This Memphis, TN native took the time to chat with us about his past, his biggest inspirations and his favorite sports teams. Ben Bradford is currently pursing his dream to be a singer songwriter but he wasn’t always determined to make it in the country music world.
Bradford told us a little about his path to music and how certain choices he has made has led him down this musical road. “I always had the dream growing up to be a baseball or football player and one thing leads to the next and it doesn’t work out and your other option is blowing up stuff in chemistry,” he says. “I really wanted to expand on that and I got a degree in biology and chemistry. I was planning to go to medical school but my brother, who is a radiologist but a phenomenal guitar player, told me, ‘You are young enough right now to try music, and that is what you love to do.’ And ever since I stepped foot on the first stage and played and got that adrenaline rush, I felt it was better than baseball or anything I’ve ever done.”
Looking to the heavy hitters for inspiration, Bradford grew up listening to Kenny Chensey, Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks. “They all have their separate qualities but they all have one thing in common and it’s that they don’t stop. They don’t take no for an answer and they learn how to deal with adversity,” Bradford says when asked why he aspires to have careers as those particular artists. He was also strongly influenced by the icons in the rock and roll genre. “My dad is classic rock. I grew up with Zeppelin, Van Halen, ACDC and all that, and that influences my music as well.”
Bradford’s new single “Just A Little Bit” was written by Dustin Lynch, Jimmy Robbins and Shane McAnally. We asked him how it felt to be able to record a song written by such esteemed songwriters. “I loved this song from the very first time it was played for me,” he says. “Most of the time I am wanting to write all of the songs that I want to record and to have on my album but at the same time, if you get a great song put in front of you, you are not going to pass it up.”
Currently playing the fraternity and sorority circuit, Bradford is making fans out of the college students and couldn’t be happier. “It’s a lot of fun, everybody is into it and for the most part people are going crazy having a good time and you get to make the fans early on. In college you really expand your musical appetite if you can get to that early you will have an influence when they get older. I’ve played to bartenders rolling up napkins and then I’ve played to three thousand or more people, but every show is special because if you one make person a fan it’ll turn into more.”
Bradford has opened for Jake Owen, Chris Young and many more popular country artists recently. “Have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously. That is the biggest thing to do. Don’t be nervous – it could be five fans or fifty thousand fans – just go out there and have fun, ” is what he learned from them over the years.
His debut EP Alright is all set to be released December 2nd. For the latest updates follow Ben on his social media platforms, twitter, instagram, and his website.