Ben Abraham is an Australian folk singer and songwriter from Melbourne. Ben has collaborated with artists such as: Kesha, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Demi Lovato and Sara Bareilles. His song "Praying" by Kesha (which he co-wrote with Kesha and Ryan Lewis) [1] was a hit single worldwide.
Abraham's parents were both musicians who played together in the Indonesian pop group Pahama.[2] Abraham initially sought to become a screenwriter, and concurrently began songwriting while working in a hospital. In 2014, he self-released a debut album, Sirens, in Australia, which he described as "basically a roadmap of my awkward naïve insecure 20s".[3] In March 2016, the album was picked up for international distribution and reissued by Secretly Canadian.[4] The album includes the track "This Is On Me", which features American vocalist Sara Bareilles,[5] as well as appearances by fellow Australian Gotye.[6] In 2016 and 2017, Abraham also collaborated with such artists as Wafia, Ta-ku, and Wrabel on their respective singles "Heartburn", "Meet in the Middle", and "Bloodstain." Abraham's voice has been compared to Guy Garvey and Peter Gabriel.[7] CMJ's Eric Davidson calls Abraham's voice "delicate yet booming" and Sirens a "strong, electro-soul" record.[8] At the APRA Music Awards of 2018 he won the Overseas Recognition Award and was nominated for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year.[9][10][11]
Discography Sirens (self-released album, 2014, reissued Secretly Canadian, 2016) Collaborations "Speak" from "Sirens" (self-released track, 2014, reissued Secretly Canadian, 2016 sung with Gotye) "This Is On Me" from "Sirens" (self-released track, 2014, reissued Secretly Canadian, 2016, written and sung with Sara Bareilles) "Love Somebody" and "Meet in the Middle" from "(m)edian" EP- Ta-ku x Wafia (tracks, co-wrote in 2016) "Window Seat"- Wafia x Thompston (single, co-wrote in 2016) "Heartburn"- Wafia (single, co-wrote in 2016) "83 Days"- Wafia (single, co-wrote in 2017) "Bloodstain"- Wrabel (single, wrote and co-produced in 2017) References ^ Kesha Previews First New Album in Five Years With Triumphant Song 'Praying'. Rolling Stone, 6 July 2017. ^ Ben Abraham at Allmusic ^ Ben Abraham's debut follows a long star-studded road. Sydney Morning Herald, 14 November 2014. ^ Review, Rolling Stone Australia. ^ Sirens review, Allmusic ^ World Cafe Next: Ben Abraham. NPR, 29 February 2016. ^ Review, Indie London ^ Davidson, Eric. "Last Night This Morning...Friday at CMJ 2015". CMJ. Retrieved 4 December 2015. ^ "Full List of Winners". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 13 April 2018. ^ "Overseas Recognition Award". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018. ^ "Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.