aplin, music director for The Voice, who at one time played keyboard in Silverchair, and Pat Davern, guitarist for Australian band Grinspoon.
This first taste of Gillies’ solo project promises a unique and accomplished new direction for the artist, drawing on his past experience and personal love for performing to bring still more world-class music to the forefront.