I sat down with Fairfax Journalist Josh Leeson recently to discuss the new record.
Ben Leece realises musical dreams with debut album No Wonder The World Is Exhausted by Josh Leeson
YOUR 30s are a dangerous time for dreamers. It’s when unfulfilled aspirations weigh heavily and threaten to consume. It’s especially the case for musicians.
So it was for Newcastle’s Ben Leece. Three years ago his rock band The Delta Lions were seemingly plateauing after two albums, without reaching the heights Leece craved.
“I had a moment where I kind of trashed the house,” Leece said. “Everything’s music, posters, records, CDs whatever, and everything reminded me of failure. I’d put 20-odd years of time, energy and money into something that made me feel like shit at the end of day.”
Leece decided to quit music. But passion isn’t extinguished that easily. The Delta Lions continued for another year before breaking up and Leece started Novotone Studios rehearsal rooms at Carrington with bandmate Ryan Wilson.
But ultimately the 36-year-old persevered with his songwriting to the point that ARIA award-winning alt-country artist Shane Nicholson agreed to produce his debut album. The result is No Wonder The World Is Exhausted, released on October 19.
