Benny Marchant: Conversations Missed Giveaway

Conversations Missed, the tantalizing EP by electric troubadour, Benny Marchant, is the sound of a hopeful heart that's bruised but still beating. Painting the stages of love and loss, the songs Cold Weather, Been Too Long, A Better Way and two versions of the title track, Conversations Missed, introduce Benny's haunting alternative folk-rock. Produced by Joe Chiccarelli (Radiohead, White Stripes,) it's a four-track tour of the spirit of a musician unafraid to explore his feelings -- and a teaser for early 2011's Cold Weather album that leaves the listener wanting more of Benny's intimate, tuneful insights.

"For me, the best part about recording Conversations Missed as a solo artist was being able to be vulnerable," says Benny. "When I was in bands and in the studio I used to hide some of my soul behind the music and sounds. Now I'm not trying to fit in with anyone else but me -- a new me."

All of Benny's songs confront not just his, but all of our human awakenings and growth -- whether it's the determined positivity of the lonely man in Conversations Missed, who makes himself reach for light in his darkness; Been Too Long's realization that it's finally right to get out of a bad situation, its plaintive sound emphasized by pedal steel guitar; the exultation of allowing yourself to give and receive love in the breezy Cold Weather; and the wake-up call of the vibrato cello in A Better Way's reminder that yes, you can recover from a broken heart -- and now's the time to start.

Benny's yearning anthems float on a bed of harmonies framing his tender vocals and ringing, melodic guitar. On Conversations Missed Benny claims his own personal, emotional sound. The process was eased by the collaboration with Chiccarelli. "He’s a genius," states Benny emphatically. "He helped bring the songs to life and put the pieces together so that ten really good songs grew into an album. He gave me the confidence to go deep."

Ardently, Benny says, "I've been working my whole life to be this happy with my own music. I'm always going to be competitive with myself to write that next song, whether it's inspired by my own life experience or something I imagine through a friend's or loved one's eyes. I'll always be searching, reaching further."

Shop: You can purchase Conversations Missed at various retailers online and nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will receive an autographed 8x10 photo and a copy of Benny Marchant: Conversations Missed!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Angel Jacklyn!

• To enter, comment on why you'd like to win.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Benny Marchant (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
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  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is October 5, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about October 6, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

12:00 AM Posted in: CDs,giveaways
Gem is a Hawaii Mom Blogger who posts reviews and giveaways, and blogs about life in Hawaii as a mom of 3 boys, including one with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. She loves to travel, bake, and eat anything with chocolate.