Ex-Blaenavon Frontman Ben Gregory Shares Solo Single ‘Deathbed Hangover’ | News

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Ex-Blaenavon frontman Ben Gregory has shared solo single ‘Deathbed Hangover’.

The band confirmed their split earlier this year, and the singer steps into the breach with a challenging solo endeavour. The seed of ‘Deathbed Hangover’ was planted back in 2019 – with his group splintering, Ben Gregory sought help for psychiatric issues.

Taking time out, this period provides the bedrock for ‘Deathbed Hangover’. Constructed alongside producer and old friend Blaine Harrison of Mystery Jets and engineer Matt Twaites, it’s an adventurous seven-minute offering.

Twisting and distorting Ben’s voice to the point of incomprehension, ‘Deathbed Hangover’ moves in and out of focus in a profound, engaging manner. He comments…

“’Deathbed Hangover’ is about the self-destructive tendency of total immersion in entertainment. My brain has the consistency of mushy peas because my telephone is so seductive. I tried to play this against more traditional fears of aggressive technological expansion: communities moving underground in a Wellsian nightmare. The laptop-screen light is our never-setting sun, which I think is accidentally a Mr. Burns reference.”

I recorded this song during lockdown after hard-binging Watchmen (2019) and finding Reznor/Ross’ soundtrack overwhelmingly beautiful. I hope I referenced some of that in a decent light. (Bear in mind I am just a guitarist randomly mashing computer keys.) Interesting fact: The demo of this song was always labelled ‘(unmixable version)’. I like to think the original chaos carries through, but Blaine (Producer) and Matt (Engineer, Mixer) managed to make a version that verges on listenable.”

Tune in now.

Photo Credit: Neelam Khan Vela

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