listenlisten - Shall We Meet w/ Interview pt. 1 of 2

part 1 - the lyrics of Hymns From Rhodesia

Murkville Music artist, listenlisten, opened up for Denton's Matthew and the Arrogant Sea on the third of four shows on the Monks Music Sessions series two weekends ago and we were able to catch up with Ben Godfrey, lead singer of listenlisten, and discuss with him just what the lyrics were all about concerning their upcoming debut full length, 'Hymns From Rhodesia.' This interview is the first of two parts, the second coming soon where Ben talks about the music of listenlisten and adapting the mood of the lyrics with the music of 'Hymns From Rhodesia.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• listen
• listenlisten
• monks
• abilene
• texas
• houston
• murkville
• music
• silence
• production
• ron
• paul
• liberty

[TheEpisteme]

I drove up from San Antonio to meet a couple of friends and see listen listen play in a small house in Denton a while back. As small and simple as it was, I thought it was one of the best shows I've ever seen.

[Rhodie1979]

Enslavement is a hard word, Rhodesia did not actually ever have or use slavery!

I must say though I do get tired of Rhodesia being picked on by anyone and everyone - out of curiosity why did you not base your album on Americas treatment of the native americans?

[silencemagazine]

...the fact that it was under company rule with the rhodes family coat of arms and then later named after cecil rhodes doesn't help their case for altruistic intentions. I'm not a hypocrite for simply being born american, it's not like I think anything differently about my ancestors treatment of the native americans.

[silencemagazine]

Ben's Response:

Rhodesia is a very emotional topic and I don't have the personal experience to defend any kind of strong opinion. I am not a historian and maybe there are some things I said which aren't completely accurate. I simply thought the story of the country was a good example of colonialism out of control. I know both sides of the argument and still think it boils down to the country being built on occupation and enslavement....

[Rhodie1979]

Great cheers, I shall look forward to discussing it further!

[silencemagazine]

I'm not a Rhodesian scholar but I'm sure it's your lack of artistic IQ that seems to be causing the stumbling block. I'll direct Ben towards this healthy discussion.

[Rhodie1979]

Maybe I am not artistic enough to understand what is actually being meant. However he does specify Cecil Rhodes, thus for all the 'analagy' he is wanting to make, he specifies a person and a place, in a misleading and incorrect manner.

[silencemagazine]

This has been in the thoughts and research of Ben, the singer for listenlisten, for the past several years now. This subject, I assure you, he has not taken lightly.

[Rhodie1979]

Indeed I did not miss this, however I do feel that many people slur the name of a country they misunderstand.

[silencemagazine]

You missed the part I guess where he said Rhodesia is supposed to allude to the way they feel about things right now, particularly in/coming from America. Thanks critic.