Ben Marshal Releases SONGS ABOUT LIVING, SONGS ABOUT DYING

By: May. 14, 2015
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Ben Marshal was always a country singer at heart. So when this Oklahoma oil worker quit his job to pursue a life on the stage and on the road, there was nothing left to hold back the music. Now as he releases his second studio album, Songs About Living Songs About Dying, with his struggles and triumphs painted across the lyrics and chords of each track, Marshal can no longer be ignored by fans as he etches his place in the world of country music.

Marshal's family moved to Oklahoma when he was 10 years old, spurring an exciting adolescence of being constantly exposed to rock 'n roll, country, gospel, and everything that goes into the music of America's heartland. By his 20s, Marshal was traveling around the region playing multiple shows a week, both on his own and with a band as lead guitar. But while some musicians enjoy the fortune of being effortlessly labeled a prodigy, Ben Marshal's musical prowess is purely the product of raw grit, dedication, and an obsessive study of musical history that includes everything from classic funk, Chuck Berry and Bob Dylan, to Johnny Cash and Joe Walsh.

Ben Marshal's first release, a self-titled EP, was a light-hearted foray into country and rock 'n roll for the new artist. Its warm receipt with Texas radio outlets and over three thousand purchases from fans was a welcome sign that Marshal was an artist to be taken seriously.

Now, the release of Song About Living, Songs About Dying will go far beyond what the last album accomplished and could rocket Marshal into the spotlight as a nationally recognized singer-songwriter. While holding true to the rock 'n' roll and Texas country music roots, the new album goes into a much more personal space both musically and lyrically. Drawing inspiration from a broad pallet of musical tastes from gospel and soul, to folk, Americana and southern blues, Marshal creates songs that prove both refreshing and nostalgic; a new sound with a timeless feel.

"The first album was written with a message, but more straight forward and country rock/red dirt. I wanted to bring some more of where I come from to the new album... Some of my old sounds mixed with a new kind of rock 'n roll." - Ben Marshal in Red Dirt Nation Interview

Songs About Living, Songs About Dying brings listeners on an intimate journey where the artist's personal experiences and close relationships become as real as one's own. Getting to know this music gives the sense of also knowing the man behind it, what he's been through, and what's driving him. While many great artists take years of creation and several albums to achieve a sound that is uniquely theirs, Ben Marshal has done it with only his second release.

Being released on Marshal's own label, Ben Marshal Records, this fourteen-track LP is an ode to genuine American life, and the product of hard work and collaboration. Marshal called on such seasoned players as James Dumm, Adam Stern, John Macy, Bill McKay, Matt Roberson, Ben Rubin, AC Lao, Katie Glassman, and Roc Eubanks. Both in the studio and on the stage, this group turns heads with their performance. They don't chase after the spotlight - they put their energy into delivering great performances.

The new album is OUT NOW and will be accompanied by a CD release party onJULY 9TH at Cervantes' Other Side as part of their highly-successful "Grass for the Ass" series. 2015 is set to be a jumping-off point for Ben and the band, but by no means a make-or-break situation. Come hell or high water, Ben Marshal is sure to stay true to his grit, his roots, and his love for music.

For more information about Ben Marshal and the what lies ahead, visit www.benmarshal.com.


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