#“Since he wrote the article about me, it’s been crazy. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing and I already have a few interviews for today. But this is the first, the first of my life!” Ben Ellis tells me. It took me about two weeks to get to him, but after we published his story on Dir.bg a day ago – it turned out to be much more difficult. The reason – his song “Sofia”, written for the capital of Bulgaria, which gathered over 2 million fans, is already in the focus of the news in our country. There is a queue of journalists waiting for Ben Ellis and “Sofia”. Who is he? Why and how did he get to Bulgaria? What will we see in the video of “Sofia”, which has gathered more than 2 million fans – you will learn from this interview!
“I’m enjoying the day here. It’s sunny and it’s pretty crazy for me, after writing this article I’m getting a call from your national TV, can you imagine?” laughs Ben.
In two weeks he will be 21 years old and he still can’t believe what is happening to him. He shared that the popularity of the song “Sofia” is the coolest gift he has received so far. He was born in Cardiff, Wales. A year ago he moved to London to create and dreamed of staying there permanently, but had to return to Cardiff.
“I try to fly as often as I can to London to make my music there, but now you catch me at home”.
His room is a typical boy’s room – with lots of posters and plaques on the wall. He’s smiling widely and doesn’t show that he’s worried, even though he says so. He tells me about himself. His mother is a therapist, works for the NHS – the National Health Service, and his father is a pilot.
“It flies a lot, and I guess that’s why I get these travel vibes,” says Ben Ellis.
In fact, the story of the song about Sofia begins just like that – she decides to leave suddenly and impulsively for the country that offers the cheapest plane ticket. Alone. He booked it instantly – it turns out to be next to Sofia.
He has always been interested in music, and about 5 years ago he started actively writing song lyrics. When you’re a musician and you write songs, it’s actually impressive to other musicians, he says.
“It’s something that makes you want to try harder and harder and want to get better, learn how to do it even better,” says Ben.
Plays guitar. He is adamant that this is his main tool.
“I dare not claim that I can reach for another at all!”
He gave up his education after a year at university. He decides that he will be a musician and devote all his time to it.
“A year later, after efforts and a lot of work, music began to pay off,” the young man says frankly.
A few weeks ago his song “Ed’s House” started playing on BBC Radio 1. He learned from a friend that they would play his single on the airwaves only when the song was already playing.
Ben Ellis
Photo: Ben Ellis Personal Archive
“He hadn’t told me about it. He’d just put the radio on. I felt like I’d been pinched! I’m so grateful! For someone who grew up listening to BBC Radio 1 and radio in general, to be part of his airwaves is indescribable! I hope and ‘Sofia’ to spin there. I 100% want it to happen,” says Ben.
He did not expect such a response for his song “Sofia” at all!
“I remember that when I got into a taxi from the airport in Sofia, the taxi driver told me – “You are not in the right place. Plovdiv is where you have to go”. I think he was wrong because I had an amazing three days. Sofia is a beautiful city and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to be right there!”
On his first trip to Sofia, he goes out to party twice and realizes that he still hasn’t seen much of the city.
“There was too much to see. I wanted to do it. It was my first trip in my life alone. The second time we went back to Sofia with two of my best friends. We made the video for “Sofia” and it looks great. At first we wanted the video to tells a story, but in the end it turned out that we see ourselves at the core of it, as the most annoying tourists in the world,” jokes the viral artist. “Actually, the video shows what it’s like to have the best time in Sofia, especially when you’re a foreigner!”.
The sights he visits first are the Patriarchal Cathedral “Saint Alexander Nevsky” and the statue of Saint Sophia.
“We wanted to shoot a video in the cathedral, but as expected they wouldn’t let us, and then we headed to the Angel of Sophia, as he told me the statue is called. Then to the Largo and walks until late at night. I even sang in one of the bars. We met foreigners from the Netherlands and they took us to Bar Fly, where I actually sang. The funny thing was that I sounded like I knew the city for years, convincing everyone in the hostel to go to this bar again, when in fact I’ve only been to Sofia twice.” .
So – twice in Sofia, two new tattoos for Ben Ellis
“The first one is a question mark on the ankle. None of the strangers we got them with knew exactly what they wanted us to draw, so we chose that mark. The second time was a conscious decision – we got a butterfly tattoo. I’ve always wanted a butterfly and I don’t think I have one clear basis for this – usually if someone asks me why I chose this, the better story is “We met strangers in Sofia, we got along and we decided”.
Ben Ellis
Photo: Ben Ellis Personal Archive
He can’t say exactly when the first words for the lyrics appeared, but he remembers a moment when he and his friend Matt were chatting online about song lyrics.
“We discussed what I was feeling at the moment, what emotions we could write about. I told him: “I flew to Bulgaria and got the same tattoos with strangers” and he said: “That’s it! We’re writing about it!’ I have to thank him now!” reveals Ben.
It defines the style in which he creates music, more like indie-pop, but not exactly. Move bi Future pop!
“The good thing about the music industry these days is that it allows you to be yourself. Many versions of yourself. The possibilities of Tik Tok and Instagram Reels give you a chance to be unique. People change the genres they perform in. I have quite a new music, I can say that I don’t stick to the same line. “Sofia” is my favorite song, at the moment”.
Not just you, Ben! To over 2 million people!
“It’s crazy! It’s one of those things that just happens, and from the beginning, it develops like lightning. I was like, ‘Okay. Very cool!” I’m enjoying every second of the attention these past few hours. Because of you!” Ben laughs.
He promises to return for the third time to Sofia, because it has a special place in his heart. Even if the song hadn’t happened or there wasn’t such a sensation around it – he would still keep Sofia there, in his heart, for many reasons – the first solo trip, many crazy moments, spontaneous singing in a bar, people he might never meet again…
“What I like about the lyrics of the song is that some people think that Sofia is a girl, not a city. There is no girl from Bulgaria in my heart for now. For now!” Ben emphasizes. “But when you get off the plane at the airport, you see the mountain and you say to yourself, ‘I’m in a nice place’. That’s the first feeling. The taxi driver told me about both Sofia and Plovdiv as ancient cities. Oh yes, Plovdiv is the next place that I’m going to visit. And why not make the next song about this city. You have such a rich history here,” says Ben Ellis.
I tell him that the song “Sofia” reaches Bulgaria at a very opportune moment after the article in the “Sunday Times” in which his compatriot describes the city as “gray”, carrying the burden of the communist past.
“I had no idea about that! Unbelievable!” he interjects. I ask him what colors he saw in Sofia…
“Good question… Maybe it depends on what color you feel. I would say sky blue. I remember back in the day that was my favorite time in the morning – sunny with a clear, blue sky. We were lucky to have good weather with my friends when we were there. That’s the first thing I feel when we talk about Sofia – blue!” says Ben.
Having a modern song for your city is cool, we share with Ben Ellis. He says that dozens of Bulgarians write to him and thank him for showing Bulgaria.
Ben Ellis
Photo: Ben Ellis Personal Archive
“They tell me that they are happy that I am doing this so that more people can see Bulgaria with smiling eyes. Some people recognized me on the street while we were shooting the video for the song, it was very well received. Bulgarians are wonderful and kind. By the way, I didn’t get to try very traditional dishes, but then I was on a tour of the city and the guides were so caring and friendly, we ate pizza together.”
He is currently dreaming that the single “Sofia” will be well received with the music video. He also dreams of playing his music live, and I’m sure he will be invited to some of the upcoming summer festivals in the city he wrote the song for – Sofia.
The video “Sofia” will see the light of day on May 3!
2023-04-28 14:46:25
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