Benjamin Tenison is a former Australian Army lieutenant turned singer-songwriter who just launched his music career with a very first single ‘Be Your Own King’. He decided to go under the name of Roxley and we are thrilled to hear how he managed to exchange an Army career into kickstarting releasing music.
We were hooked on the song from the very first moment we heard and it’s been successfully spinning on our Weekly chart. We also added the song to New Sound playlist where we showcase the best artists with their very first song. Even though we had some delays in and this conversation was planned to be published a while ago finally the day has come!
Fasten your seatbelts! We are introducing you to one and only Roxley!
Congratulations on your debut release! Tell us about the journey until the moment ‘Be Your Own King’ saw the light of day!
Idea for the song came after a Men’s retreat where I really got how much I beat myself up and was unkind to myself. It was a really profound moment that kicked off my journey to self love. After that experience I got thinking and wondered what it would be like if I could be my own king? If i could treat myself with respect, dignity and worship. As soon as I sat down to write it, it was all there and became my journey to self acceptance and love in song form. When I shared it with people they resonated with the message so heavily that I just knew that I had to put it out that I had to finish it and share it with the world. Even the women that I shared it with wanted to be their own kings and I saw that it is a journey that we are all on.
How was Roxley born? Can you share the meaning behind it? Is he similar to Benjamin or he represents more of an alter ego?
Roxely was born when I was in my teenage years I remember hearing the name Roxley on the radio and thinking that if I had that name I would be free all of the critical thinking and self judgement that I was having at the time.
I was really clear that I wanted to start a movement and I needed it to be separate from myself. They have a lot of similarities but he is very much an alter ego. He stands for full expression, freedom, passion, sexuality, strength and vulnerability. He is me when I step passed all my insecurities and worry and into my higher self.
Roxley stands for full expression, freedom, passion, sexuality, strength and vulnerability.
ROXLEY
Would it be correct to say that ‘Be Your Own King’ is a hymn to freedom? You finally get to do what you always wanted – create music!
I would 100% agree with that. The song’s message is to free yourself from the shackles of self-judgement and finally step into the person you were always meant to be. I really feel that it has been my journey over the last year and I want to share that with people allowing them to find their freedom as well, however it looks for them.
Do you remember the moment the song was born?
It was in a Shamanic Breathwork session on a men’s retreat called Sharpen the Spear. I got so connected to how small I thought of myself that I cried and was completely overwhelmed by the feelings of sadness for the way that I treated myself. The only way I can explain it is that I tortured myself, I was very unkind with my thoughts and it was crippling me. At that moment I decided that I wasn’t going to do that to myself any more and I made a commitment to never treat myself like that again.
I tortured myself, I was very unkind with my thoughts and it was crippling me
ROXLEY
What does ‘Be Your Own King’ mean to you?
It means that you treat yourself with respect and kindness. That you can learn to love yourself and you look for opportunities to take care and nurture yourself rather than looking for external validation..
There is one effect towards the end of the song that sounds like either clapping or marching. Was that a reference to the army days and you being free to do what you were meant to do?
Yeah, it was a throwback to the military days I felt like it was a great way to close out the song and bring a conclusion to my military career. It has been really interesting and challenging integrating back into civilian life but I’m so thankful and glad that I am getting to live out my purpose now and be fully expressed.
Debut single is the one that will always be remembered by your true fans as the song that started it all. Was it hard to select which song should you go with?
No it wasn’t actually to me it was so clear. Out of all the songs that I wrote and shared with people ‘Be Your Own King’ was the one that everyone resonated with most. People really heard the message and wanted to be their own kings and take some time for themselves. I’m so glad that I have the opportunity to give that to people and open their eyes to the possibility.
Tell us more about your creative process? How do songs come to you?
I hear a lot of music in my head. Especially chorus hooks. A lot of the time I will be in the car or on a run and have pull over or stop and quickly grab my phone so I can capture the idea.
My new mantra is: collaboration is everything
ROXLEY
My new mantra is “collaboration is everything” after working on ‘Be Your Own King’ I really got how much people can contribute to me when I allow them. I had been a do everything myself guy for a long time and it was so nice to bring people in to guide and shape my ideas to their fullest potential.
I can only imagine that spending 6 years in the army must have been quite a challenge, both physically and mentally. How did the army end up on your map?
I was seeking comradery and acceptance. I wanted to be with people that had my back. I definitely found that and that was one of the best things I got from the military. But I always felt a calling to pursue music and I just got to the point that I couldn’t deny it anymore and had to take the leap no matter how scary it was.
Do you still judge yourself often?
I really feel that it’s a journey and I still have stuff come up regularly but I have way better tools to deal with it now and am able to love myself more completely. I get stuff though and am constantly peeling back the layers of the onion to get to true self-acceptance. It’s worth the effort and the commitment thought, true self acceptance is pure bliss.
I am constantly peeling back the layers of the onion to get to true self acceptance.
ROXLEY
What do you do when you ‘take some time for yourself’?
That’s something that I’m still working out as well. I really got that I knew activities that I liked doing, but I didn’t know what I did just because I loved myself, which now see there is a difference. So recently i have been exploring exactly what that looks like for me and encourage that everyone do the same for themselves. Specifically for me i have a gratitude journal practise, breathing practice and have recently got back into mountain bike riding to get my nature and adrenaline fix at the same time.
Can you please finish the sentence: Music to me is
A place free of judgement! A place that you can be anyone you want! A place that is home, welcoming and always available!
Do you have a song that when you hear, you’d be ‘Damn I wish I’d written that’.
Motley Crue – ‘Kickstart My Heart’. Get my heart racing every time.
Close your eyes. Imagine its 20th of January 2022. How would you summarize 2021?
2021 has been a rollercoaster of amazing opportunities and unique challenges. I have really backed myself and have shown my rawest self. I’m really blown away by the support and kindness of people. I’m really thankful that this is the life I get to live.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our audience?
Look after yourself and treat yourself with reverence, respect and dignity. You deserve it.
Make sure to connect with Roxley
Introducing » Artists We Interviewed
This coverage was created in collaboration with Musosoup as part of the #SustainableCurator movement.
