AUDIO
Welcome to the audio portion of Ben's portfolio. Below, you will find a nearly comprehensive list of musical projects as well as other sound art Ben has created, contributed to, or been involved with.
current Projects
SUKI is a band based out of North Carolina Consisting of Ben Newman and Katrina Urton.
suki
DIIV
DIIV is a band based out of New York City from 2011 to the present day. DIIV began as the solo project of Zachary Cole Smith. Ben plays drums along side Smith (guitar, vocals), Andrew Bailey (guitar), Devin Perez (Bass), and Colin Caulfeild (guitar, keyboard, and vocals). The band has and continues to tour extensively around the world and has released two full length albums and a handful of EPs. Much more background information on the band as well as their tour schedule is widely available online. Hear some songs from the band below:
past projects
Healing light
Healing light was a record label that put out experimental cassette tapes operated out of New York City from 2010 to 2012, founded by Ben Newman and Mike Schlereth. Healing Light began as a way to distribute the homemade recordings of Ben and Mike (Lone Wolf and German Ghost, respectively), but quickly expanded to other bands including Caged Animals, Boom Chick, AAARRRGGHH, Technicolor Yawn, Names and Faces, and Thee Source ov Fawnation. Click here to listen to all of the Healing light releases, and listen to some of Ben's Contributions below:
foundsounds
FoundSounds was a podcast that ran from 2013-2015 for 26 episodes. Each episode was a 15 minute psychedelic audio journey made from obscure new age cassette tapes. These mixes were made without using effects, just a four track recorder adjusting the speed and direction of the tape. There are plans to revive these recordings in some way when the time is right. Listen and download all episodes here on the internet archive (for free), or listen below.
banda suki
Banda Suki was a band that existed out of Charlotte, NC in 2015. Ben was the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of Banda Suki alongside Katrina Urton (keyboards), Brett Whittlesby (guitar), Aaron Rogers (drums) and Mike Schlereth (bass). They played several shows around the southeastern United States and released several demo recordings before breaking up in 2015. Listen below:
WErewolves
Werewolves was a band based out of New York City from 2007 to 2012. Ben was the drummer alongside Brian Amsterdam (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Kim Arrigo (bass), Turner Halsey (guitar, keyboards), and Mike Maio (guitar). The band toured throughout the United States and Europe and released several EPs and released one full-length album titled Dance Raincoat Glass in 2009. After a particularly difficult set of circumstances, the band broke up in 2011 with many members moving away from NYC. Download the album here on the internet archive (for free), or listen below
cam will
Cam Will is the project of Cameron Boyd based out of Burlington, VT. Ben was enlisted to play drums, keyboard, and guitar on his album Winter Left its Lights on in 2014. Cameron continues to write and perform songs in Vermont and elsewhere. Visits his BandCamp page here or listen below.