Benjy Davis returns with solo album

Benjy Davis is used to being the main songwriter. For a time, it worked, especially with writing songs for his band The Benjy Davis Project, which released four albums and two EPs in the span of eight years.

In Nashville, the Baton Rougean had to learn the hard way that he wouldn’t be the only songwriter in the room. There, Davis is honing his songwriting, for himself and others.

“Songwriting [in Nashville] is interesting,” he says. “It’s all about co-writing here. I had no idea how to write with people. It’s still a work in progress. I’ve been lucky to have some good writing opportunities.”

Getting out of his comfort zone was necessary for Davis on his new solo self-titled album, which was released Jan. 21. The album features 10 tracks, recorded in New Orleans at Fudge Studios and in Nashville.

“It was cool to live in both cities,” he says. “I missed different things about each city. I would write about New Orleans when I was in Nashville, and Nashville when I was in New Orleans.”

At first, the task of going solo and trying to chip away at a Nashville songwriting career seemed daunting. However, once Davis got the tape rolling on the album track “Here I Go,” he felt better about his career move.

“It’s the song that started the whole record, the song that anchors the record,” he says. “That was the beginning where I told myself, ‘OK, I can make this, and it will be a good record.’ That’s when it all came together.”

Though the solo album might sound like a new direction, Davis says fans shouldn’t be concerned.

“I don’t think this is a different direction for fans,” he says. “I think this is just me, but a couple years older.”

Davis is currently working out a tour schedule and says he’ll be “getting out on the road very soon.”

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