Conversations with Ben Kaplan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Kaplan.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Ben Kaplan, and I’m a singer-songwriter. I’m 24 years old and originally from Tel Aviv, Israel. I started my music journey back in 2021, when I had a lot of thoughts about what I wanted to do in the future. My family and a lot of my friends thought I’d go down a more stable and normal path, not a creative one, since I had never sung or played any instrument before. At this point, they only knew that I loved music in general. My friends from high school experienced some of my obsession with MTV, I created Kahoots about songs and did a few parodies of famous songs about our teachers.

I knew for a long time that I had a strong connection to music that wasn’t just through listening. I had a deep passion to create music, and I believed I could do it because sometimes I had melodies come into my head with lyrics that were strongly connected to experiences I had gone through.

I remember the moment that pushed me to pursue my dream, it was at my grandmother’s house. My grandmother used to be a singer and an actress, and she had a vocal coach come over to give her a private lesson because she was about to return to the stage with a new theater show. She asked the coach to let my sister (who is also a singer) and me sing in front of her. That surprised me, because I didn’t understand why she wanted me to do that; no one had ever asked me to sing seriously before. I remember that I was nervous. I sang the chorus of “Stop Crying Your Heart Out” by Oasis, since I listened to that song a lot at the time. Her vocal coach told me that I had a beautiful tone in my voice, but that I needed to work on it and strengthen it. She offered me vocal lessons.

It was pretty funny to me because at that point, I didn’t even know what vocal lessons were. I thought that either you had it or you didn’t, like what they show on talent shows and TV.

I remember the moment I made the decision. I told myself, “I might not be that good at the moment, but if I start now, I’ll probably be better in six months than I am today.” I called the coach, and I drove every Friday to take a vocal lesson without telling anyone. Only my grandmother knew.

The reason I didn’t tell anyone was that it was very important to me, and I knew at that point that if more people knew, it would bring criticism and comments that would bring me down. I was building my confidence and needed a supportive environment, so my grandmother and my vocal coach were a great start. I also remember that since this was my dream, and an unconventional choice, I didn’t want to be dependent on anyone, so I funded everything related to my music journey myself.

After a few months, I started to tell people about my plan to start a career in music. At this point, I also knew that I wanted to move to the United States, since I mostly listen to music in English and because I was also creating music in English and wanted to reach to wider audience. Thankfully, it was possible since I’m an American citizen (my dad’s side is from the U.S.). The idea drew a lot of reactions, from supportive encouragement to people questioning if I was being realistic or saying it might just be a phase.

At this point, I had finished my army service and flew to NYC and LA to see which one I liked better and would eventually decide to move to. Part of my plan was also to find a vocal coach in the U.S., since I knew I needed to transition to someone who was local and who understood the industry and could help me with pronunciation. After being in both places, I decided I would move to LA, and I also found my vocal coach there.

I came back to Israel and searched for a job for six months until I found one through a friend’s referral at a start-up. I started taking Zoom lessons with my vocal coach in LA and began piano lessons so I could learn how to compose my songs (in a basic way). From mid-2022 to the end of 2023, my daily routine was very busy. I worked full-time, and when I finished, I worked on my vocals, wrote songs, played piano, and just kept learning and planning for my move to LA. I barely had time for friends, and my availability was very limited. I also saved money, so I started a monthly spending diary where I wrote down every expense and tracked how much I spent each month. I even did house-sitting to prepare myself to live alone and handle all the household responsibilities.

Eventually, when the time felt right, I booked a flight to LA for November. My parents surprised me and told me they would pay for the ticket as an act of support. That gesture was the best birthday gift I could have asked for. I told my job I was leaving, and when my boss heard I was pursuing my dream of music, he took me into a meeting just to tell me that he believes in me. He said he knew it might be difficult, especially with all the criticism, but I should keep going and not let anyone stop me. He also shared that he loved making music and once dreamed of a music career himself, so he understood how hard it could be. That was a very meaningful moment for me, especially because he didn’t have to do that, and he had never even heard me sing. I promised him I would send him some of my music when I put it out.

Unfortunately, a week later, the October 7th attack happened and started the ongoing war. Two days later, the HR manager of my company gathered us on a Zoom call to inform us that my boss was killed in an encounter with terrorists. I was devastated, and that whole period was dark and depressing. I postponed my flight to December because of the situation. During that time, I kept working at the company to help stabilize the impact of the war, and I released a song with the help of the Hostages Families Forum called “Bring Them Home” to raise awareness around the world about the Israeli hostages who were (and, at the time of writing, some still are) held by the terror organization Hamas.

I got to LA on Christmas Day, and I felt like I had entered a different world. I was overwhelmed by the shift in atmosphere, but thankfully, my sister was there to help me settle in. My first six months felt like a continuation of what I was doing back home. I started working part-time as a waiter and also took a full-time job at another start-up. I tried to meet people and make connections. I met some new friends, but it didn’t take long for me to realize that I wouldn’t get anywhere if I kept the same routine.

Someone advised me to go to a music school to meet and connect with people, and that’s when I discovered MI (Musicians Institute). After some financial hesitation, and thanks to student loans, I decided to go for it. I started in July 2024 as a part-time student, and I’m still attending. I felt like I had found a place full of people who have the same goals and passions as I do, and that was exactly what I needed: a community.

Since then, I’ve been learning more about my artistic development and about myself in general. I’ve been writing and working on many songs since the day I started this journey. At MI, I’ve had more resources to develop them. I have a clear vision for my music, and I want to tell my story. I’ve learned a lot through different periods of my life, and I understand the power that music has.

Music gave me life. It helped me get up during darker periods and gives me life every day now, as it pushes me to bring out the most honest version of myself. It’s the only way I can express myself so accurately. I also want to give back through my music, because I know other people can connect to the same feelings through different experiences.

I’m really grateful that I’ve found what I want to do, and I feel it through my hard work, consistency, and what you might call the grind. At the moment, I’m working three jobs (the two mentioned before, and one internship that’s finally music-related!). It’s not easy to work in jobs that aren’t your passion for a long time, and although it can be stressful and draining, I truly believe in myself. I know I’ll look back on this period and be proud, knowing it was worth it.

I’m currently working on my first singles and album, and I’m super excited to share my journey with everyone. I’m also looking for a producer who can help bring my songs to life.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Hopefully, you’ll be able to listen to it soon 🙂

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There were definitely a lot of struggles, not everyone was supportive, and I’ve changed my environment since then. I’m sure some people still think I’m delusional and don’t believe in me, but I try not to let it get to me and focus on what I came here to do.

Also, I have a very draining routine, and my decision to be completely financially independent hasn’t been easy to follow. I’ve worked in many jobs since I started, none of them related to music, and they took, and still take, a lot of my time and energy. Only recently did I start working in a music-related internship, but that just means I now have three jobs, since the internship can’t cover the cost of living.

Social life – I must say that since I started my journey, there’s been a noticeable decline in my social life, from active to almost none. It’s mainly because I don’t have time. I’m either working, at school, or working on my music, so most of the people I see are the ones I interact with in those circles. Thankfully, I have an amazing environment, friends, and family who understand how hard I’m working and know that I’m mostly unavailable because I’m busy. I try to hop on calls and video chats when I can.

Getting used to a new environment – I have to say that moving here was full of fear about the unknown, and I went through a lot, especially during the first six months. It was hard to meet new people. I ran into some shady ones who just wanted to take advantage of my dream to make money off me, and I dealt with a lot of people who blew me off. It was definitely a very dark period for me, and I’m thankful I was able to find my way out of it.

Development – Putting all that aside, there’s also my frustration with how slow my development feels, and the obstacles I’m working through, like stage performance and finding a producer to work with on my songs. It’s especially tough when you know what you can bring to the table but can’t fully show it the way you want others to understand, especially when it comes to demo pitches versus full production. I currently have a song that’s in a pretty developed stage, and it was a hustle to find the right person to mix it. I know it’s frustrating, but I’m learning through these experiences.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a singer-songwriter, and I’m aiming to spread my music and connect with as many people as possible. I write about different periods in my life, each project is themed around that period, and the style of music follows accordingly. My first project will be a mix between singer-songwriter style with Pop/Soul.
I’m here to connect people through music. I know that music has had a powerful impact on humanity since the day it was first created, back in the time of the cavemen, and I believe it has the power to connect people from different backgrounds, different origins, and different styles.

Since an early age, I’ve carried Gandhi’s quote “Be the change you wish to see in the world” with me, and it’s always in the back of my mind in everything I do. Now, I feel it more than ever through my music, and I’m eager to share that music with the world.

Until then, I’ll keep being my biggest supporter, alongside my family and friends who believe in me.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Definitely!

Regarding a mentor – I think you’ll probably meet many people along the way who you trust and who will help you. A mentor is the person you trust the most, someone who supports and genuinely cares about you and your development. It’s important to make the distinction between someone who just cares about you and someone who also cares about your growth. Caring about you means they’re also concerned about your personal life, and they’ll remind you to prioritize it when you forget.

In my opinion, a mentor is also someone who admits they don’t know everything (because no one really does) and is open to hearing different opinions and learning. A good mentor will push you to your limits and encourage you to face your mistakes or fears, so you can learn and grow from those experiences.

A general tip I’d give for finding a mentor is to really feel the chemistry with that person and take the time to research who they are and what they value before fully trusting them. And don’t be hard on yourself if you end up with the wrong person, it only helps guide you toward the right one in the future.

Regarding networking – Just be yourself, but always be ready to share your pitch if an opportunity comes up. Personally, I really don’t enjoy networking, because I often end up disappointed when nothing comes of it. I’ve changed the way I look at events, I see them more as experiences rather than “networking” opportunities. I feel much freer to be myself and connect with the right people when I don’t have the pressure to actively introduce myself. I’ve found that forcing it usually leads to more dead-end conversations, it’s really about the energy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_kaplan__?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ben.kaplan.9?sfnsn=wa&mibextid=RUbZ1f
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benkaplan149?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ben_kaplan?si=Y5TrExsbmxOVg5_g
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ben_kaplan__?_t=ZS-8wHqepwXFRA&_r=1