The Key Studio VIDEO Sessions: Songwriting with Ben Smith

For this month’s Key Studio Video Session, we profiled Ben Smith, a consummate songwriter and leader of the West Chester-based chamber-rock group Missing Palmer West. This fall, he digitally released his debut solo album Crooked Earth. For our session, a string trio and drummer joined Smith in the studio to perform the record’s highlights, revisit a tune from his late-’90s rock group Wise And Foolish Builders, and cover one of his all-time favorite cinematic pop songs: “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths. (Listen for that on The Key Studio Sessions Hour on XPN2 tomorrow night at 7 p.m.). A high-school English teacher by day and film enthusiast all-around, Smith talks in our interview about how those elements—words and scenes—converge in his music. Stream and download highlights from band’s set and watch our video below; look for his CD-release party at Milkboy in Ardmore on January 20.

The Key Studio Session #4 – Ben Smith from WXPN FM on Vimeo.