Ben Woods is a familiar face on the Christchurch music scene having played in some of our favourite local bands (Wurld Series, Fran and Salad Boys). He's now gone solo and has released two singles that we're pretty big fans of. Read on to learn a bit more about Ben and have a listen to the playlist that he's put together for us!
I am... Ben Woods. I've lived in Christchurch my whole life. Spent a lot of time grovelling around the city playing in indie bands, now I'm living over through the tunnel and writing/recording on my own.
My idea behind the mix... Just looking through things I've saved over the last 3 or so years and throwing it all at the wall. A questionable mix between lo-fi bangers and slow-jams, from both NZ and abroad.
My favourite brands are... Opshop buys keep coming to mind. I recently got an Assembly Label linen shirt I'm very fond of. Have had a pair of vegan Dr Martens that have done the dash too. My flat mate got me a pair of McKinlay's with Last Footwear Company soles that I love. They make me feel like a saucy farmer.
My favourite spots in Christchurch... R.T.B., One of the world's greatest scenic walks. The bars where I get staff discount–Civil & Navel and Space Academy. Really good Sri Lankan spot on Colombo Street called Ceylon Kitchen run by this ice/margarine sculptor named Sudath. I went by there recently and it's all gone! Hoping he hasn't moved too far. (Editor's note: Ceylon Kitchen has moved to 173 St Asaph St.)
My fashion icons... David Byrne, Guy Picciotto, Mike Hadreas, sometimes Bruce Springsteen. Also my flatmate Allanah Kwant. She's deep in the fashion game so is often coming home with immaculate garments I find myself becoming very jealous of. I wouldn't spend eight hundred dollars on a pair of pants, but she's defo gotten the closest to convincing me.
My go to performance outfit... Either whatever is cosy or my 'big pants look'.
Tracklist:
Jan Power - Batrider
Some Things Last A Long Time - Daniel Johnston
Alaskan Shake - Nap Eyes
Shades of Lawn - Lower Plenty
Give Me Back My Man - The B-52's
Every Night I Die At Miyagis - Ariel Pink
Closed Caption Demo - Fugazi
Get it Together - Beastie Boys
Daytona Beach - Half Japanese
We're so Lost - Voom
Hope - Dirty Three
Cat on Tin Roof - Blonde Redhead
Landscape Painter - Gun Outfit
Scorpio 10 - Coolies
Either/ Or - Elliot Smith
The Races - Grouper
I Am The Cosmos - Chris Bell
Soft Sounds from Another Planet - Japanese Breakfast
Apple Bed - Sparklehorse
Secret for Julie - Eric's Trip
Satellite - Womb
Aviva - Michelle Gurevich
Citric Acid - Chris Knox
Is That All There Is? - John Parish, PJ Harvey
Fear Not Of Man - Mos Def
I Went to the Hospital - Cass McCombs
Mound - Wurld Series
As We Go Up, We Go Down - Guided By Voices
Shoplifting - The Slits
Supermarket - Opposite Sex
100 - Dean Blunt
Betty Rubble - Mykki Blanco
Never Gonna Sleep - Free Kitten
Spicy 103 FM - Junglepussy
Melbourne - Street Chant
Why I Chew My Sleeves - Pumice
Be My Angel - Mazzy Star
People - Silver Jews
Century - Big Thief
Mis - (Sandy) Alex G
In Heaven - Salad Boys
Why Keep On Breaking My Heart - Nina Simone
Saturday - Yo La Tengo
I Know It's True But I'm Sorry To Say - Violent Femmes
Spend a Lot of Time Wishing - Sarah Mary Chadwick
My Body - Perfume Genius