Ben Brock's Album Scars Releases July 11th

Ben Brock is set to release his sophomore album, Scars on July 11th with an album release show at the Blue Door. His first album, Who I am, which came out in 2018 also had a release party at the Blue Door. You can read the review about that album here.

Brock, a well-seasoned Okie artist, has been playing and gigging relentlessly through the years. Humble and hard-working, he represents the “every day man” with his earnest lyrics and soulful playing. His friendly energy and welcoming attitude has earned him loyal fans who are more like friends.

Scars was actually recorded a few years ago, at Classen Recorderss with Dwight Hamlin.

“I kind of sat on it for a while, a little bit of impostor syndrome probably. Worried about what it's gonna do and just everything. Then I just decided I needed to make it happen. It's already done, so,” said Brock.

Scars, which was backed and funded by Mike Rice, includes 10 tracks and features Devon Carothers on drums, Zach Holliday on pedal steel, and Hamlin and Johnny Carlton on Bass. It also includes Chloe Beth, Jade Castle and Jason Scott.

“Dwight did all the mixing and mastering himself. He's just phenomenal at what he does. And it's always nice to have somebody, especially when you're in the studio, everybody always talks about wanting to be real comfortable with the person that's recording you. Well, Dwight Hamlin's my best friend,” said Brock.

The album includes a nice variety of sounds and styles, from more rocking vibes with Not a Matter of if But When, to more of a high-country style in Back to You, to the softer and soulful sound of Cost of a Dream. It’s clear in the songs that Brock is showing us his own scars he’s earned along the way in life. Authentic and vulnerable songwriting is featured all throughout the album.

“I guess whenever I was writing all these songs and I put them all on this record, I didn't realize that the whole album kinda has a theme, a lot alike in meaning and stuff like that. I didn't realize that until after everything was recorded as I was listening to it. I think I did a really good job of fitting everything on the album and having the right songs on the album. The album, as a whole, is about healing. Of course, therapy through the years has helped too. Since I started releasing this stuff, I started doing things like that and just basically taking care of my mental health and trying to be better about that kind of thing. I think it leads into my writing too,” explained Brock.

The album also features a cover of Sunday Morning Coming Down by Kris Kristofferson.

“It's definitely one of my favorite songs of all time. My dad, growing up, was a musician and songwriter, and he was a big Kris Kristofferson fan, and he used to play a bunch of Kris Kristofferson songs. That song particularly, I remember hearing it when I was a kid and not understanding what they were talking about. Then as I grew older and became a songwriter myself, I just feel like I've lived every single lyric in that song. I'm a weekend warrior, you know, playing music and on Sunday it's sometimes a Sunday morning coming down. It fits with what I'm kind of going for on this album. It's a bunch of breakup songs. Towards the end of the album there's a song called Old Heart, that kind of explains that my open wounds are becoming scars and I'm healing. I'm in the healing process of a bad breakup,” said Brock.

Brock has been releasing singles from the album every two weeks leading up to the Album release on July 11th, when it will be available on all streaming platforms.

“Back to You is the latest one I released. Me and Misti Lanier wrote that song together. I just always wanted to write like a 90s country song, and I think it sounds pretty 90s country but it's still an honest song as well,” said Brock.

The release show at the Blue Door is an all-ages show, doors open at 7:30 pm and show starts at 8 pm. Tickets are available here.

“Then, July 12th we'll be going to Tulsa and playing at the Colony. I'm excited to do a release also in Tulsa as well. I'm doing an acoustic release on August 1st at Marvin's Place Art Gallery in Ardmore, and it is one of the coolest rooms in the whole entire state. It's completely unplugged. It seats about close to 50 people, people are just really quiet and that room doesn't need any amplification at all. It's a pretty amazing room so me and Dwight and Megan (Marlene) are gonna be doing that show,” said Brock.

While it took Brock a while to decide to release Scars, he’s ready to jump back in to recording more songs.

“On the 24th of this month I'm getting back in the studio with Dwight, and I'm gonna do an acoustic set. I don't know if I'm gonna do an EP, I might just do a bunch of singles again. I'm writing a lot more than I ever have. So, I have songs in my pocket to pull out and start recording again. I'm really excited about progressing. My songwriting has gotten better for sure, on this album versus my songs in the past,” said Brock.

Make sure you get plugged into Brock’s social media for more information about his music and shows and check out Scars on July 11th.