'Endtroducing'

Benjamin Long and his New Strings EP

- Hi Benjamin, how are you and how does it feel like releasing music on Apparel Music?

I’m great thanks, chuffed to be here! I’ve been making music for a long time now but only started trying to put stuff out recently, so this feels like a big moment for me. Apparel has always been one of my favourite labels too. The music is pretty much exactly to my taste and the output is so consistent. I love the art too!

- Talk us through the creative process behind the making of this EP. How did it come about and how did you work on it?

Well, the last couple years have been weird but musically it was a blessing. It meant I could focus on making music. I’m lucky to have a little garden studio where I can escape to but a lot of the arrangements were made on my sofa. Generally I try and figure out a nice chord sequence then record more keys over the top and layer sounds. My setup is pretty basic at the moment. Other than Ableton, I have a Nord electro and a couple of VST synths I know inside out. I think this limit has been helpful in defining my style but I definitely want some fresh sounds now!

- Can you share with us three tracks that inspired you during the making of?

These have been pretty influential for me over the years and definitely shaped some of this ep: