Draft:Benjamin Walsh (drummer)

Benjamin Walsh

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Benjamin Raymond Walsh was born in Gosford Hospital.[1], N.S.W.[2], Australia[3] in 1976

Known as one of Australia’s well admired, respected and hardest working drummers[4] he is also known as one of the most innovate.[5][6]

Known throughout the world for his invention of the multidirectional drumming wheel [7]he is also a composer, sound designer

and recently award winning film maker[8][9]

he is an artist managed by Top Shelf[10]

he currently is touring and performing under his name Benjamin Walsh

Ben Walsh is a driving force in the Australian music scene, and his trademark high energy drumming is currently featured in numerous acts including Tom Tom Club, The Bird, Crusty Suitcase Band and Circle of Rhythm. He has also been a member of TaikOz, Dha, Pablo Percusso, Taal Vadya and more. His composition work has been commissioned for everything from dance works to theatre works to film scores and more.[11]

Benjamin has personally recorded over 35 records through his own independent record label Groovelands[12] and Hydrofunk[13]

Ben has cut his teeth racking up thousands of gigs across the globe and studying with some of the worlds leading instrumentalists. Years of honing his skills has seen Ben’s artistic vision continually evolving, searching out new horizons and challenges from electronic forms to orchestral composition.

The Last 2 decades

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In 2007 Ben conceived and developed The Crusty Suitcase Band.

These original jazz fusion compositions are performed live,[14]

In 2009 Ben was commissioned to create a work to film by Sydney Festival which led to him forming an eclectic orchestra

made up of the most phenomenal instrumentalists in Australia, and showcasing a cross section of jazz, classical, electronic and world musicians.[15]

In 2011 Ben was nominated for a prestigious Helpmann Award: Best Music Direction for Sydney Festivals production of My Bicycle Loves You.[16]

2013 Ben collaborated with the renowned Company 2 circus troupe, where he co-directed a new work &

'The Crusties' were the backbone of Scotch & Soda a circus and music extravaganza, often performed in the infamous Speigeltent

which played in London, Dublin, Edinburgh and all throughout Australia.[17]

Toured 7 destinations in India with his solo percussion show LOOP ZERO presented by the Australian consulate & DFAT[18]

2016 saw Ben explore the new territory of South America with an extensive 3 month tour with projects; Orkestra of the Underground, The Wheel, Remix Experiment, Circle Of Rhythm, The Bird and as well as the newly commissioned production The Loop Lab.

He was a celebrated centre piece for the Brazilian festival Australia Now[19]

performing in Rio, Sao Paulo, Salvador, Mexico City & Buenos Aires.[20]

In October he performed and composed a 16 piece Rajasthani Percussion spectacular at the Rajasthani International Folk Festival.[21]

Was Musical Director for a live film score titled SILENCIO at DIFF Darwin International Film Festival[22]

a loose collection of the history of animation performed with viola player SHENZO GREGGORIO

2017/2018  Ben released Remix Experiment to the world playing  India, Argentina ,Brazil, Japan, Mexico and released 2 albums

"REMIX EXPERIMENT" &" CASSETICA" partnered through Hydrofunk Records[23][24]

2019 Was involved with Gravity & Other Myths as Musical Director in the development of a new work.

2020 was musical director for David Carberry's production of SMASH PARADE with new musical project NA MOJA[25]

2021 SMASH PARADE live streamed at HOTA  performing for prestigious NYC Q2 festival.[26]

Live streamed his production THE ARRIVAL  by THE ORKESTRA OF THE UNDERGROUND

directly to India from the BRUNSWICK PICTURE HOUSE presented by the TATA LITERARY FESTIVAL

in partnership with the Australian/Indian consulate & DFAT[27]

composed the score and performed to Sue Healey's live dance film  event LIVE ACTS for OzAsia festival.

2022 composed and performed in THE LONG WALK by Sue Healey for OzAsia Festival.[28]

Was Sound Designer for the production of REDLIGHT DISTANCING a Binaural score

for an audience entirely on wireless headphones .[29]

Was musical director for the reworked live score of FURY ROAD for Darwin International film festival

with Tom Thum & Shenzo Greggorio[30]

Composed an Performed a new live film score to THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN ​(1957)

with Beatboxer TOM THUM at the Adelaide Fringe Fest[31] and Brunswick Picture House[32]

Premiered His cinematic debut  REMIX EXPERIMENT THE MOTION PICTURE

at Byron Underground Film Festival (BUFF)

which he Produced & Directed acted and composed.

Playing at the Palace Cinemas and then performed Live score at The Brunswick Picture House

His film won the award "The Best of BUFF"[33]

Early Days

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Attended Newtown High School Of The Performing Arts[34] years 11 and 12 and graduated in Drama & Music

Shortly attended the contemporary music course at Western Sydney [35] dropping out to travel and tour and learn from alternative methods.

Initially composing works for short films and dance, Ben’s body of work in the past years has extended to encompass live film scores, mixed media projects and a ground breaking piece of enhanced storytelling via orchestral score to Oscar winner Shaun Tan[36]’s wordless masterpiece: THE ARRIVAL[37] as commissioned by the Graphic Festival at Sydney Opera House.

"A unique and sensitive adaptation with my otherwise still and silent universe, taking it to a new level of intensity through a passionate performance." (Shaun Tan)[38]

  1. ^ "Gosford Hospital", Wikipedia, 2023-11-15, retrieved 2024-01-30
  2. ^ "New South Wales", Wikipedia, 2024-01-26, retrieved 2024-01-30
  3. ^ "Australia", Wikipedia, 2024-01-28, retrieved 2024-01-30
  4. ^ "Ben Walsh". Top Shelf. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  5. ^ "Ben Walsh: The Wheel of Drums". TEDxSydney. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  6. ^ "Drumming up business". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2004-06-11. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  7. ^ Ben Walsh - Drum Wheel 2008, 27 July 2008, retrieved 2024-01-30
  8. ^ Remix Experiment Official Promo, 2 November 2022, retrieved 2024-01-30
  9. ^ "Screening Events | BUFF 22". Buff22. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  10. ^ "Top Shelf". Top Shelf. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  11. ^ "Ben Walsh". TEDxSydney. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  12. ^ "Groovelands". Groovelands. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  13. ^ "Hydrofunk Records | AUSSIE HOP HOP SINCE DAY DOT". Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  14. ^ "The Crusty Suitcase Band". Top Shelf. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  15. ^ "2009". Sydney Festival. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  16. ^ "Past nominees and winners | Helpmann Awards". www.helpmannawards.com.au. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  17. ^ Kavanagh, Katharine (2015-06-08). "'Scotch & Soda', by Company 2". The Circus Diaries. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  18. ^ Trade, corporateName= Department of Foreign Affairs and. "Australian High Commission in". india.highcommission.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  19. ^ "Australia Now Brazil 2016 • Australia now Malaysia 2021". Australia now Malaysia 2021. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  20. ^ The Brazil Files: 1# - Ben Walsh & The Orkestra of the Underground, 19 April 2016, retrieved 2024-01-30
  21. ^ "Jodhpur RIFF". Festivals From India. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  22. ^ "Rolling with the Times | Off The Leash". offtheleash.net.au. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  23. ^ taru (2016-10-29). "This one-man orchestra from Australia makes music that has an electronic edge". The Sunday Guardian Live. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  24. ^ "Ben Walsh's 'weird and new' experiment to reach Delhi, Rajasthan". www.radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  25. ^ "In Residence: David Carberry, Ben Walsh Alice Muntz, Ela Bartilomo and Rhys Miller". HOTA. 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  26. ^ "In Residence: David Carberry, Ben Walsh Alice Muntz, Ela Bartilomo and Rhys Miller". HOTA. 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  27. ^ "Benjamin Walsh &the Orkestra of the Underground: The Arrival". Eventfinda. 2020-11-22. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  28. ^ "Dance review: The Long Walk". www.artshub.com.au. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  29. ^ "Red Light Distancing | A mini 'Dark Mofo' for West end. - Westender". 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  30. ^ "DIFF - Mad Max: Fury Road - Black And Chrome at The Darwin International Film Festival - movie times & tickets". www.diff.net.au. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  31. ^ "Redirect Notice".
  32. ^ "The Incredible Shrinking Man - Film Event Live". Eventfinda. 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  33. ^ "BUFF: Benjamin Walsh - Remix Experiment Live". Eventfinda. 2022-12-11. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  34. ^ "Home - Newtown High School of the Performing Arts". newtown-h.schools.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  35. ^ "Bachelor of Music". Western Sydney University. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  36. ^ "Shaun Tan", Wikipedia, 2024-01-22, retrieved 2024-01-30
  37. ^ "GRAPHIC: 'The Arrival' by Shaun Tan". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2010-07-12. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  38. ^ "Ben Walsh". Top Shelf. Retrieved 2024-01-30.

Benjamin Walsh - Discography

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JNGL Futurism
Solo Flight
Rare Reels 104- Tom Thum & Benjamin Walsh
Rare Reels 103- Soundtrak 
Rare Reels 102- Greg Sheehan & Benjamin Walsh
 Rare Reels 101- Simon Mavin & Benjamin Walsh
 Seemingly Impossible Odds
Singularity EP
Cassetica
Praha- Soundtrak 
Na Moja First Draft -Benjamin Walsh & Matt Ottignon
 Music To An Invisible Film-Soundtrak
 Jagungal- Si Mullumby & Benjamin Walsh
 Octagon- Neil Sagewood Trio
 Super Sounds
Odds End- Jungletone
 Remix Experiment
Ant B & Says- Jungletone
 Renewal
Silent Space -Benjamin Walsh & Bobby Singh
 Saachi- Benjamin Walsh & Bobby Singh- Cleis Pearce
 Mesopotamia- Jungletone
 Best Kwality Beats- Groovelands Soundsystem
 AKT 1- Jungletone
 The Blue Hour
Paper Lotus- Benjamin Walsh & The Orkestra Of The Underground
 Experiments 1996-2012 (DISC 2)- The Bird
 Experiments 1996 -2012 (DISC 1)- The Bird
 Tales From Dark Spaces - Jungletone
 Harlem To Hanoi- The Crusty Suitcase Band
 The City is a Monster (single) - Jungletone
 Kings of the Dust- Jungletone
 Studio Selections -Jungletone
 Bit Rider- Jungletone
 Live Dubstep Sessions- The Bird
 Nirmana- Benjamin Walsh & Bobby Singh
 Groovelands Soundsystem- Groovelands Soundsystem
 Old Hat EP- The Crusty Suitcase Band
 Operator 64- Jungletone

[1]

  1. ^ "Groovelands". Groovelands. Retrieved 2024-01-30.