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Benjamin and The Sirens

We're away making our debut album!

About Me


Benjamin Mortimer
"... 21st Century Beethoven." Ed Hutchinson, Moles Club.
"Ambitiously eclectic and unpredictable composer...original musical imagination at work...Is there no end to this man? Apparently not." Tony Benjamin, Venue Magazine
"Aged just 23, it is an enormous achievement to be writing and performing original music to such a high standard and variation." Alex Hobbis, Muse Magazine
"... his abilities as a multi-instrumentalist make him in demand as a live and studio session player. If that wasn’t enough to make you feel disgracefully lazy, the superhuman Mr Mortimer is still only 23." Keith Clark, Western Daily Press
 "His talent as a singer-songwriter, saxophonist and pianist is undeniable, and his bands vary from soulful to silly." Lynsey Melling, Bath Chronicle
 Benjamin Mortimer is a songwriter and performer based in Bath, UK. He composes the material for, and performs in his two bands, Benjamin and The Sirens (in which he sings and plays piano) and Ben Mortimer and his Natural Kicks (saxophone). With both groups Ben plays regularly in the Bath, Bristol and Birmingham areas as well as guesting with two London bands, Anil and Thee Single Spy. Ben has played Glastonbury Festival, Wychwood Festival, Bath Fringe Festival, Betsy Trotswood, The Hackney Empire and The Spitz.Ben believes that original music should be accessible and is devoted to achieving that goal with his music: “I think people can get fed up with commercial pop and rock. I write songs that are both entertaining and original, and we get a fantastic response from audiences of all ages.” When he's not composing or performing, Ben enjoys treasure hunts, hanging out with Canadians, converting people to Mac, and reading Danny Wallace.
Benjamin and The Sirens.
"The atmosphere was almost like watching a group of musicians perform at an old English garden party; tea, cakes, scones, and Lewis Caroll... Created images of some huge, heavenly battle being fought, the string instruments taking on wings of their own... Operatic, symphonic, majestic, enchanting and magical." Ed Hutchinson, Moles Club.
 "Benjamin and the Sirens are really something else... Many influences including Gershwin, Cole Porter and operetta in the songs. Really loved it all, as did the audience." Peter Coulston, Seatwave.com
 "Capturing the heart and mind immediately... Endearing and quite magnificent." Keith Ames, Musician's Union Magazine.
 "...heartfelt singer-songwriter, somewhere between Paul McCartney and Rufus Wainwright." Charlie Dunlap, Bath Chronicle
"Singer-songwriter Benjamin Mortimer sits somewhere between the wannabe classicism of Bohemian Rhapsody and an up-market Andrew Lloyd-Webber. There's big themes going on - kings, saviors, monkeys and immortality among them— delivered with appropriate pomp... elaborately composed songs that were superbly played." Tony Benjamin, Venue Magazine
"Ben leads the way into a theatrical world of pianocentric melodies, that veer between Vaughan Williams and Rufus Wainright with eccentric ease. The stage is set (usually with interesting adornments from Ben) to create the atmosphere of a tea-party, which is further enhanced when he, on occasion, invites the audience to join in. Not just a skilled musician, Ben is an embodied entertainment!" Rich Maya, 5 Unsigned
"Catching Benjamin and the Sirens can be a strange and enchanting experience; you can suddenly be led to believe that you have entered a surreal tea party, with previous shows having included sing-a-longs, word games, raffles, and on the odd occasion, even cakes! But this is the music of Benjamin Mortimer which is by no means ordinary and he does not fall into the usual singer songwriter formula. It is much more Rufus Wainwright than Andrew Uoyd Webber and demonstrates the versatility and depth of Benjamin’s song writing ability, going from solemn and reflective with one band to unrelenting liveliness with the other..." Alex Hobbis, Muse Magazine
 Benjamin and The Sirens is Ben's contemporary singer/songwriter outfit. Ben's voice and piano is accompanied by the awesome, all-girl string trio, The Sirens (who also double on bodhran, melodica, percussion, accordion, vocals, and typewriter!) They play highly entertaining shows, that can include sing-a-longs, word games, raffles and sometimes even cakes!
Venue and Festivals Highlights since June 2006 include:
The Hackney Empire, London
The Spitz, London
Betsey Trotwood, London
Glastonbury Festival
The Social, London
Barfly, Birmingham
Mr Wolf's Noodle Bar, Bristol
Bath Fringe Festival
Wychwood Festival, Cheltenham
Rootville Festival @ The Custard Factory, Birmingham
Moles Club, Bath
The Louisiana, Bristol
The Croft, Bristol
Royal Victoria Park, Bath
Inventions Arts, Bath
Fopp Cafe, Bath
Jug of Ale, Birmingham
Birmingham Conservatoire
Fleece, Bristol
Notting Hill Arts Club, London
Wye Festival, Kent
The Comedy, London
The Whalf Theatre, Devizes
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/9/2006
Band Website: benjaminmortimer.co.uk
Band Members: NEWS...18/11/07: Benjamin and The Sirens make their debut album... (CLICK HERE)
8/8/07: Benjamin and The Sirens Live Review @ The Betsey Trotwood... (CLICK HERE)
5/8/07: Benjamin and The Sirens’s EP is reviewed in the International Musicians Union Magazine... (CLICK HERE)
1/8/07: Benjamin and The Sirens’s EP is reviewed in Muse Magazine... (CLICK HERE)
19/7/07: Benjamin makes his acting debut at The Edingburgh Fringe Festival 2007!... (CLICK HERE)
4/6/07: Benjamin lands job arranging for the NHS... (CLICK HERE)
17/6/07: Benjamin and the Sirens play the prestigious Devizes Festival @ The Wharf Theatre... (CLICK HERE)
19/7/07: Benjamin and the Sirens are featured in the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald... (CLICK HERE)
11/7/07: BEN MORTIMER AND HIS NATURAL KICKS HAVE MOVED! (CLICK HERE)
1/7/07: Benjamin and the Sirens are featured in Muse Magazine... (CLICK HERE)
26/6/07:Benjamin and the Sirens play two sets at Glastonbury Festival 2007... (includes pics) (CLICK HERE)
19/6/07: Benjamin is shortlisted for the Philip Bates Prize for songwriting and composition... (CLICK HERE)
13/5/07: Venue Magazine Review of Judas Kiss/Precious Child EP... (CLICK HERE)
31/3/07: Benjamin and The Sirens appear on Brumcast... (CLICK HERE)
25/3/07: Past Gig Diary (2005-2007) for Benjamin and The Sirens (CLICK HERE)
25/3/07: Ben plays in the Bristol/London band Anil... (CLICK HERE)
25/3/07: Ben plays with the London collective Thee Single Spy... (CLICK HERE)
6/3/07: Benjamin and the Sirens are featured in The Bath Chronicle's "Student Choice"... (CLICK HERE)
26/2/07: Benjamin and the Sirens appear in a full-page feature in the Bristol evening Post... (CLICK HERE)
22/2/07: Benjamin and the Sirens appear in a full-page feature in the Western Daily Press... (CLICK HERE)
16/2/07: Benjamin and the Sirens are featured in The Bath Chronicle... (CLICK HERE)
6/1/07: Click here to subscribe to the mailing list... (CLICK HERE)
30/6/06: REVIEW Benjamin and The Sirens @ The Porter Cellar Bar, Bath 21/06/06 (CLICK HERE)
23/6/06:Live Review of Benjamin and the Sirens (and his other projects)... (CLICK HERE)
11/6/06: Benjamin and the Sirens appear in a triple bill night of Ben's music... (CLICK HERE)
1/4/06:Benjamin and the Sirens appear in a full-page feature in Venue Magazine... (CLICK HERE)
------------------------------------------------------------ ------ Benjamin and The Sirens: EP Click on the cover below to buy your copy for only £3. Free P&P to anywhere in the world!
Benjamin and The Sirens available on Itunes: Click on the picture below to download the MP3's! ..
Benjamin and The Sirens
Ainara Basaguren (Viola/Typewriter)
Lucia Capellaro (Cello)
Emma Hooper (Viola/Accordion/Typewriter)
Sue Lord (Violin)
Ben Mortimer (Piano/Vocals/Percussion)
Bethany Porter (Cello/Vocals/Percussion)
Carly Worsfold (Violin)
Ben's hair is styled by Mathilde Heather at North Hairdressing, Westgate ST, Bath. Mathilde won the 'Level II National Student of The Year Award 2007'! (www.northhairdressing.com)

Influences: Music:
Joanna Newsom
Antony and The Johnsons
Rufus Wainwright
Brian Wilson
Regina Spektor
Final Fantasy
The Frames
Saes Saints
Arcade Fire
Sufjan Stevens Patric Wolf
Ryan Adams
Bright EyesJamie T
Bright Eyes
Damien Rice
Flight of The Conchords
Michael Wolters
Coldplay
Ryan Adams
Ray Charles
Big Jay McNeely
Ruth Brown
Matthew Herbert Big Band
Polar Bear
Acoustic Ladyland
Padlo Angeli
Muse
Radiohead
Nina Simone
Jeff Buckley
Danny Elfman
Johnny Cash
Michael Nyman
Claude Debussy
Leonard Bernstein
George Gershwin
Johann Strauss
Basquiat Strings
Kurt weill
John Adams

Other:
Arrested Development
The Mighty Boosh
Wes Anderson
(The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou)
Spike Jonze
(Being John Malkovich)
Roald Dahl
Jane Austen
Charles Dickens
Amelie
Harry Potter
Lewis Carroll
(Alice in Wonderland
The Wizard of Oz

Record Label: Contact: [email protected]
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Benjamin and The Sirens make their debut album...

Benjamin and The Sirens make their debut album...B.A.T.S. will be touring less over the next 10 months as they are spending as much time as possible making their debut album, set to be released next S...
Posted by Benjamin and The Sirens on Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:10:00 PST

Edingburgh Fringe Review of Deep Impact show: "Playing Life"...

Review by Newspaper: Three Weeks on 18th August.Playing LifeDeep Impact Theatre Co."Louise, according to the blurb, "lives for jazz". An excellent singer, she uses music as an outlet for her problems,...
Posted by Benjamin and The Sirens on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:24:00 PST

Benjamin and The Sirens’s gig @ Betsey Trotwood, London review...

Benjamin and The Sirens's gig @ Betsey Trotwood, London review..."Benjamin and the Sirens are really something else. Fronted by Benjamin Mortimer on keys and vocals this band uses violins, cello, acco...
Posted by Benjamin and The Sirens on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:57:00 PST

Benjamin and The Sirens’s EP is reviewed in the International Musicians Union Magazine...

Benjamin and The Sirens's EP is reviewed in the International Musicians Union Magazine... Summer Issue 2007, pg41...
Posted by Benjamin and The Sirens on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:51:00 PST

Benjamin and The Sirenss EP is reviewed in Muse Magazine...

Benjamin and The Sirens's EP is reviewed in Muse Magazine AUG 07, Issue 25...
Posted by Benjamin and The Sirens on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:47:00 PST

Benjamin makes his acting debut at The Edingburgh Fringe Festival 2007!...

Benjamin makes his acting debut at The Edingburgh Fringe Festival 2007!...Benjamin will appear as accompanist/actor in the Production called "Playing Life" at The Sweet E.C.A for a two week run in Aug...
Posted by Benjamin and The Sirens on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:08:00 PST

Benjamin and the Sirens are featured in the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald...

Benjamin and the Sirens are featured in the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, 21st June 2007:Glastonbury tour awaits:Up and coming musicians gear up to make their debut at world famous festival."FORMER De...
Posted by Benjamin and The Sirens on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:36:00 PST

Benjamin and the Sirens are featured in Muse Magazine...

Benjamin and the Sirens are featured in Muse Magazine, Issue 34 July edition 2007:Benjamin Mortimer and his Sirens"There seems to be a renaissance of all things "musical theatre" of late, from the dra...
Posted by Benjamin and The Sirens on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:25:00 PST

Benjamin and the Sirens play two sets at Glastonbury Festival 2007... (includes pics)

Benjamin and the Sirens play two sets at Glastonbury Festival 2007.Benjamin and The Sirens made their Glastonbury Debut this year, firstly openning the Avalon Cafe Stage on the Thursday evening, to a ...
Posted by Benjamin and The Sirens on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:13:00 PST

Benjamin is shortlisted for the Philip Bates Prize for songwriting and composition...

Benjamin is shortlisted for the Philip Bates Prize for songwriting and composition. Benjamin and The Sirens will perform 2 songs. For Info please visit:http://www.philipbatestrust.org.ukorhttp://www.c...
Posted by Benjamin and The Sirens on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:47:00 PST