Daily Inspiration: Meet Benjamin Wilkinson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Wilkinson.

Hi Benjamin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Thank you for speaking with me! My name is Ben Wilkinson, and I’m a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter based in Tucson, Arizona. I’ve been writing and performing for nearly 40 years—starting with my childhood friends in Central New York. In 1998, when I was 23, I moved to Northern California with my musician friends and have been stationed in the Western States ever since. Music These Days (musicthesedays.com) is my latest project. It’s been an interesting three years navigating through the pandemic, and I’ve been able to write, arrange, and record material I’m very proud of and inspired by sounds I heard deep in my childhood—with friends close and far contributing to the effort. Our live ensemble and sound are just picking up steam, and we’re starting to book local shows around southern Arizona, with plans to record our second album later this year. When I’m not making music, I’ve nurtured a 25 year career as a visual designer and photographer and teach graphic design to community college students.

You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has been a smooth road with occasional potholes and unexpected off-ramps. Sometimes the wagon breaks down, and you have to build it up from scratch on the side of the road. It’s mostly been relationships with other musicians that falter and cause occasional hardship. I believe that those situations are often unavoidable and present themselves so that other, more fruitful ones, can come forward. Fortunately, this cycle is less frequent as I approach 50 and know what types of artists I want to work with and vice versa. Interpersonal chemistry has to be the foundation—like any strong relationship. The music takes on a life of its own. It’s always there, and the environments and situations I’ve experienced help fuel melodies and lyrics. Usually in that order for me.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve always been “creative,” which manifests in different forms throughout any given day (or minute!) Music was the first area where I could express myself with great satisfaction at an early age, and it continues to be my pillar of creative expression. As I maneuvered through young adulthood, I found a deep interest in visual design and photography. Stemming from early interests in painting and drawing. I won a state-wide scholastic art award when I was 14, which gave me a lot of momentum and confidence to believe I could do this my entire life. I eventually got myself through school and earned a Masters’s Degree in Visual Arts and Design when I was 30. I have been helping like-minded companies and organizations define their visual stories ever since. This includes a love and practice in photography and videography. Having the opportunity to teach others what I’ve learned and what has worked for me in my career is some of the most rewarding work I’ve ever done. Watching eager learners adapt my teachings to their creative practice is hard to put into words. It’s beyond gratifying. I never thought I could teach. Now I can’t imagine a life without it.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
A while back, maybe 20 years ago, I heard a phrase that has stuck with me like an audible tattoo. “You have to take shots to make shots.” This is my simple position on risk-taking. Fear of the unknown, trepidation around failing, and other roadblocks are typical within my personal experience, but they have never defined it. Surmounting those initial feelings is the first step. Taking risks is more than one-and-done for me. It’s a scaled approach. If I have an idea that will improve a situation I’m in, wherever it exists in my life professionally or personally, I create a mental roadmap of what it will take to get there. Once I understand them more, I also write out my goals and frequently revisit them to keep me on track.

There have been several major examples of this in my life, but one that sticks out more than others happened in 2008. I was in a very comfortable role at a successful advertising agency in San Francisco, but something in my head told me to branch out on my own. After working on for-profit accounts for years, I wanted to further creative options for the non-profit sector. So at the onset of the 2008 global recession, I resigned from my full-time role and started a small advertising agency out of my dining room. Most folks thought I was crazy, but I followed my instincts and successfully operated independently for the next 5 years. I admittedly burned out as a business owner, but what I learned from that experience and grew from as a result would never have happened if I listened to my fears and let those feelings make the call. A regimented meditation practice has helped me keep my focus.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.musicthesedays.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/listentomusicthesedays/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howarya/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/musicthesedays