Exron Exclusive Interview: Ben Shawaer

In an exclusive interview with the management of Ben Shawaer, we delve into the music producer’s top tracks and releases from this year, seeking to unravel the essence of the man beyond the music. While Ben may have been immersed in music production, his manager sheds light on the songs that have left an impression on him in 2023. In the interview, we explore the musical experience that has influenced Ben Shawaer’s creative journey through his favorites from famous artists to hidden gems from amateur talents. Join us as we uncover the melodies that resonate with the enigmatic artist and gain insight into the musical experiences that have shaped his year.

Exron Music: Can you share with us his personal top tracks or releases from this year, and what makes each of them special to him?

This year, Ben Shawaer didn’t listen to much music because he was focusing on his own music production. He knows that it’s always interesting to listen to what’s going on, and it’s enjoyable as he loves music so I think working on his future DJ sets would allow him to listen to a little more music from other artists. As for famous artists, he liked the song “The Motto” by Tiësto & Ava Max. He typically listens more to tracks by amateur artists, because he regularly seeks collaborations, so likes to be aware of what other artists are doing. His Spotify 2023 Wrapped lists the track “Unblock Me” by the artist ClarisseA and this track really exudes a certain nostalgia feel. The pads + bass and the background sounds create a recognizable and pleasant atmosphere to listen to. There is also the track “Shifted” by the artist Jolynn J Chin, which is instrumental music and a good demonstration that even without singing, music can be interesting to listen to.

Exron Music: Reflecting on the past year, which track, either produced by him or by another artist, do you feel has had the biggest impact on his career, and why?

The tracks that had the biggest impact were his releases “Dancing” and “Undefeated.” Two completely different songs and effective in their own way. I think that the fact of having succeeded in producing them and seeing that they performed well gave him additional impetus in the desire to break into music. I also think that this music could resonate with a wider audience if it benefited from greater visibility. The song “Dancing” validates the fact that he knows how to make modern-sounding dance music songs with a non-standard structure. The track “Undefeated” marks the start of his collaboration with the excellent artist Okafuwa. They plan to release several songs together this year, including one that has the same type of sound as the song “Dancing” but with Okafuwa singing. Having already listened to what it sounds like, I can tell you that it’s a song that will stay in your head!

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Exron Music: Were there any unexpected or surprising moments related to the tracks on his list, whether they are his own or by other artists? Any unexpected fan reactions or collaborations that stood out?

The songs “Dancing” and “Undefeated,” are the only ones (for the moment) that are unanimous and for which people have contacted Ben Shawaer by DM on Instagram to say that they like this music. It’s unexpected because it’s new, but it’s only the beginning.

Exron Music: Can you take us behind the scenes and describe the creative process or inspiration behind one of his personal releases that made it to his top list?

The creative process for any of his music is rather chaotic. Chaotic in the sense that there isn’t a well-defined process or set rules. He starts from an idea or an intuition and lets himself be guided. For example, for the track “Dancing”, he wanted to make music with a bass sound inspired by Slap House, because he found that this type of sound was effective. He made a first version but it seemed too Melodic and then he deliberately made the song as we know it, telling himself that he was going to invent a new genre and that it would be called straightforward House or Efficient House. A rather linear type of music, with an unconventional structure but that works. Initially, there were no vocal chops on the track. He added some to give a little variation. Small anecdote, some people asked, “why did you pitch the vocals on this track?”. The reason is simple. The bass sounded worse in the original key of the voice. So he brought up the bass and vocals with it.

Exron Music: Can you share a track by another artist that he discovered this year and felt a deep connection to? What drew him to that particular piece of music?

I know that there is a song that he really likes which is “C’est pour ça je sais” by the artist Liolia. It’s a very groovy/funky, very catchy song that’s easy to remember. Ben Shawaer also has tracks in this style in stock and would like to do one with this artist. If this type of collaboration interests you, do not hesitate to contact him!

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Exron Music: Are there any particular musical influences or experiences from the year that he believes are reflected in his selection of top tracks, whether they are his own or by other artists?

I think that each new sound, and each new track listened to is an experience that necessarily influences our artistic direction. Whether it’s listening to a song on Spotify, or searching for a preset on Splice, any occasion is a good opportunity to direct us in one way or the other. For example, the main influence for using slap bass in his songs comes from tutorials he saw on YouTube even though he wasn’t originally there for that.

Exron Music: Looking back on the year, do you notice any common themes or motifs that run through his top tracks, or were they intentionally diverse in style and sound?

I think the way he composes his music is intentional. That is to say that he composes intuitively and consciously decides, at a given moment, to continue in this or that direction. We can indeed detect recurring patterns which could be a signature. These motifs will be more and more present in his next releases.

Exron Music: How does he feel his music has evolved or changed over the past year, and do his top tracks, whether they are his own or by other artists, represent this evolution in any way?

The year 2023 reveals a notable improvement in his music production. You can listen to his EP “First Drop,” and what he released this year to hear the difference. Regarding what has changed, I would say that it is more on the technical level of pure production than composition. He has always been comfortable in musical composition, so he worked a lot on the mixing part this year. He will continue to work on it because we can always improve. The next releases will only be better!

Exron Music: What message or emotions does he hope his audience takes away from his selection of top tracks, whether they are from his own or by other artists, as they wrap up this year and move into the next?

There is no desire to send a message, other than to go and listen to the songs we were talking about today! I think you can see that he’s quite sensitive to what amateur artists do. It must be because he meets them from time to time, and is always fascinated by the diversity and talent they can have.

We thank Ben Shawaer’s manager for taking some time to speak with us, Through the lens of his top tracks from this year, we’ve gained a deeper understanding of the man behind the music. We wish him the best in the coming months and, in the meantime, make sure to follow him across social media to remain updated on his latest news and releases.

Ben Shawaer Online

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