Meet Benjamin Scheuer | songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Benjamin Scheuer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Benjamin, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in New York, where my father is from. He taught me to play the guitar when I was a little boy. (I wrote a song about it called “Cookie-tin Banjo” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2kq1zGkUvM ) There were always records on in my house: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Mozart, Oscar Peterson, John Coltrane, Gilbert and Sullivan. Then, my dad died suddenly when I was 13, and my mother moved me and my two younger brothers to London, where she is from.

I started writing songs to process my own grief around my father’s death, and also to try and remember what I was sure my memory would eventually start to muddle.

My wife and I met in London, and we live here now with our family.
Now that I’m a father (my daughter is three, when I’m writing this in March 2022) I try and write for her; to try and explain what it is that I’m feeling, and also so she can remember things.

I wrote a song for her called “A Mountain for Elodie.” Here’s a performance of that song, live from Abbey Road studios in London: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a1OlXBC32I

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a songwriter. Originally from New York, I now live in London with my family. I perform, I make records and I write songs for the theatre. I’ve also written two children’s books. Songwriting and guitar playing are my two passions, and I work at them both, every day.

I was diagnosed with stage-IV cancer when I was 28 years old. After six months of chemotherapy, I was declared cancer-free. My show THE LION is all about that experience. It premiered off Broadway in 2014, winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance; it then played in London, winning the off-West End Award for Best New Musical. I gave more than 500 performances of the show to over 100,000 people. The show is opening in London in late-May 2022, with Max Alexander-Taylor playing the role of “Ben.”

I’m writing three theatre-shows at the moment: With playwright Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Star Catcher, Addams Family) I’m writing musical about Peter Mark Roget, the fellow who wrote the Thesaurus. With playwright Melis Aker Aker (who’s play HoundDog opens off Broadway in 2022) I’m writing a half-hour puppet-theatre musical adaptation of my children’s book “Hundred Feet Tall.” And, I’m writing a musical-show about my daughter; the piece is currently titled “Elodie’s Mountain.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In London, my favorite breakfast place is Sundays, on Hemingford Road; simple recipes done brilliantly, and a great vibe. My favourite restaurant is KILN, where I recommend sitting at the counter facing the open kitchen and watch the glorious Thai food get made.

Favourite coffee shop is Amoret, in Notting Hill; Sadiq Merchant, who runs the place, has honestly perfected the cup of coffee. He’s also a guitar fanatic, and a lovely conversationalist.

The Little Angel Puppet Theatre, in Islington, builds all their own puppets in-house and puts on fantastic children’s shows. For music evenings, I love the Crazy Coqs, and Phoenix Arts Club. I regularly perform at both.

And of course, Abbey Road, the world’s greatest recording studio. I’ve been lucky enough to do some recording there, and to have released a few live-from-Abbey-Road videos.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Music and songwriting are collaborative fields. I’m grateful to so many folks, including: Geoff Kraly, who produced my album “Songs from THE LION.” Grammy-winner Robin Baynton, who produced my song “Empty Stage,” and dancers Carlos Acosta and Robbie Fairchild, each of whom made gorgeous dance-films to the song. Sean Daniels, who directed the original off-Broadway and London productions of my musical THE LION. Playwrights Rick Elice and Melis Aker, with whom I’m currently writing shows. Filmmaker and animator Peter Baynton, who directed five animated music videos for me, one of which won a prize at the British Animation Awards, where –at the awards ceremony- I met my wife, Jemima Williams! And, since then, Jemima and I have made two children’s books together.

Website: BenjaminScheuer.com

Instagram: @benjaminScheuer

Twitter: @benjaminScheuer

Facebook: @benjaminScheuerOfficial

Image Credits
Photo credit: Jack Henry