As with so many of us in 2020, my life felt like it was whittled down to eating or working at my desk at home.  So I tried to make the best of a bad situation and use something that, as a PhD student, I was using every day: my calculator.  The sound of the buttons created interesting rhythms and added texture to the drums.  The building tension perhaps reflects the heightened sense of anxiety that I and many of us felt in lockdown.

Continuing the theme of digital computation I tried to create a kind of glitchy chord noise using a Korg Volca FM.  By hovering my fingers over its ribbon keyboard at just the right pressure, the notes started to fire randomly as it struggled to register the input.  The bass was made with granular synthesis and the vocals were made by chopping-up and re-pitching my voice which I hope all adds to creating a digital sound that still has a human feeling underneath it.

For the first section of the song I was initially inspired by the production on Kendrick Lamar's "Backstreet Freestyle" and the sparse simplicity of "Underwaterfall" by Bearcubs although by the end of the song it had more of perhaps a Ben Böhmer or Christian Löffler vibe.  I'm also heavily influenced by Weval, in particular in the synths and the approach to the simple vocal samples.

Let me know what you think.

Ben xx

Calculator

This song is a shorter version of my song 'Calculator' which I wrote for my solo project Ben Xylo.  Freddie and I are two thirds of alt. rock band, The Vacant, and Freddie was inspired to write some lyrics for this version of the song.  

The calculator theme was inspired by my lockdown experience where my life felt like it was whittled down to eating or working at my desk at home. I tried to make the best of a bad situation and use something that, as a PhD student, I was using every day: my calculator. The sound of the buttons created interesting rhythms and added texture to the drums. The building tension perhaps reflects the heightened sense of anxiety that I and many of us felt in lockdown.

Continuing the digital theme I tried to create a kind of glitchy chord noise using a Korg Volca FM. By hovering my fingers over its ribbon keyboard at just the right pressure, the notes started to fire randomly as it struggled to register the input. The bass was made with granular synthesis and the vocals were made by chopping-up and re-pitching my voice which I hope all adds to creating a digital sound that still has a human feeling underneath it.

For the first section of the song I was initially inspired by the production on Kendrick Lamar's "Backstreet Freestyle" and the sparse simplicity of "Underwaterfall" by Bearcubs although by the end of the song it had more of perhaps a Ben Böhmer or Christian Löffler vibe. I'm also heavily influenced by Weval, in particular in the synths and the approach to the simple vocal samples.

Freddie's lyrics focus more on a relationship, perhaps one during lockdown. Freddie says, with reference to the lyric "I tie figure eight ropes round you and me", that: 

	"It's about becoming codependent on someone else, like tying yourself to someone else out of desperation"

Let me know what you think.

Ben x

Calculator (feat. Freddie Yates)

"'Unboyfriend' is about realising the unhealthy nature of a rapidly deteriorating relationship, and seeking escape from it. It's a bold statement that demands equality in a situation which remained unbalanced for too long." - Sam

My remix of ‘Unboyfriend’ supercharges Sam’s melodic vocals with dense atmospheric reverbs.  Lush arpeggiated synths and deep bass fill the space whilst the faster tempo and house rhythms drive the song forward and engages the listener.

Sam Seccombe - Unboyfriend (Ben Xylo Remix)

Hello, 

I hope you're enjoying my tunes.  My name is Ben and I make atmospheric electronic music flavoured with a bit of progressive house and electronica.  I chose the pseudonym "Xylo", the greek word for wood, as my PhD is in timber engineering.

I'm also 1/3 of alt. rock band The Vacant with my friends Freddie and Marco who both have solo projects that you should check out too (Freddie Yates and Last Bloom respectively).  We met whilst studying at Bath Uni but I am originally from Hampshire. 

If you would like to get in touch for a chat you can find me on the usual: facebook, instagram, etc or for bookings or anything else you can drop me an email on: benxylomusic@gmail.com.
 Enjoy!

Ben xx

Ben Xylo

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