Ben Richards

Ben Richards, (also known as Benjamin James) is an English songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and music director with a degree in contemporary guitar and advanced training in classical piano, singing and music theory.

Ben’s professional music career began in 2007, performing as an artist in his indie band, Bitter Ruin, to audiences across the UK, USA and Europe, along side other acts such as Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Ben Folds and Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls). Their 2011 single, ‘Trust', propelled them into the top 20 of the UK Independent Single Chart, earning them critical acclaim from international press and radio, plus several celebrity endorsements.

Along side his artist career, Benjamin dedicated his time working as a producer and co-writer with other emerging UK artists, sharing his expertise to help them develop their own musical identities. This became the focus of his professional career from 2014 onwards as Bitter Ruin took a break from working on new material.

In 2016 Ben relocated to Vietnam and continued his passion for working with and developing artists there. Seven years later, he has built up quite a list of clients and credits including writing and studio collaborations with artists such as MCK, Vũ Cát Tường, Ngọt, Thắng, Hoàng Thùy Linh, Trọng Hiếu, Han Sara, MINH, and VSTRA among others. Live performances and music direction for artists like Suboi and Thịnh Suy, along with ongoing work with emerging UK talents like Lola Aviva.