The Music Show Ben Lee on mistakes, longevity and the power of pop music
Jul 19, 2025
Ben Lee is an influential Australian singer-songwriter known for hits like 'Catch My Disease' and 'Cigarettes Will Kill You.' He discusses the importance of pop music as a tool for emotional expression and societal change. Katie Yap, a Classical Freedman Fellow, shares insights from her project Multitudes, blending music and poetry with unique collaborators. They explore themes of collaboration, resilience in live performance, and the potential of music as a vehicle for activism in today's polarized world.
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Repetition as Comfort in Music
- Ben Lee connects pop song repetition to mantras, using repeated phrases to comfort listeners.
- Repetition creates a feeling of safety, even likened to a form of self-brainwashing, making the music engaging and memorable.
Early Discovery and Mentorship
- Ben Lee was discovered as a teenager and welcomed into the creative alternative community, which shaped his career.
- This early support opened doors for opportunities and inspired him to help others in turn.
Learning Through Mistakes Over Advice
- Ben Lee believed he would make his best work late in life, valuing craft over fleeting trends or vibe.
- He learns best by making mistakes himself rather than taking advice, which takes him longer to internalize lessons.
