Exposed Vocals Interviews Figure 9
Benjamin Cohen has been producing and creating music since 2003. Ben started out playing guitar in many different bands and touring the USA. He then opened up a Recording Studio called Skyblue Studios in July 2008. His name as a producer grew through the rock and metal community in Southern California. In order to keep the studio afloat Ben had to constantly hustle and meet new bands daily. The more the economy got worse the less money musicians and record labels had to record. The music business in 2010-2012 was taking a major economic hit. The studio was closed down in July of 2011. Ben decided to start DJing for extra income. He completely fell in love with creating play lists on the fly in different clubs and bars across the southern California coast. DJing almost came completely natural to Ben as his father Sherman Cohen (R.I.P.) was a profound radio DJ. Unfortunately Ben was not able to make enough income from his DJing alone. He was working two day jobs and DJing on the weekends. During all of these career transitions Ben found his Wife and got married in June of 2013. The daily grind of finding gigs and working the two jobs had Ben fading away from his passion of making music a career. He decided to dive far off of his path and sign the dotted line into the United States Air Force. The military had Benjamin moved from his sunny California life to the cold Anchorage Alaska. While serving in the USAF Ben became a father. He focused all of his energy on being a husband, dad and Airman. But his hunger for music was being starved and Ben found himself feeling empty and disconnected with himself. As the newborn phase started settling down, Ben decided to start feeding the wolf inside of him that needed to create. Ben would wake up in the earliest of morning or stay up into the darkest of night to work on his craft. No time was ever wasted. Ben started to really feel the fire of his passion and had an epiphany. He realized that trying to hide from his real self was a haunting experience. The song “Step Into You” was created on the idea of returning back to who you truly are. His goal is to share the idea with the world so others can find them selves or return to themselves as he did. Ben will continue to create but this time he is following his true compass, not that GPS device that takes you down the wrong road.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Figure 9: I was born in Las Vegas Nevada but mainly raised in Los Angeles California. My dad Sherman Cohen (R.I.P.) was a program director and showed me all types of music as a kid. I learned so much and really was shown how to appreciate all types of music. I feel he really gave me the spark for my love for it. But things really took off when I bought my first guitar at 14. From there I played in many bands. I became a recording engineer professionally at age 20, became a DJ at age 23 and now am making solo electronic music for Figure 9 at age 28. There is a huge back story to this all, but I will save that for my book release haha.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Figure 9: Figure 9 I came up with from a mountaineering knot I learned from Army Mountain Warfare School. The knot is used when making anchors. I feel it represents my self being anchored to music.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Figure 9: I think online music sharing is great for promotion. It definitely has its benefits and makes it very easy to get people to listen to your art. I give my music away for free here and there. But I do feel as musicians our art is under appreciated. The world will pay $3.50 for a coffee and cant even spend a $1 on a song that they will listen to multiple times. Streaming has become fair game now, but torrenting in my opinion is wrong. If you torrent you suck, plain and simple.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Figure 9: I still have not gigged with Figure 9, but I did play 100s of shows with different bands. I think the best thing you can do is contact the promotional companies that are putting the shows on at the venues you want to play. Just try to avoid pay to play, that crap is a rip off.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Figure 9: My songwriting inspiration comes from what happens to me in life. My song “Step Into You” was created by me going through a process with my self. I was writing my personal manifesto and decided to make a song about being your true self. My process of making a song varies, but normally a melody transforms into multiple melodies and I build off of those. Once I have a foundation I then just add in the effects and then I mix and master everything my self in the computer.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Figure 9: Yes I sure do! My website is https://www.figure9music.com I have my music all over the web now. You can find Figure 9 on beatport, itunes, sound cloud, spotify, pandora one, apple music, band camp and many more!
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Figure 9: Buy a years supply of In N Out burger and freeze it…….For the left over funds I would take my family on vacation around the world and try and play a gig in every place we stayed at.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Figure 9: Right now I am using social media primarily. I tried facebook ads, not really seeing the benefit. I think Soundcloud and twitter have given me the most love.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Figure 9: I have a new song in the works. From there I would really like to play out possibly late summer or mid fall.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Figure 9: Surfing and Hiking
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Figure 9: Its tough as heck! I am active duty military with a family. I wake up two hours before work to get in my music practice/creating. I try to spend any extra time that I get after work promoting.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Figure 9: More new music and possible live performances. Maybe a music video as well. But I can at the least promise some new songs! Thank you Exposed Vocals for this rad interview! You guys rock!