The summer of 2003 announced the official departure of Ben Davis as the drummer of Sugarcult. That was over a year ago and since then Sugarcult have released their latest album Palm Trees and Power lines with new drummer Kenny Livingston, but what happened to Ben Davis? Well I always wondered the same thing until one day a few months back, I got a message on myspace from the one and only Ben Davis asking me to listen to some of his new material. I was hooked from the first track and kept in contact with Ben through messages on myspace and emails. I bet you're wondering what this has to do with anything; well I’ve been lucky enough to interview the man himself on his departure from Sugarcult, his solo material, and why his roommate describes him as a ‘fart-machine’.

Most people will recognise you from being the ex-drummer of Sugarcult, what are your feelings towards leaving Sugarcult?

Well, it wasn't my idea, but it was something that I decided immediately to accept. It left me without a job, which is a little scary. I'm 33 years old and I don't really have money, skills, work history or a degree so I just have to go with what I know, which is music. Of course I have time now to find other ways to support myself. I have time that I wouldn't have if I were with Sugarcult, and I'm a big boy, so I don't worry much.

Has your departure from the band affected your relationships with the other members?

Yeah, mostly just insofar as I don't see them every day. I mean, it wasn't something that everybody had a say in, so I can't take it totally personally. Those guys are some of my best friends, and we never had any personal falling out. Regardless of how it may have hurt my feelings, I think things are better for me creatively now. Building Sugarcult with the guys is one of my biggest achievements. I think we're all indebted to one another for the way we've contributed to each others lives. We all respect that. We have a good relationship.

Tim has admitted in other interviews that ‘Champagne’ off ‘Palm Trees and Power lines’ was written about you, what are your thoughts towards the song?

It makes me sad, but I'm sort of flattered, I guess. It's touching. I'm not totally sure how to interpret all the lyrics.

Do you think your time in Sugarcult has helped you launch yourself as a solo artist?

Yes. I thought about doing a harder rock thing to appeal to Sugarcult's rock audience, but I just don't feel like presenting myself that way. But my association with Sugarcult surely made some people curious to see what my music might sound like. Maybe Sugarcult fans hate my shit, because they probably have millions of fans and I've probably sold 75 records. Hmmm, maybe I need a new strategy.

Well everyone knows what Sugarcult has been up to since the release of Palm Trees and Power Lines, the numerous tours, press interviews and media coverage but the members of Sugarcult are not the only busy ones. After receiving Ben’s first email about his solo material I started to wonder if that’s everything that this talented songwriter/musician had been up to. Well a few searches later I found that in-fact Ben had been very busy and was in such bands as The Positions NYC and The Sweet Hurt.

Since leaving Sugarcult you have been part of numerous side projects, care to explain the influence behind them?

he Sweet Hurt is my most functional band. It's based around Wendy Wang's songwriting. She's my ex-girlfriend's little sister. I love her voice and songs. The band has always been a part-time thing for her because of school and stuff. I joined a couple months ago, I think, but I've been helping Wendy with recordings for years. We just started really practicing. We want to put together an EP and some local shows by Summer's end.

The Positions NYC is a band I formed with Raney Shockne in rehab in November of 2002. I had a portable recorder in rehab and we made the majority of our album right as the songs came to us. The influence there is like, Lou Reed, The Cars, Iggy Pop... that kind of stuff.

There's this really cool thing that I want to do with Lee from Madcap right now. We haven’t done any work, but I checked out his ideas and I think it's great.

Of course aside from these side projects Ben has also been recording and spreading the word about his solo material. [It is his solo material that got me this interview, so you can also check out my review of his solo CD “The Audience is Sleeping” at the review section of the site]. For Sugarcult fans it’s style may be a shock since his solo material is not like the catchy punk rock tunes from his Sugarcult days but rather melodic soft acoustic material with heartfelt lyrics.

You’ve said that you’ve wanted to record some acoustic songs for some time now...what made you want to do acoustic material?

I like the way it sounds.

Your solo album shows your unique songwriting and instrumental skills off amazingly but what was your influence behind it?

I just had these songs laying around for years and I wanted to record them. My idea was to record it on the road and have it be no big deal. I couldn't pull it off though. I wanted it to be minimal and sparsely produced. I've had a million ideas for what it could be like. I was thinking myself into a corner. I did all kinds of preparation for some of the sounds I was going to try to get. Finally, I said "fuck it" and put a simple performance online. So now I'm just trying to pick six songs for a fully-produced EP. Most of the work is done. To put it plainly, the influences are Freedy Johnston, Elliott Smith, J.J. Cale, Sean Lennon... They have a simplicity I like.

How long have you been working on your solo material?

I don't always work on it. The songs I'm trying to get out now are five to ten years old, so that long, I guess. I'm assuming I'll get inspired to cook up a new batch once I record these satisfactorily.

What are your plans for your solo material?

I want to sell EPs. I'm not a business guy, so I don't really have a plan. I just do what I do. Hopefully I'll make some wise choices that lead me to food and a working car. Don't get me wrong; I have goals, but when I wake up in the morning I just have to do whatever's in front of me. Whatever phone call, online activity, band practice, bills to deal with... that's what I do. I guess the answer is that I'm going to promote my record independently the best way I know how. If only I knew how...

What is your favorite track off “The Audience is Sleeping” and why?

"I Don't Want To Know" because it's so plain. There's no metaphor.

Ben’s solo material also see’s him step out from behind the drum kit and switch it for a guitar.

So do you prefer playing guitar or drums more?

Drums are more natural for me, but I need to make music, not just rhythm. I haven't played drums for a year and seven months, except to record. My drums are in storage.

Throughout all his time in Sugarcult, not a lot of information can be found about the real Ben Davis so I thought I would try and get an insight...merely for the interviews sake of course ;)

Who inspired you when you were growing up, and who inspires you to this day?

I liked rock stars when I was little. Then it was geniuses. Now I look up to people who are friendly and comfortable dancing. God, I wanna be that guy who likes everyone and everyone likes.

Describe Ben Davis as an artist in five words.

Natural, honest, sensitive fucking genius. Naw, I don't know. I'm a flexible artist. Whatever I'm doing, I like to figure out what I like about it and just do my best.

What do you think is your biggest fault?

No social grace?

What’s the one thing that’s had the biggest impact on your life so far?

Cigarette and alcohol addiction

Do you have any reccurring dreams?

All the normal ones: Naked in public, messing up in school, losing my teeth, my dog coming back to life, fighting with someone...

If you could slap a Ben Davis logo on any object, mass-produce it and sell it, what would it be?

An autobiography. That would be the ultimate ego-gratification, having people want to read about my stupid little life and how I cured cancer just to impress a girl.

5 things about Ben Davis that people don’t know?

Oh shit, This is the question that kept me from doing this interview for two weeks. It's like the Oscar speech. You never expect anyone to want you to talk about yourself. I have horrendous stage fright. That's why I never fronted bands. I'm too scared. I don't like the music of Weezer. I'm listening to Prince right now. 5% genius, 95% lame. I love Boys II Men. I told my roommate that this was going to be hard. She didn't agree so I told her to name one thing. She said "that you're a fart machine". I thought that was hilarious. I don't fart around her, or really ever. In fact, I never ever have farted once, but I'm told it's natural. I wouldn't know.

I think after such an interesting “Oscar speech” it is a good enough point to finish this interview and all else I can really say is a million thanks to Ben Davis for taking the time to answer all my questions (no matter how long it took for some answers haha) and for all of you’s to check out my review of “The Audience is Sleeping”. Or go to www.purevolume.com/bendavis to listen to it for yourself.

For more information check out Ben’s website: www.bendavissolo.com. That holds the links to his solo myspace profile, along with his side bands The Positions NYC and The Sweet Hurt’s myspace profiles as well.