Benjamin Winter

For 2 decades, Benjamin Winter thought athletics would be his career. When injuries changed the football players plans in 1999, Benjamin went back to school for music and all his efforts went into his band Sisera Fell. After 6 years and 3 releases, the band separated, and in Winter 2003, San Francisco native Benjamin left for his first solo tour through 38 US states and 9 European countries. This tour was providing much of the material that was to be Benjamin's first solo release "Amber Alley And After". He almost made it home, but fell in love in Europe on the last stop of the 77 city tour. And nowhere seemed better than Amsterdam to finish the album. So he stayed and finished the songs in a snowy Amsterdam that year. It became a second home where Benjamin was quickly embraced by the Dutch Singer-Songwriter scene and formed his backing "The Make Believe" comprised of cello, drums, bass, guitars, keys and trumpet. The Make Believe in it's many manifestations holds base in both Amsterdam and San Francisco.
The release of Benjamin's solo debut "Amber Alley And After"(2005) gained a faithful, grassroots following in America, concentrated in his home California, and Holland, and earned attention to support Arcade Fire, Donovan Frankenreiter, John Van Der Slice, Glen Phillips (toad the wet sprocket), Pete Murray, Angus and Julia Stone. Amber Alley And After was recorded with LA engineer/producer Greg Laswell. This is a album heavily reflects on the human condition and our interactions: “Behind my garage where I would work at night was a run down alley where the sky always took an amber color because of the San Diego light and the late night fog. Those nights started a period that soon became a year on the road of touring and living in Amsterdam. These songs mark the reflections that became in Amber alley. But actually more significantly...after.”
“The lyrics, though words are not always needed, are soulless for me unless I believe what I am saying. Lyrics are the part of each song that comes most naturally to me. It’s generally the part of the songs that I am most pleased with and want people to understand about the song when it is done. I try to stay disciplined in my belief that only things from the heart can reach the heart.”
An EP titled Memory and Forever was released in a packed, sweaty theater in Amsterdam in 2006. The small collection of hooky songs received rotation on major radio stations including KFOG (SF) and 3FM in Holland. The next full-length album is nearly finished and the release is now being planned for September 2009 accompanied by a faithful grassroots following that Benjamin has been building for the past decade. ..