Award-winning Australian-born, LA-based singer/songwriter Ben Abraham has officially unveiled his stunning new single ‘War In Your Arms.’ Out today on Atlantic Records, the track features striking piano melodies and epic gospel harmonies set against a gracefully sculpted beat. It arrives alongside an equally evocative official video starring Ben (watch here).
Produced by James Flannigan (Dua Lipa, MARINA, Matt Maeson) and co-written with fellow Australian singer-songwriter Helen Croome, ‘War In Your Arms’ marks the first track off Abraham’s upcoming second album, due out later this year.
Of the heavy-hearted lead single, Ben shares: “It’s about that point when the relationship is done and you’re trying so hard to hold onto love, it almost becomes like an act of violence. All you’re really doing is hurting yourself and hurting the other person, until you can gather the strength to say, ‘Enough. I’m done.'”
Today’s single comes off the back of ‘Like A Circle’, released by overwhelming popular demand after Abraham teased a snippet of the then unreleased track to his TikTok last month (the original clip has now amassed nearly 1 million views in just a few short weeks).
Last year, Abraham released a striking rendition of Peter Gabriel’s classic ‘In Your Eyes’, recorded live during sunset at the Vasquez Rocks in California (watch here). This followed previous singles ‘Satellite‘ and ‘Nobody Wants to Hear Songs Anymore‘, both released in 2019.
In exclusively announcing his signing to Atlantic and debuting ‘Satellite’, Billboard declared: “‘Satellite’ is a stunningly cinematic cut, keeping the barebones instrumentation to just piano and strings, letting Abraham’s warm vocal shine.” Idolator continued: “Ben won rave reviews for his independently-released debut LP, Sirens, but he is perhaps best known for his songwriting prowess which is on full display on his major label debut single. ‘Satellite’ is a sublimely-written lullaby… folk-pop poetry.”
His debut album ‘Sirens’ was initially self-released in 2014, earning widespread critical praise and leading to a 2016 reissue via indie label Secretly Canadian. Featuring appearances from Sara Bareilles and Gotye, the album was hailed by the New York Times as “a debut of remarkable depth.”
While ‘Sirens’ catalyzed his career as an in-demand songwriter – co-writing tracks like Kesha’s RIAA-certified double-platinum, Grammy Award-winning smash hit ‘Praying’ – he also experienced the most tumultuous period of his life, including a serious breakup and ensuing crisis of faith. In the thick of all that upheaval, Abraham created his second album – due out later this year on Atlantic Records.
A selection of songs that speak to the undeniable possibility for rebirth after incredible loss and pain, Ben’s forthcoming album reveals the extraordinary gift for songwriting that he’s honed for much of his life and spotlights the cinematic yet emotionally raw sensibilities he’s long showcased while penning songs for artists like Demi Lovato and The Chicks.
With his earlier live experience including touring with country legend Emmylou Harris, Abraham recently supported Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winner Ben Platt on his 2019 headline tour – a North American run that followed Abraham’s co-writing several songs on Platt’s debut solo album, ‘Sing to Me Instead’.
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