With over 180,000 albums sold worldwide, Benjamin Francis Leftwich is one of the UK’s most exceptional singer-songwriters. He makes his long-awaited Ramsgate debut in July 2022, after the release of his brand new record last summer.
“Blends a mixture of moods from melancholia to bright-eyed optimism seamlessly, and with great style” – DIY
Benjamin Francis Leftwich was the first artist signed to Dirty Hit Records, whereupon he released his acclaimed debut album ‘Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm’ in 2011. He followed his debut album with 2016’s ‘After The Rain’, after a 5 year break, in part due to the death of his father. The record was met with critical acclaim, with The Guardian dubbing it “fragile, precious, oddly comforting” in their 4-star review. He followed that with third album ‘Gratitude’ in 2019, which was deemed “graceful and honest” by DIY in their 4-star review
Forthcoming album ‘To Carry A Whale’ was recorded across a four month period last year in Benjamin Francis Leftwich’s Tottenham home, in Urchin Studios in Hackney, in a hotel room in Niagara, and in a Southend studio owned by Sam Duckworth (GetCape. Wear Cape. Fly) – who produced much of the record, sharing production duties with Eg White (Adele, Florence & The Machine, Sam Smith). The album is the first by Leftwich written and recorded entirely sober, a state he has maintained since spending 28 days in rehab in January 2018. This helps give context to the album’s title – ‘To Carry A Whale’:
“It’s an observation on what it’s like to be a sober alcoholic addict a couple of years in,” says Leftwich. “A whale is heavy to carry. It’s gonna hurt you to carry it. But it’s also beautiful, and it’s a miracle to be able to carry all that at all”.
“An album of redemption, one that soars, both musically and thematically, away from those dark days towards a brighter, lighter future” – Under the Radar
“A multifaceted diamond that moves his gentle vocals between musical dark corners and soaring expanses” – MOJO
“An album of not only surprises, but refreshing depth” – DIY
