Ben Sharkey

Driven by sensual, provocative lyrics and an ebb and flow of songs whose styles and grooves take the listener on a journey that includes soulful jazz-pop, Latin, swing and modern “housey” dance beats, the collection reflects a range of influences that take Sharkey far from his crooner beginnings. From track to track, he draws from a multi-generational musical well that includes the classic drum lines of Gene Krupa, the extraordinary scatting of Cab Calloway and King Pleasure, the bandleader prowess of Louis Prima and – pulling up to the present decade – the pop/R&B infectiousness of Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke (whom Sharkey once opened for at The Fillmore Detroit). “While I’m a big fan of modern crooners like Buble and his vibe was a great starting point for me,” Sharkey says, “my new music is much edgier, and I’m more inclined than ever to take risks both musically and lyrically. As a singer and storyteller, I’m putting myself in more adult situations, like on ‘Beast in Me,’ where I sing ‘My thoughts may seem obscene, my thoughts don’t claim to be clean, baby, you bring out the beast in me.’ For my fans who know me best for my smoother sounds, I’m really excited about how they’ll react to the beats, movement and danceable elements on Mr. Sharkey. Overall, it’s more of a swingy kind of thing than I have recorded in the past, exploring the darker, cooler style of jazz from the Prohibition era. It would be easy to default to sweet love songs, but I enjoy the movement and making people dance a lot more.”