North London singer, songwriter and storyteller Louis Dunford has unveiled the powerful and emotive visual for ‘Ballad of Benjamin’. The video is based on Louis’ personal experience of the immediate aftermath of the killing of his friend Ben Kinsella and features rising actor Spike Fearn.
Directed by Louis’ friend Charlotte Regan (Mumford & Sons, Stereophonics, Wretch 32), the video hopes to raise awareness of youth violence and knife crime and showcases the impact that knife crime can have on a young person’s life. Alongside the video, Louis will be fundraising for the The Ben Kinsella Trust, doing a sponsored 10k run in July, which you can donate to HERE.
Louis Dunford says: ‘I wrote this song a few years ago as a tribute to my friend, Ben. My good friend Charlotte made this video for the song and we hope to shine a light on Ben’s story, the trust his family have set up in his name and the ongoing knife crime issues we still face in this country over ten years on from Ben’s murder’. He adds, ‘Even if just one kid who carried a knife today hears this song or watches this video and decides that they’re not going to carry a knife tomorrow then that’s enough for me’.
Brooke Kinsella, founder of The Ben Kinsella Trust says: “Behind every knife crime headline there is someone sitting in a police car watching their world fall apart. Louis’s ballad to Ben shines a light on the awful legacy that knife crime leaves in its wake. His video captures the immediacy of trauma and the feelings of loss that stay with you forever. Since Ben’s murder too many families, friends and communities have had to suffer the loss of a talented young person. That is why the work of The Ben Kinsella Trust is so important”
Ballad of Benjamin is taken from Louis’ debut EP The Morland released in January and features five tracks that encompass Louis’ honesty, humour and sheer likeability. From the depth of personal emotion showcased on Ballad of Benjamin to the cheerfully nostalgic lead track When We Were Hooligans, the EP is a perfect introduction to the unique sound of Louis Dunford.
Louis has had a rapid rise to success in a short space of time and has garnered key tastemaker support from i-D, Clash, Complex, SBTV and Wonderland. Last month, he announced two headline shows at St Pancras Church on 21st and 22nd July which both sold out in under 4 minutes! With a notebook never too far, Louis nostalgically writes about his own observations of friends, family and life, always telling stories that need to be told. Using his songs like a journal, his lyrics are often a cathartic release and a way to honestly approach tragedy or share everyday humour through frank storytelling and raw and gritty delivery.
The official video for ‘Ballad of Benjamin’ is out now which you can check out here.
Please consider donating to the Ben Kinsella Trust and support my campaign to stop knife crime at https://benkinsella.org.uk/balladofbenjamin/
