Ben Jelen

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 150
Name = Ben Jelen
|Background = solo_singer
Born = birth date and age|1979|7|8
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died =
Origin = New York City, New York, U.S.
Instrument = Vocals, guitar, piano, violin
Genre = Pop, piano rock, pop rock
Occupation = Singer/songwriter/musician
Years_active = 2004–present
Label = Fearless Management (2004–2005)
Custard (2006–present)
Associated_acts = Linda Perry, Tori Amos, Joseph Janus
URL = [http://www.benjelen.com/ benjelen.com]

Ben Jelen (born 8 July 1979), born Benjamin Ivan Jelen in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a singer-songwriter who plays the piano, violin, and guitar. He has lived in Scotland, England, Texas, New Jersey, and New York.

Music career

Jelen attended high school in San Antonio, Texas briefly, as a freshman at Northside Health Careers High School. He completed high school in Princeton, New Jersey and graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in biology. After that, he moved to New York City to work as a producer and sound engineer at a local recording studio. [ [http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/Ben|Jelen Music Emissions interview] ]

2004: "Give It All Away"

Jelen was discovered by Joseph Janus of Fearless Management, who originally wanted to sign him as a model. Instead, Jelen handed him a demo, and shortly thereafter, he was signed to a label and released his debut album "Give It All Away" in May 2004, promoted by appearances on TRL, AOL Breakers and Rock the Vote. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000497417 Breaking and Entering: Ben Jelen] ] [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000525702 Billboard Bits: Rock The Vote, Mellencamp, Linkin Park] ] [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000535801 Billboard Bits: 'Por Vida,' Loeb/Mitchell, AOL Breakers] ] The album also debuted at #13 on the Top Internet Albums chart, [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=327&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Internet+Albums&ci=3053611&cdi=8144202&cid=05%2F01%2F2004 Chart positions by Billboard.com] ] #120 on the Billboard Comprehensive Albums chart [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=292&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Billboard+Comprehensive+Albums&ci=3053631&cdi=8144631&cid=05%2F01%2F2004 Chart positions by Billboard.com] ] and #113 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3053634&cdi=8144924&cid=05%2F01%2F2004 Chart positions by Billboard.com] ] , making it eligible for the Top Heatseekers chart, a chart of artists who have never entered the top 100 of the Billboard 200. The album debuted at #1 on the Top Heatseekers chart. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=324&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Heatseekers&ci=3053803&cdi=8151107&cid=05%2F15%2F2004 Billboard.com chart positions] ]

Debut single "Come On" was a hit, reaching the MTV top 20. It also debuted at #58 on the Hot Singles Sales chart. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=353&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Singles+Sales&ci=3053489&cdi=8139825&cid=04%2F17%2F2004 Billboard.com chart positions] ] Apart from "Give It All Away" being included as a B-side to the "Come On" single, no other track from the album was released as a single.

2005–2006: Independent period

Following his debut album, Jelen left Maverick Records and independently released the EP "Rejected" through Fearless Management Records in 2005. He wrote and recorded a song for a compilation album for Tori Amos' RAINN organization [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000553471 Artists Shower Tracks on RAINN Benefit] ] and joined the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Wildlife Works. Jelen also appeared on the compilation album "Breaking for the Holidays" in 2006 with his self-produced cover of Joni Mitchell's "River" through Breaking Records. [ [http://www.breakingrecordsmusic.com Breaking Records website] ]

2007: Custard Records deal and "Ex-Sensitive"

Jelen performed at the 2007 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference and music festival in Austin, Texas, in a lineup that also included Taylor Hicks, Amy Winehouse, Tom Morello, Mika, Martina Topley Bird, The Fratellis, Bloc Party, Paolo Nutini, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Mogwai and Spoon. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003543523 SXSW Finally Confirms First Round of Artists] ]

Jelen's second full-length album, "Ex-Sensitive", was released on July 17, 2007. The album, formerly titled "East" [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002076347 Jelen Breaks Free With Linda Perry] ] and "Pulse" [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003539412 Ben Jelen Inks With Perry's Custard Label] ] , was produced by Linda Perry and mixed by Bill Bottrell.

Television and film

Jelen's music has been featured on the TV shows "One Tree Hill", "Smallville" and "Las Vegas", and was used to promote the Academy Award-nominated "Finding Neverland" starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. Recently, the instrumental version of "Come On" was featured in a trailer for The Bucket List.

Jelen also guest starred in an episode of "House" as a man looking to become a doctor in the episode "Kids".

Discography

Physical albums

* "Give It All Away" (2004)
* "Rejected (EP)" (2005)
* "Ex-Sensitive" (2007)
* "Wreckage (EP)" (2008)

Virtual albums

* "Sessions@AOL" (2004)

ingles

* "Come On/Give It All Away" [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=468968&aid=621226 Single listing at Billboard.com] ] (2004) (#58 U.S. Hot Singles Sales)
* "Where Do We Go" (2007)
* "Wreckage" (2008)

Other contributions

# Unknown track on the limited-edition compilation "CG Vibes: Music That Gives Back", available for five months in 2004 and supplied free with The Corrs' "Borrowed Heaven", Toby Lightman's "Little Things", Brandy's "Afrodisiac" and his own "Give It All Away" [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000575103 CoverGirl Launching Record Label] ]
# "Truth" on the compilation "For the Next X: A Benefit CD for RAINN" (2004) [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000553471 Artists Shower Tracks on RAINN Benefit] ]
# "Talking About A Revolution" (cover of Tracy Chapman's song of the same name) on the Russell Simmons/Babyface compilation "Wake Up Everybody" (2004)
# "Forever In Our Hearts" (playing keyboards and violin), a single for tsunami relief (2005) [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000777469 'Forever' Unites Artists For Tsunami Relief] ]
# "River" (cover of the Joni Mitchell song of the same name) on the compilation "Breaking for the Holidays" (2006)
# "Woman" (cover of John Lennon's song of the same name) on "" (2007)

References

External links

* [http://www.benjelen.com/ Ben Jelen] official site
*
* [http://www.benjelen.com/foundation Ben Jelen Foundation]
* [http://www.futurerockstarsofamerica.com/blog/feature/issue-002/ben-jelen/ Ben Jelen interview on FR*A]