Plan B returns with a new song

Ben Drew has been a mysterious figure for the last number of years. The singer/rapper took an extended hiatus from the public sphere following the massive success of his last album The Defamation of Strickland Banks, but has returned, reinvigorated with his new release.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1, Plan B revealed why he took a leave of absence from music, and what influenced his new material.

‘‘I was working non-stop from 2009, and with the success of Strickland Banks, getting offered everything I ever wanted at the same time. But I never really kept in contact with friends or family, by 2012 it felt like there were none of those real-life relationships, I wasn’t having real life experiences.

So I kind of felt that it would be the wrong thing to do at that point to start work on another album. I needed to go get some life experiences under my belt again so I had something to write about.

It doesn’t get any realer than having children, and that’s what happened to me.’’

Drew revealed that his new work won’t feature any of the rapping that originally brought him to prominence.

‘’Fans will notice that there isn’t any rapping on this record, and that’s because it just didn’t feel natural to me to be rapping about this particular experience. For me, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and it made me want to sing.’’

A ‘making of’ video for the new song has also been released.