Ben Trexel Interview

Ben Trexel Interview by Jerry W. Henry
I worked with Ben Trexel back in the ’90’s at Front Row Productions/Vent Records. Ben was the first person that I knew who learned Pro Tools. He mastered the program and now is one of Birmingham’s most sought after producer/engineers. I met with Ben in WorkPlay’s recording studios.
He grew up a couple of miles from WorkPlay’s studio. He went to John Carroll High School for a couple of years, but because of his love of the guitar, he transferred and graduated from Alabama School of Fine Art. He also studied Management Information Systems at UAB.
He first got interested in guitar when his babysitter would bring albums with her when she came to babysit. She exposed him to Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Yes and other top rock acts of the day. Ben told me, “I was lucky enough to be 10 years old in 1973 which was one of the best ever 3 or 4 year periods in music from a rock perspective.” He continued, “Looking at the Thin Lizzy album on back with the guys and their Les Pauls, it was like, man that’s super cool. Then what totally ruined me was seeing Kiss in 1975.”
He was part of neighborhood bands since the age of 11, which played concerts on porches. He was 14 when he played his first big time gig at the CYO House at Saint Francis Xavier Church. There were about 150 people there. He was playing clubs by the time he was 16. Clubs like Diamond Jim’s and The Wooden Nickel (The Nick). About that time he started teaching guitar and has since taught hundreds.
Ben started recording music early in his career. He interned with Tony Wachter at Boutwell Studios when he was 17. He continued his education with some of Birmingham’s best engineers Mike Panepento and Davey Moore. When it was time to go out on his own, he started recording on a 4-track recorder. He loved the idea of overdubbing. He liked the process of recording a rhythm track and then coming back and recording a lead part. He developed a sense of perfection that has served him well over the years. He is also known for his creativeness in the use of recording methods and the manipulations of sonic textures.
He created his own production company, Benzen Music, about 5 years ago. He has produced 10 different acts during that time. One of his acts, Amacio Favor, is an emerging rock vocalist influenced by both hard rock and soul; Favor brings a unique approach to the world of modern rock, fusing the energy of Living Colour and Soundgarden with the soulful inflections of Al Green and Otis Redding. His debut CD, Breakout is currently available on ITunes, CD Baby, and Spotify.
At WorkPlay, Ben’s credits includes recording Train’s Alive at Last album back in 2004. As well as Duncan Sheik, Brandi Carlile, Paul Thorn and many more in the years since. He produced the first 2 Live in the X Lounge albums at Airwave Studio. This was a project that brought in up and coming bands to Birmingham that became famous. He worked with Fuel, Matchbox 20, Creed, Edwin McCain, Sister Hazel, Patti Griffin, Train, Guster, Better Than Ezra, Brother Cane, Cowboy Mouth, Barenaked Ladies, BR5-49, Hootie & the Blowfish, Shawn Mullins, Alanis Morissette, The Black Crowes, Mr. Henry, Widespread Panic and many more. He has worked with lesser-known national acts also like Black Lab, Semisonic, Tonic, Fastball, Jump, Little Children, Vertical Horizon, My Friend Steve and more.
His own compositions have been in films and TV shows. Some got him a couple of Emmy nominations. His work with Sharrif Simmons’ documentary, Mr. Dial Has Something To Say, fostered another nomination. His songs were used in Facing The Storm: Story of the American Bison. Songs in New Line Cinema films and the list goes on and on. Not to mention his work a few years back with his band APPLESPACEBAR, whose music they describe as a mix of modern rock, alternative, and urban industrial music. Those instrumental albums are still talked about because of their unique blend of sounds.

This article appeared in the Leaf/Tannehill Trader October 2014 issue.