Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Siroka
Hi Ben, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Music has always been a major part of my life. I was playing different instruments throughout my whole childhood and played in a variety of bands in middle school and high school, but I never thought of it as much more of than hobby, much less a career. But in my junior year of high school, I got an iPad and started playing around in GarageBand, and my whole world changed. I started making beats and became absolutely obsessed. I remember being in the back of the band room during class, completely locked in on making beat after beat after beat. It became all I cared about. Once I went to college, my parents got me my first laptop and I remember immediately making more beats as soon as I got it. During my first semester, I just fell further down the rabbit hole, learning everything I could about recording and production. I’d spend hours studying my favorite songs and albums, trying to pick apart every little sound. That year for my birthday, my family bought me my first microphone and I started recording my first songs. By the time second semester came around, I was spending every day in my dorm room making beats, writing songs, recording, repeat. I had fallen in love with making music and realized this was something I couldn’t *not* do. So I did what any rational 18 year old first year college student would do: I dropped out to pursue music.
Over the next few years, I dedicated all my time and effort into developing myself as an artist and creating my sound. I started meeting other artists, both locally and through social media, making connections and collaborating within my community. All my hard work finally culminated with the release of my debut EP “Don’t Go Outside” in July of 2023, as well as it’s follow up project, “Gone Fishing!” in April of 2024, which brings us to where I’m at today!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It certainly hasn’t been the smoothest journey. After dropping out of school, I did a lot of bouncing around between living in my parents’ house and trying to move out and establish myself as not only an independent artist, but an independent person as well. I was learning how to grow up and be an adult in the real world while still pursuing a dream that plenty of people would call unrealistic. Especially when I first started making music, I remember the amount of backlash from people I thought would be supportive and encouraging. Friends would tell me that music wasn’t for me, that I was chasing a pipe dream. Of course it hurt, but I was determined to prove them all wrong. I still am, honestly. I think it’s still a huge motivating factor for me. I won’t accept any limits placed on me by another person. Nobody other than me can ever tell me what I’m capable of, what my limits are, or where my potential ends.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a completely independent multifaceted artist. I have complete creative and executive control over my music, which is a blessing and a curse. It means I’m the captain of my own ship, but I’m also my own crew. It means I wear every hat in a creative space. I’m a writer, producer, mix engineer, visual artist, and one-man marketing team. This means for every release of mine, I’m responsible for every aspect along the way. My own beats, my own cover art, my own promotional campaigns, all of it is made and directed by myself, out of my own pocket, which separates me from a lot of other artists and creatives who outsource certain aspects of their work to other people. I specialize in rap/hip-hop/R&B spaces, and am quite proud of my ability to blend my favorite genres and influences into something that I feel screams “Ben Siroka”.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Social media is your best friend as a creative! I promise no matter what you’re looking for, you can find exactly who and what you need on the internet! It just takes a little elbow grease. My best advice would be to scour the internet, but also don’t be afraid to see what’s happening locally! Go to local shows, art fairs, creative networking events! Talk to the people around you and create community with like-minded individuals. Some of my closest friends and collaborators are people that I just happened to meet because we were in the right place at the right time with similar intentions and interests. Don’t be afraid to let life happen to you as well. Half the battle is just being ready for when opportunity strikes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5mUYJoQNsgMCwVKOqBGf01?si=VEg6KrIjSeCzwbw7LD7qHw
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bensiroka
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bensiroka
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ben-siroka/1324537233
