Benjamin Steer

Benjamin Steer is a British singer-songwriter who just released his delicious debut album Figuring it Out last summer. His new single Miracle is now out. In this interview, he reveals his backstory with music, his thoughts on his art and live performances. He is playing in the Green Room at The Academy on May 27, presenting his heartfelt magic to a Dublin audience. Some of his work are his EPs Be My Love and Figuring It Out with the hit No One Wants To Die Alone.

What‘s your favourite part of songwriting?

That‘s a great question. My favourite part is that you can wake up any morning and your entire life could change by something you write. That‘s a weird feeling, but when I go into a studio I‘m trying not to think about it because I feel like it would freak me out, but every time you get into a studio you could genuinely write something that could change your life and it has happened a couple of times now.

You‘re like: This actually could be pretty good!

Then you release it and it gets a mental reaction. Then you‘re like: What the hell is going on? So I think it‘s that excitement and the uncertainty of not knowing that something you write might connect to someone so deeply that it feels like it is connecting you in the moment.

It‘s an art form you express yourself through, right?

Exactly. I think it‘s about taking something that you feel is relevant to your life and making it applicable to the masses. It‘s something specific about your life but you also want people to connect to your songs in their own ways. That‘s the fun, that‘s what I love.

One question about your new single Miracle. You said that you feel like it fits in the quiet and in between. What do you mean by that?

The thing about music is that it has different vibes and can be applied to different situations in people‘s lives. Some songs fit in when you‘re happy and over the moon, others fit in when you‘re broken. Miracle fits into both ends of the scale. I wanted to write a song that fits in the quiet of your day when you‘re alone on the couch, as well as when your partner has just

broken up with you and you feel like crying and dying inside. That song could resonate with you in that situation, but it also could make you feel like running in a field of grass on a sunny day.

It kind of is a stone cold love song, but still there is a hint of desperation and uncertainty. Eventually, that‘s how life is too. Some moments are amazing and some are not that great. That‘s just human experience.

Who are your musical inspirations?

I take inspiration from lots of different people and different genres. Though I mostly listen to music that doesn‘t sound like my own because I already listen to that genre so much. The reason why I picked up a guitar was probably Ed Sheeran. I also was fortunate enough to do a couple gigs with Miles Smith, whose type of music is similar to mine. Learning from him and overall how he conducts himself as a human is amazing. I also love storytelling music. I listen to country, folk and trad. Actually I once toured with this band called Kingfisher. They are extraordinary. I also love Zach Bryan and Noah Carnes. I love French music as well. There‘s an artist called St. Mike. He just makes the maddest music ever. It‘s inspiring in the sense that it doesn‘t necessarily matter what style you do, whether you sound especially good on a record but it‘s more about the backstory.

Do you have a favourite Ed Sheeran song?

I‘ve got weird ones. I‘d say his X, Divide and + era was just amazing. His new stuff is amazing as well, but that was when I really started listening to him, so I have this special connection with that era. Bloodline and I‘d love to meet him someday and just shake his hand and look longingly into his eyes and say thank you.

How did you get into music?

I actually never thought music would be a part of my life at all. I was studying economics at uni about three years ago and bought a guitar because I thought I needed another hobby and thought, maybe I can impress some ladies with that. I didn‘t impress any ladies really, just myself. I started writing songs for six or seven months, then decided to record one and release it. That was a crazy transition. I was in my final year of university when I was offered a record deal. I was like What the hell is going on?, not knowing what was going to happen. It just was for fun, completely mental. So I actually think the rawness of me not being in music until recently maybe is a little helpful. It‘s a bit opposing because on one side, I

probably have less knowledge than someone who has been around forever. On the other side I have a bit more of a raw judgement of the songs. My reasoning is: Why does that sound good? Because it sounds good. No need for an extra explanation.

Have you been planning to release an EP or did it just kind of come together over time?

Honestly, I think it just all came together over time. I feel like that‘s the beauty of the EP. It‘s a collection of stuff that I‘ve written over the last year. The EP is called Figuring It Out. Even though it’s an EP you have to capture what it‘s like to go through phases, which is what I do in songs. When I‘m going through something or I really feel happy I write songs, but there are times I don‘t know what to write about. It‘s important not to force it and it worked well. The album is mostly late 2024 to early 2025, it‘s like a six to eight months collection of music.

Genuinely, at that time, I was figuring it out. I‘m still figuring it out. Till now, I‘ve realised that no one knows what they do in life. Hopefully, I‘m capturing that in a way that‘s relatable to people. That‘s my goal.

What is the backstory behind No One Wants To Die Alone?

I always explain that one when I play it live, because a lot of artists, including me, write deeply emotional songs. When that happens, you have to sit with it for some time and digest it. But when the idea came for No One Wants To Die Alone I literally was like, I want to write a song about not dying alone because obviously I don‘t want to die alone. I think that‘s a universal message, as it‘s easy to relate to. Still no one really says that. Certainly for me life is about finding companionship and sharing every moment of your life with someone else. So I wanted to capture that. Hopefully I found a way people feel connected to it. It‘s exciting. Hopefully I write more like that.

Do you have anything in the works right now? Like a second EP?

Yeah, I think my next thing will definitely be an album. It‘s probably going to be about continuing the EP from this year. I mean I wrote the EP about that sort of uncertainty and messiness of being in your early twenties and I‘m still uncertain and messy like that. Still, I assume the music will evolve over time as I‘ve been in this during such a short period. Right now, every day, every month that goes by I try new things, say different things, experience life and the complexities of being in an industry like this one, but also growing up and taking

more responsibilities. I‘m twenty-three now, which is weird. I don‘t feel like twenty-öthree. I‘d love to be like eighteen again. But yes, the new album will most likely come out next year. I‘m writing it as the year goes on. The best way for me is to put together songs you‘ve written over time in a way that makes most sense. A lot of people will think really hard about a tracklist or whatever. I think the best tracklist comes together through the emotions that you feel in each state and then have people listen to it like that.

What‘s your favourite thing about performing life?

It‘s a high I cannot describe. It‘s like being on drugs. Not that I take drugs, but you get what I mean. Performing is the best drug I could imagine. The adrenaline that pumps through your veins when the crowd is cheering or someone is singing your song back to you, is unparalleled and I can‘t even describe it. It‘s such a hype and all the time you‘re like: What the hell is going on here?

I‘m still super nervous when playing live. I‘m a nervous wreck before shows. It‘s very vulnerable, because you‘re singing songs you‘ve written in your bedroom to a bunch of people who are either going to love or hate it. You base a lot of your self worth on whether the reaction is good or not. I guess I‘ve grown a bit concerning this though. You know, further down the line of my career it‘s more gratifying everyday like seeing more people showing up. I actually have a headline show in London tomorrow.

The love hate relationship with performing life shows is pretty universal isn‘t it?

Yes. It‘s weird. You love it and hate it. Sometimes I‘m so nervous and I look back on a show and am like: Gosh, that was horrible. And other times I feel like I totally got this. The more shows you play the more you know what you‘re able to handle. I actually think playing in front of larger crowds is more difficult than in front of a handful. Like I‘d be more nervous to sit here and play to only you than to playing in front of thousands I think.

It‘s that dependence on the audience‘s judgement isn‘t it?

Exactly. When there are more eyes looking at you and judging you, there‘s a larger chance that some of this judgement is positive. It‘s really in the eyes of the beholder. Still, I do love it and I‘m playing a lot more now. That‘s why I‘m in a rehearsal room right now. It‘s so I don‘t mess up.

Benjamin plays The Green Room at The Academy on May 27th.