Frontman Ben Stewart talks about their new album, big sounds and why he doesn’t read reviews
It’s a big week for Ben Stewart, but at the moment, he’s just trying to find a parking spot. Sitting outside the studio, he’s as unbothered as ever, his easygoing demeanour setting the tone for what’s about to unfold. This moment, full of casual patience, could be ripped straight from the playbook of Slowly Slowly—an embodiment of the band’s trademark attitude. Things are chaotic, sure. But he’s just rolling with it.And chaos is, of course, a given when your band’s new album is about to drop.
“I forget how much goes on during album release week,” he admits with a smile. “The bottleneck of it all—interviews, press, reviews, little in-store shows. It’s pure chaos.” But there’s a catch: “It’s also so nice,” he adds, his face lighting up as if the whirlwind is exactly what he signed up for.
The album in question is Forgiving Spree—a title that’s as bold as its sound. There’s a real anthemic energy here, with echoes of Springsteen, Sam Fender, and even shades of Gang of Youths. The kind of music that feels made for arenas and open roads. And this, Stewart reveals, was the intention from the start.
“I wanted that big, grandiose sound,” he says, leaning forward. “I want the music to be able to translate to a massive live experience. I’m not into wallflower bands. I want a show. After my solo record—a more delicate, considered piece of work—I was ready to kick some walls down with this one.”
What stands out about Stewart is his refreshing self-awareness. He doesn’t come across as the typical rock star—untouchable, self-important, or indulging in some narrative of grandeur. Instead, he balances the performer’s persona with a grounded sense of reality.
“At the end of the day, I’m just a person on stage whining about my feelings,” he says, the bluntness of it hitting me like a punch to the gut. It’s the kind of honesty that might make other frontmen squirm, but Stewart owns it—revels in it even.
As the album took shape, Stewart experimented with the process, leaning into a more fragmented and even chaotic approach to songwriting.
“I work in drips and drabs,” he explains. “It’s like chipping away at a statue. When I hit a creative block, I’ll go through my ‘graveyard of ideas.’ Those things I couldn’t quite make work before? Sometimes, they’re perfect now.” It’s messy, overflowing, and anything but neat—but Stewart doesn’t mind. “I try not to be too judgmental of the process,” he adds.
The other key ingredient in Forgiving Spree? His bandmates. While Stewart describes the act of writing as largely solitary, he makes it clear that the band is crucial to the album’s success.
“They’re my sounding board,” he says, nodding. “They know me and the sound of Slowly Slowly so well. I want to impress them. Songwriting can be a lonely pursuit, but they’re integral.” And Forgiving Spree is nothing if not an album built on collaboration—Slowly Slowly are firing on all cylinders here.
But Stewart’s not slowing down anytime soon. Even amidst a chaotic release week, he’s looking ahead to what’s next: acoustic shows, in-store performances, a European tour in March, and plenty of festival slots to fill the calendar.
One thing Stewart is not looking forward to, however, is the album reviews. “I don’t read them,” he says rather bluntly. “If one of my heroes writes a review, then sure—I’ll listen. But other than that, it’s just head down, bum up. I’ve got work to do.”
Despite his aversion to outside opinions, Stewart is confident in Forgiving Spree’s place in the world. “Every piece of music has its people. It just has to find them,” he says with quiet assurance. If there’s one thing that Forgiving Spree has going for it, it’s that finding its audience seems somewhat inevitable.
Forgiving Spree is available to listen here. Slowly Slowly’s upcoming tour dates can be accessed here.
