Struggling for CONTENT - Ben Levin

[@watercolourmark]

KZbinr struggles for content, then has realization that he is a musician and his channel is about music. Submitting to the machine and disregarded the algorithm, he dipped a toe into a universe of wonder, it took hold and dragged him into a world of possibility. You are the only person today to hold my attention for 9 minutes and 54 seconds. Well done, Ben. You have leveled up and I believe you are complete.

[@crouton3455]

Some times it's just time for AAAAAA tuning and there's not really much we can do about that.

[@neur303]

Omg I cracked up so hard! ❤️

[@lolzlarkin3059]

Aaaaaa, the Fonzie tuning.

[@shitmultiverse1404]

Devin Townsend used a similiar tuning in some SYL songs in City (like AAA)

[@mar10urly]

Hi Ben! I've been working on music and lyrics to accompany a series of novels that I've recently finished re-reading for the 10th time! My process is similar to yours and I agree that lyrics can be a struggle. Particularly, subject matter or when faced against a set storyline. What to include, what to discard or change and still be true to the author's vision while establishing my own. Improvising scratch lyrics/melodies, is my go to, and seeing you do this process also, gives me great encouragement as I approach the finish line. Each section has been sewn together in around 16 min. chapters. The last novel has just passed the 30 min. mark with at least 3 major plot points to write! This is a vanity project with my long term goal being to present it to the author as a thank you for his words. I fully expect the CD's to end up as drink coasters or clay pigeons. No matter. It's an obsession and a love that spurs me on to completion. Much like your vids. Thank you for the inspiration Ben!💛🎼🎶♩🎶🎵🎸🎹

[@pedroalvesvalentim7652]

Ben, you truly are an awesome artist. I think this is the 5th time I'm rewriting this comment, trying to find the best way to express the appreciation I have for you as an artist. Aside from all that capitalist BS (youtube algorithm, music industry, etc.), your art is just stunningly true and beautiful. Personally speaking, I see art as the peak of human expression and I can't stress enough how much I appreciate the art you make. I wish you the best, and would love to see as much as I can of your art.

[@Brian-sh5ne]

Is it just me, or this one of Ben’s most vulnerable videos yet? I love it so much!

[@ravenecho2410]

Yeah these are amazing, awesome thom Yorke solo work with a but more groove Hope he okay, seems so nice

[@ShawnCrowder]

This is so good.

[@iangillham9647]

Great stuff. I once tried writing a song every day for a year and what I found so often was those days one was REALLY scraping the barrel for ANYTHING were often the best! Loved it.

[@Marklar3]

You've already put out a ton of useful content. I don't see this as struggling for content as much as struggling to let yourself release subpar content. You're holding yourself to a high standard, but the 'system' just wants you to produce 'content'. 2020 problems. The internet gives a lot, but asks a lot from 'content creators'

[@leavethebasket7435]

Jesus christ I love this man

[@avdhutmahadik4147]

This video actually is a masterpiece.

[@cliffhughes6010]

I like the way your brain works.

[@monowavy]

I love the way you show the surrealism of being someone at this age. I'm into your work.

[@dustbunnys]

That intro was beautiful

[@pocketdialmusic]

Love the commentary on being a KZbinr, the fact this is 6 seconds shorter than the 10 minute mark (which was app an aim for extra ads or soemthing) feels like a deliberate choice to go above the KZbin system and not let it dictate your art. Or it’s a coincidence, either way good video

[@bigal2731]

Ben, I mean this as sincerely as possible, but YOU are the draw of your channel. Your ability to create without a care in the world, your unique style, awesome playing, your personality as a whole. You're a great guy and I love to see you have fun and be creative while you're at it, and personally it's helped me out of a creative rut and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I want nothing but the best for you and I hope the existential fear of being shadowed by The Algorithm will pass. At the end of the day, no one can take your music away and that's beautiful homie. I really enjoyed this one btw

[@EclecticSceptic]

4:00 intense sincerity and intense irony at the same time. Welcome to 2020.

[@aidanlogan4384]

The algorithm may be inhuman but your viewers are not and we love what you do and who you are

[@loejewis]

Pitched down riff and melody is dope

[@TylersTrying]

I love the energy of this video. Anytime you just wanna throw shit into a video when you can't think of anything else, I'm super duper here for it.

[@andrewpilimaitulua1893]

I've finally found an educational creator that can overcome my ADHD.

[@marcusdekker]

I support this channel!

[@kodiakjustice8375]

Ah I'm crying again! This video and song are both beautiful on every level I can perceive.

[@jebcar9618]

I started guitar 3 years ago, then piano 1 year ago and decided to level up to buy the rest for my home studio and although it was scary spending money like that it was kinda of a dream I had. I have a humble home studio for about 2 months now and I found your youtube channel. Let me tell you that your creativity and the way you deliver your process of thinking to us to help us learn something new is the nicest thing anyone has done on this platform. You have such a explorational way of making music. You always seem to avoid geting stuck in one style that becomes your comfort zone. Its incredible how you move out of it and learn new things everyday. I think that's the most important thing I learned from you. My first song is almost complete and everytime I see your videos, they push me to make more. I failed like a couple of tries to make something but this is the first time I actually crossed the barrier and your video were a great help! So thank you very much and I wish you more progress to become the best musician and animator and painter you can!

[@BrickAndMortar]

Such a real video!

[@jaimemorales6695]

As a songwriter, I really loved your danceable shred and Zelda modes videos. I think you could make tons of content directed towards songwriters. Thanks for the uploads!

[@jameshorton7651]

You got your batteries all out in that recorder. That'd the quality I come for!! Keep creating. F the tube, I came for the music

[@industrialbreakdown7332]

Oh man that made me cry. Thank you for sharing this. The way you're feeling is incredibly relatable. I've been struggling a lot with knowing all the things that are wrong with the US and feeling powerless about it. I've also been feeling frustrated by how social media like KZbin doesn't care about the humanity of artists. As an artist, I feel destroyed by how you can't always share your art without trying to appease an audience that will watch ads for the host corporation. Anyways, thank you.

[@jackcprime]

i love these videos because they get deep into the dirt of music making! there's always some inspiring tips about how to keep going

[@3277-n5w]

The more I interest about you, the more I find in you what (I think) social networks have always been able to give the best : psychological proximity, which is (in artistic domains) best shown by demystifying the work of creation and showing the world the moments of fragility you shared here Thank you for existing

[@sagehale1429]

You bring so much happiness into my life thank you Ben

[@tripledoubletroubful]

I've been feeling down as of late that music has often become more about content than art to a lot of people, so thanks for the sneak attack.

[@BenLevin]

I've got your back Noah, just wait and see what's coming on Tuesday Feb. 25!

[@oliverjames2788]

Hello, I'm a new subscriber and find so much of your content really helpful and inspiring. While I haven't profiled your channel and so don't know your intended direction, I have gathered that you feel privileged to have access to certain information and want to share what you've learned freely. I am proud of you for allowing yourself to be a little vulnerable here and I hope you'll continue to punctuate that vulnerability with the various gimmicks as they are certainly entertaining! Yet you are so talented and clearly have a heart for people. I say take us down that rabbit hole. Go where you find resistance and feel it out. Sure, hiding behind a charming solo is always comfortable but I'm interested to feel your feeling. Clearly you have the form to convey such...I hope you'll dig even deeper. KZbin doesn't care about the content but you obviously do. Let your guard down. Speak from your heart. I'm sure we will all benefit from you sharing your authentic experiences. Great video! Thanks for sharing. Bon chance!

[@bananimal32]

Check out his older videos. Id recommend the ones teaching modes with zelda songs.

[@Tuukka.J.P]

The way the audio in the song is mixed in the beginning makes me want to spoon my brains out. I love it.

[@muh2k4]

I really enjoy seeing other people's creative process. Thanks for sharing!

[@evantyor6242]

Yes friend. This is beautiful. Bust it wide open

[@natemattern2260]

This is a brilliant work of art. A satirical bit about the KZbin algorithm for about a minute and a half followed by a brilliant video about songwriting with bits of that satire sprinkled in to illustrate how internet algorithms affect creators. Well done, Ben. The song is beautiful and the entire video is an amazing piece of true internet art.

[@Eidraify]

You're a beautiful bright boy and i enjoy commenting on your content as if i was a nice grandma.

[@UnseenEternalStudios]

Ben you are awesome man. Much love and warm regards from Ass Water

[@christophergadomski6933]

gave me chills, love all this wonderful editing and music

[@MisterDoctorBaconman]

It's interesting to see a more explicitly communicative exploration of the themes from your song "the user" which seems to have gotten at a lot of the same stuff in more abstract ways. It's always cool to see how certain ideas percolate in our heads and evolve and develop over time, I think the visibility of that evolution is a big part of what makes your content unique and engaging.

[@no_wrong_notes]

Your videos have been so inspirational and encouraging for someone who left it behind in younger years. I want nothing more than to just start today. Thank you Ben. I definitely hold myself at a high standard and know how frustrating my own head can be sometimes. What I just watched here clearly shows the immense level of talent you already have to share with your subscribers.

[@raining_marbles]

4:57 that light bulb just be sitting on that mic stand like ain't nobody's watching

[@chroni3659]

90% of the top comments are deep and insightful and I’d just like to say I’m really digging it. Props to Ben for breaking the mold to inspire these writings

[@mutably]

Even seeing you struggling for things is interresting. Whatever you do is inspiring for me. You could eat a whole can of beans and fart in a mic with delay for 30mn straight and I would be inspired. That's like a super-power you have.

[@SlyHikari03]

The “Hello!” Bit at the intro was hilarious.

[@AustinRiley]

Slow clap. This is some of the most real content on the creative process I've seen. Completely captured the frustrating and yet hopeful part of writing songs.

[@davidminnix]

Thanks for sharing your process and not making it look easier than it is. Its really useful to see that level of vulnerability on this platform where everything can seem impossibly polished and effortless. I think all creative process has dead-ends, turnarounds, and frustration. Some wild lines in that song too, nice work.

[@scottwilson8978]

Yeah definitely you're strongest content yet. I had four ego deaths watching this.

[@INTOTHEFOLD]

That song is beautiful Ben! Your lyrics are actually great too! And the structure.. Very cool.

[@CaptainDan21]

Beautiful track :) I started watching your Music Theory From The Ground Up series. Thank you for all you do!

[@neilmarsh7437]

Really enjoy your honesty and humour in your videos Ben! 9mins well spent seeing you work through the creative highs and lows is always inspiring x

[@dumpsterDeity]

Thank you, Ben. That song is just lovely, it's already stuck in my head.

[@alexandrabramov7015]

I'm a simple man. See new Ben's video, automatically like it. Thank you a lot for everything you do. Your activity motivates me to continue making my own music and go further. Hello from Russia!:)

[@JorgeeRodriguess2]

"Love is an alarm, forever ringing" I Love this! So true! The alarm that is awakening the whole world! Amazing video! Thank you so much! Much Love!

[@dyllanusher1379]

I don't know if you do this kind of video alot because I haven't yet seen all your previous stuff but I love this style of video! I'm trying to convince myself that I am enough when it comes to song makin. It's hard when my favorite sounds are from people that know way more than me, like you Ben!

[@alonzochurch6398]

Ben, your vocals have improved so much since you started this channel! Beautiful stuff

[@serrisdaylor1015]

Thanks for making the song! I think it is an important song.

[@sammiller9855]

A usual, you're a fountain of creativity even when you struggling for content.

[@ubiquitousgoat6466]

@Ben Levin Camarada! The inspiration for this song was something I did not expect, but it seriously warms my heart that you were inspired to manifest through art the empathy you felt towards immigrants. honestly it made me cry, the music community (or any type of community needs more musicians like you)

[@CamillaKutzner]

I absolutely loved this peek into your songwriting process! Beautiful, heartfelt song you came up with.

[@sanyo_neezy]

Wow, great Song, Ben! It has been a joy watching you become more and more professional in the youtube scene since I saw your first videos when I was sent over here by Adam after your first collabo on KZbin! Why don't you go ahead and give us something that's as chill and enjoyable as this song, but with a little bit of shredding involved? I bet you think everybody's shredding on KZbin, but I enjoy your particular guitar style a lot actually and I am sure you can make something unique and nice that also tingles my guitar player's fancies :D :D Keep up the great work, love you

[@barmus]

One of the most genuine KZbin videos I've seen in a long time, thanks Ben 💖

[@spencerj]

You touched on an adjacent subject with showing the mixing process. I would really love to see a breakdown video for what your video filming and editing process looks like

[@4Pssf2w]

You've said before there is essentially Real Levin and Fake Levin. Well, you've come a long way towards breaking down some of that barrier between them, this video an example in a long line. I feel more confident I could say, yeah, Ben is a human being who is probably basically decent and kind, deeply flawed and struggling just like me. I can not fully imagine the stress that comes with operating a channel like yours alongside everything else you do. No one keeps up a KZbin channel like yours up as long as you have without changing the channel up, changing their lives up, changing the way they feel and think, everything. I believe in you, Ben, this too shall pass, we're all in this together.

[@jamescollingridge8316]

such a down to earth guy love his content

[@inhalves4246]

so grateful to have found you on youtube, Keep up the good work and i hope life is treating you pretty well. I always learn something everytime i watch a video or listen to a song of yours. Thank you dr. ben levin lmao

[@bouffantmoose]

Love your vocals very much

[@luketaylor7896]

this is the best youtube video I've ever seen.

[@dougthemoleman]

Love you, Ben

[@WizardOfArc]

Such a lovely song Ben!

[@punksterbass]

you're always such an inspiration, Ben thank you for everything

[@pierrotleloco]

Incredible video and song, thanks for that moment!

[@leolambspring355]

Awesome song! Pretty much always the case

[@guitarandhow]

Thank you.

[@stevonico]

Thanks for sharing the backing track, I've been improvising basslines with it and came up with some cool ideas. Keep up the great musical content!

[@samfoot7554]

Dude. This is the best content. You are awesome. We love to see the proccess.. and you really reaaaallyy showed us the whole proccess ;)

[@johnw5734]

Has anyone described watching you as a zany experience. I love what you've got going on over here.

[@djreball9453]

surreal, absurd, and poignant. a deconstruction of the current youtube landscape and a fantastic creative process video, love this ben

[@93maoam93]

great lyrics

[@aviramspies]

Yes! Actually got me a bit more motivated to finish my new tune.

[@62falconizer]

This video, right here, is great content. Thank you for taking the time.

[@jasonflaherty8364]

Most. Honest. Video. Ever! I like what you were doing in the beginning of the solo. I was feeling a little Larry Carlton in some of those chromatic runs and scale changes.

[@enricopersia4290]

You always make good content, maybe we don't see the struggle, but it's not due to deliver us something, do things the way you want and when you can, we'll be there anyway

[@haradrima3137]

This was amazing through and through

[@peterjuff]

Hello! to one of the most inspiring and fun music channels on YT.

[@Fire-Toolz]

why am i crying. its not even that sad of a song.

[@turbodistortion5344]

this is gold

[@nazmalik4577]

this is a real nice slice

That's just one of the most awesome stuff I have ever seen

[@michaelkilgore]

Ben we love you

[@kutachii]

very inspiring! cheers Ben

[@ericbley6299]

Last week I screwed off the arm-rests of my chair and now its much better

[@jaywhy91]

Amazing! Your videos are so inspiring

[@Will-xo1xg]

Thanks so much for this.

[@HoggerKiller]

Powerful and beautiful Ben. I love what you do.

[@sorin.n]

I liked the AAAAA tuning... also commenting to help the algorithm.

[@jadeowenhamblyn4405]

Really great video Ben.

[@Seth-hc2bj]

I believe in you Ben

[@MakeWeirdMusic]

This video makes me glad I’m not a popular KZbinr like ben levin

[@EthanChernoxx]

Great content. It got a smile out of me at least.