Ben Swissa's Contemplative Debut EP 'HUSH' Is Just The Beginning

It’s more than fair to say that Sydney singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ben Swissa is on the up-and-up. At the very ripe age of 19, Swissa’s songwriting speaks a language older than himself. Drawing on the soul and funk of the great Stevie Wonder, Swissa’s artistry continues to maintain its own lane, as he crafts delicate R&B and pop tracks that speak to modern day youthfulness. Throughout his career, the artist has already captivated the likes of Tash Sultana, G Flip, The Roots, Fred Durst and Leon Thomas, who each have praised and recognised him as a promising young artist destined for greatness.

Today, Ben Swissa puts out his debut EP HUSH, a sonic actualisation of his life through school, relationships, friends and ordinary teenagehood. With a deep adoration and respect for classic storytelling in soul, funk and pop, Swissa mans the guitar, bass, drums, keys and of course, vocals, on the project, possessing full control over the stories he tells, and the way in which he tells them. While Swissa recalls the process of putting the pieces together for the EP as challenging, the end result is a testament to the young artist’s hard work.

“This entire EP and the process of writing it was an adventure and a challenge,” he recalls.

“I was only 16 when I signed my record deal, and a few months later I was back in America writing for the first record. I had written many songs before, but I wanted the first EP to be special and find my sound by collaborating with great producers,”

“My team set up a big challenge…write for 30 days straight, 2 sessions a day. No rest. We would wake up early, eat some quick breakfast on the way (the US is expensive), and then get to the first session by 10 am. Write a song for 5 or 6 hrs and head to the next session. Sometimes we would finish at 2 or 3 am and get back to the accommodation to sleep 5 hrs to start the process again the next day. Thank god for delis, I think I survived on their wraps and sandwiches for the entire month. We would have written close to 100 songs that month alone and is one of those experiences you don’t forget and tests your dedication to your dream.”

From the first listen of HUSH, it’s made clear that musicmaking is at the very core of Swissa’s being, and there isn’t anything that can be done to falter his innate need to create. For The Music, the artist lets us in on the journey of HUSH.

Superficial

A song about uncertainty and faith—wanting something so badly that you’d do anything in your power to have it. Whether it’s a person or your career, Superficial is about that fleeting five-second feeling of uncertainty and ecstasy you experience when pursuing something or someone you love. This was one of the first songs I wrote for this EP, and in writing it, I felt like we started carving out the sonic and thematic world in which this EP exists.

Angel

This song was so close to not being released! It was a last-minute decision to include it on the EP. When I wrote it with M-Phazes and Mary Weitz in M-Phazes studios in Los Felix, I was afraid of the vulnerability required to sing it and whether I could deliver it the way it was meant to. Because of that, it was put to a side and kind of gathered dust in the bank of demos. But we rediscovered it at the 11th hour, my team vouched for it and I was kind of like, “Yeah… okay… really?” But through playing it live it has quickly become my favourite song to perform. Writing this song was the most natural process—the guitar you hear is the first take I laid down on the day we wrote it in LA. I spent weeks practising the vocals, wanting to perfect them so that you could feel this one. Working with M-Phazes was also a treat, he loves to experiment with sounds and techniques in the studio. It was a fun day. 

HUSH

Writing this song was one of those experiences where, as a writer, you’re battling for each line, searching for the perfect metaphor and lyric that truly resonates. I didn’t pick up a guitar or play a single instrument while writing this, which is rare for me. Zhone and I had a clear vision of what this song was and what it could be—it was just about putting in the work to write it. We spent three hours going back and forth, crafting these lyrics like a poem. I wanted to make this song open enough for people to insert their own stories into it, but still specific enough to mean something personal to me. I see HUSH as a little anthem, coming of age, speaking up, letting yourself free. 

Feeling Lost

This song hits home for me in many ways. Writing it was like therapy. Growing up in today’s world is a strange experience—we feel so connected to everything yet more disconnected than ever. It’s so easy to lose yourself in the chaos of it all. I wrote this song as a note to remind myself that, in those moments where it feels like the end of the world, it’s really not. The day we wrote this song also happened to be the anniversary of Innervisions by Stevie Wonder. Some of those sounds and vibes naturally made their way into this record. It’s one of my favourite songs I’ve written so far, and I’d love to uncover an entire world within it. I love this record—it’s so simple. I always want my music to have a live energy to it, and when I listen to this song, I can see the band playing it in the studio. As an artist, you sometimes feel the need to add too much to a song, but the truth is, sometimes it’s beautiful to do less. It’s a cliché, but it’s true—less is more.

Before It Gets Worse

A song about first love and heartbreak. Love is a strange and beautiful thing—I’m still learning. Sometimes, in order to truly love someone, you have to let them go. That’s something I had to go through, and it’s a message I’m finding carries into many other areas of my life. Love is a sacrifice. 

This song was one of the most fun experiences I had writing anything. We were at Will’s (Leong the producer) apartment. He’s got anime on one screen and a talk show on the other. His studio is in his bedroom and it felt like the most easy-going down to earth experience of friends who met on the day and hit it off to write this deep track. My team said, “write something uptempo… not another ballad”. 1.5 hrs later we had this incredible ballad! But it was good, so we kept going. You can’t plan these things, just capture the moment when it arrives.

Listen to HUSH by Ben Swissa out now on all streaming platforms.