Multinational quartet, Frogbelly and Symphony, combine each member of the band’s musical style to create a unique sound that is warm, engaging and leaves the listener yearning for more of their music. Guitarist Benjamin Trott was a member of the newer version of The Albion Band, singer and fiddler Liz Hanley plays for The Green Fields of America, Mick Moloney navigates Irish music with storytelling. Completing the foursome is drummer, writer, singer, and producer Ray Rizzo, who has collaborated with Josh Ritter, Bob Weir, Julia Stone, and numerous others, along with the group’s bandleader, bass player, and co-vocalist, Thomas Lebioda.
The group’s latest single and music video, “Benjamin Went Fishing,” is vibrant and gives ample screen time with each member, playing specific roles, dressing in period costumes and frolicking around the British countryside. (Hip Video Promo) The video was made with their collaborator Juha Hansen, who is a filmmaker and videographer based in Hamburg, Germany. Juha is also a renowned photographer and musician who has played a large part in shaping Frogbelly & Symphony’s sound. Each member of Frogbelly & Symphony took time to talk about each of their background in music, their input with their latest video and single, their fun music favorites and more.
I thoroughly enjoy you guys’ music. Each of you guys come from a musical background, so what drew you all together to create Frogbelly and Symphony?
Ben Trott: Thanks! We all enjoy each other’s music, and the fact that we each represent a different facet of musicality draws us together – we are each drawn to those different perspectives which inspire us to create music alongside the many shared values we also have in common. It means that as artists what each of us individually brings to the table can only benefit and come out of the creative process that is Frogbelly and Symphony stronger and more powerful.
The music video for “Benjamin Went Fishing” has striking visuals. What was the process like working with Juha Hansen, and did you guys have a lot of input behind the concept with it?
Ben: We often describe Juha as the “fifth band member”. Nowhere was this more appropriate than when we worked with him to create the Benjamin Went Fishing music video. Conceptually the basis from the four of us was the story behind the song (Benjamin Trott left the band for a brief period before returning, humouristically referred to as him having ‘gone fishing’), the choice of the locations for shooting, and the use of the costumes and props (Victorian costume and boat/fishing rod, etc.). From this Juha was able to direct us and shoot a great series of scenes which he proceeded to edit into the striking storyline in the finished video. The fact that he was able to achieve these results with such limited resources and in such a small time-frame (it was shot in just two days) is a testament to his ability, efficiency, and creativity.
You all collaborate with Hansen often. What draws you all together to create stunning visuals?
Ben: As described above, we as a band often have a good idea of the kind of visual aesthetic we would like to present. At times this can be a difficult thing to express or specify, not that it is necessarily complex -perhaps rather the opposite- but that perhaps it takes some understanding of us collectively as a band and also as individuals. It is in this regard that Juha is highly qualified! Not only does he have this understanding (shared hours in a tour van certainly contributed here!), but his intuitive sense of context and timing means that the photos and videos he takes are at once uniquely ‘Frogbelly’ and unmistakably ‘Juha’.
Your new album, Canis Major, comes out soon also. Can you share the background of the recording and writing process for it?
Ben: The album has 11 songs on it that we are very proud of, pared down from about 14 or 15. It was composed primarily in fits and bursts over 3 years between Thomas’ studio in Sheffield, Martin Bisi’s BC Studio in Brooklyn and The Creamery studio in Brooklyn. The song ideas generally developed from relatively simple roots before morphing through a variety of forms during different recording sessions and live touring arrangements. Each recorded song is a beloved creature that has lived, breathed, changed and grown-up bathed in our experiences and activities as a band!
You all have just finished touring Europe, and were to tour the States beginning the past month. How did the tour go, and what do you guys like most about touring? The least, perhaps?
Ben: Although we have indeed just finished touring in Europe, a certain recent pandemic meant that we opted to remain in our respective countries (shortly after this, and at the time of writing, flights from the UK to the US have also been canceled). However, we are endeavouring to use this tour time-frame to step up our collaborative activities as a band, working together and “touring” despite our geographical separation. The results of these activities can be seen through our online presence. To answer the second part of the question; the main thing this band hopes to achieve is to spend more time in the same room together when we do this great things happen! Nowhere is this more apparent than when we go on tour. We love creating music together and this creates a chemistry that we love to share and involve the audience in.
