YOUNG BENJAMIN WOOD RELEASES AN IMPRESSIVE NEW SINGLE, ‘SHOULDER’, FOR SOMEONE SO YOUNG!
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Photo: Irvine Takawira of i.shot.themm
After the release of his debut single Rising Sun to a great response in July 2020 at just 15 years of age, the incessant talent of rising star Benjamin Wood (now 16), shines through once again in his follow up single, Shoulder, released across all digital platforms today, Friday, December 3rd, 2021.
The Grade 10 learner at Steyn City School in Dainfern, Johannesburg, is a multi-talented artist, performer and deep thinker. Benjamin is not only a singer/songwriter but also plays multiple instruments, can tap and ballet dance and is an award-winning actor. Over the past few months during COVID-19, music and song-writing has been something that has kept him going, giving him hope and most importantly, helped him to express how he, and perhaps all of us, are feeling in these current times.
For Benjamin, there’s nothing better than sitting down with his guitar, a notebook and letting his creativity flow during stressful moments in his life, that is how his new pop single, Shoulder came to fruition. It has moments of softer, acoustic elements while also making use of larger sounds from bass, drums and synthesised elements that come together to create what he believes is a vibrant, upbeat and easy-on-the-ear pop song, while also telling an important story of connectedness.
“I began to reflect on what I could express through the music. A thought that really struck me was the idea that everyone is going through their own battles in the current times, but what keeps us connected and strong is our relationships with the people around us and the common struggle that everyone is facing together.” – Benjamin Wood, singer/songwriter
When Benjamin was composing this song, it was important to him to use the words of people that he found influential and significant in the past year. To highlight the spirit of connection and unity, but also hopefully to inspire others that listen to his new single to successfully get through these times. You will hear extracts from various speeches that inspired him during the composition of Shoulder, hopefully, now his song inspires you too:
- a line from one of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speeches during lockdown
- a quote from Kamala Harris on the night she became the Vice President-Elect of the USA
- Black Lives Matter chants from one of the many protests against injustice and racism which have informed a worldwide movement towards equality,
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Photo: Irvine Takawira of i.shot.themm
a quote from Marcus Rashford, whose child hunger campaigns and poverty work in the UK have been a shining example of empathy and the desire to care for each other in the face of adversity
- and lastly, Barack Obama spoke to the fact that there are better days to come from an interview he did during the lockdown.
“These inspirational people and movements have shaped my thinking during the past year and including them in my song was a way of highlighting their work and its importance while showcasing our capacity as a nation and world to move through these times together.” – Benjamin Wood explains.
Benjamin’s new single Shoulder is written by Benjamin Wood and co-produced by the highly successful producing team Tjaart van der Walt and Matthew Marinus. His CV belies his young age, with him already having notched up many impressive performances in high profile productions like Evita (at just 12), The Sound of Music, Born To Perform! Shine in 2018 and 2019, Jonathan Roxmouth – The Musicals and most recently, during Covid in 2020, in the &Scene virtual Escape Game, ZIMA. Most recently, Benjamin swept the boards at the South African Championships of the Performing Arts in October where he won the Overall Male Acting Award in the 16-24 age Category, as well as 9 solo Gold Medals, 7 solo Silver Medals, 3 solo Bronze Medals in the Acting, Singing and Modelling categories.
“Benjamin is a very kind young man. Humble, honest, and sincere. He’s got a heart the size of a mountain and his lyrics come from a place of truth. He’s an absolute pleasure to work with and knows exactly what he wants. I can always rely on him to deliver a perfect vocal. I am very proud of him and feel very honoured to have had him trust me with something so close to his heart.” – Tjaart van der Walt
Benjamin’s new single ‘Shoulder‘ is out now across all digital platforms HERE
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