Nine For 2009 - Esser

Esser - real name Ben Esser - is an enigmatic pop bard who buzzes around irrepressible melodies like a hyperactive bumblebee.

Formally the drummer for hypnotic dance-rock types Ladyfuzz, he’s now put down the sticks and stepped to the front of the stage to see what the view is like. Musically, he bounces everywhere: from the vaudevillian pop of latest single ‘Satisfied’, to the electro-tinged ‘Headlock’. And then there’s ‘I Love You’, a Specials-esque meandering nugget.

Leaving behind the comfort and safety of being in a band, he talks about the recent transition. “I’ve kinda always been doing stuff on my own,” says Ben, “it’s not like suddenly I went solo… It’s more when I had the bollocks for people to hear it.”

Initially worried about getting laughed off stage, his confidence was boosted with slots at the Reading and Leeds festivals. And he’s since caught the attention of Kaiser Chiefs drummer Nick Hodgson, who has got him on board for their arena tour in February.

Stepping into venues with 12,500 people a night looking at you would, to most, be quite daunting. But laidback and composed Ben simply says: “I can’t even imagine commanding the attention of that many people; it’s that huge I’ve not even thought about it.”

Esser represents that gap in the mainstream that’s been unfilled for too long; part accessible pop along the lines of Scissor Sisters, part an eccentric dose of The Knife, along with a hint of T.Rex glam pop.

With the beacon of success flashing in the distance, the next twelve months will see a solo nationwide tour as well as the Kaisers support slot, the release of new single ‘Work It Out’ in early February, and debut album ‘Braveface’ in May. Meanwhile, work has already started on the next long-player, to include a collaboration with Gnarls Barkley’s Cee-Lo, another newly acquired fan.

If his ability to collect big-name fans is anything to go by, big things are on the horizon for Esser. Keep them peeled…

See Esser (MySpace) on tour as follows…

February (with Kaiser Chiefs)
22 Nottingham Arena (get Nottingham tickets)
23 Sheffield Arena (get Sheffield tickets)
24 Birmingham NIA (get Birmingham tickets)
26 Edinburgh Corn Exchange
27 Aberdeen Arena
28 Newcastle Arena (get Newcastle tickets)

March (with Kaiser Chiefs)
2 Manchester MEN (get Manchester tickets)
3 Liverpool Arena (get Liverpool tickets)
4 Cardiff CIA (get Cardiff tickets)
6 London Wembley Arena (get London tickets)

April
16 Leeds Cockpit (get Leeds tickets)
17 Glasgow King Tut’s
18 Middlesbrough Empire
19 York Duchess (get York tickets)
21 Manchester Deaf Institute (get Manchester tickets)
22 Wolverhampton Little Civic
23 Bristol Thekla (get Bristol tickets)
24 Southampton Joiners (get Southampton tickets)
25 Exeter Cavern
27 Brighton Komedia
28 Colchester Arts Centre
29 Norwich Arts Centre
30 London ULU (get London tickets)

Words: Lee Puddefoot