Daily Inspiration: Meet Benjamin Pitts

Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Pitts

Hi Benjamin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Spy, Igor, and I (Ben) formed NightWraith in 2016 because we were all good friends that had been active together in the Denver music scene for a long time. We had all been playing fast & technical death metal for a long time, and were ready to write songs that were more rock-influenced and musically advanced. We didn’t want to have any preconceived notions about what our genre should be, and just write music that was original and unique. After we wrote a few songs together, we released a demo and played a handful of shows before releasing our 1st proper full-length album in 2019.

In 2022, we added Caleb Jose Tardio as a full-time keyboard/synth player and released ‘Offering’ – which featured Hammond organ tones giving the album a ‘classic rock’ type of feel.

On 9/13/24 we released ‘Divergence’ which is our most ‘realized’ material to date and has received great reviews worldwide.

Musically, the songs on ‘Divergence’ utilize classic songwriting structures (verse/chorus/bridge/lead). Each individual instrument is not overly complicated, but when layered on top of each other, gives the music has a lot of depth. The guitars are dynamic and the drums are fast with lots of big rock fills. The keyboards/synthesizer tones are the icing on the cake and are what really color the album in a futuristic, yet nostalgic way. The melodies that were written to lay on top of the guitars are what give the songs the musical complexity that can be rare within the heavy metal genre. There are also a lot of solos on this album, but none of them are overly ‘shreddy’ and are meant to serve the song, not the player. We also stepped up the production on this album by recruiting some talented guest musicians to contribute, and added extra rhythmic layers using acoustic guitar and percussive instruments like cowbell and shakers. Then we stepped up the production again by involving producer Zack Ohren (Machine Head, Immolation) to mix and master the project, which gave it a top-shelf sounding production quality!

We are incredibly proud of ‘Divergence’! You can hear it on all major platforms, and purchase physical copies through the NightWraith Bandcamp page at: https://nightwraith.bandcamp.com/

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?
I think every independent metal band struggles with the current state of the music industry. On one hand, its great to be able to release your own music – but on the other hand it is very difficult to break through because of the over-saturation. I’m sure other up and coming artists can agree that releasing albums and supporting them through touring doesn’t make much financial sense. It’s difficult to break even on expenditures, let alone make money. This is why most artists require a full-time job, which slows down the process of creating/supporting their art. But we continue to do out of the sheer love for heavy metal, regardless of profitability!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
(Ben) I’ve been part of the Denver music scene for about 20 years now and have played in many bands along the way – To Be Eaten, Black Sleep of Kali, and In the Company of Serpents to name a few. I’m primarily known as a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter – and have recorded on around 15 proper releases over a 20 year span.

In addition to writing songs and releasing albums, I have tried to help support and foster other bands and touring musicians. Denver has always been pretty tightly knit when it comes to underground metal. In the old-Denver days we had really cool DIY spaces like Monkey Mania (aka Kingdom of Doom), Garageland, Rhinoceropolis – where supporters would collectively throw shows for bands, cook for them, and offer floors for them to sleep on. Since this generosity this came from a genuine place, I truly believe that it helped contribute to the booming metal scene currently happening in Denver.

How do you define success?
I define success not in a materialistic or financial sense – but through the connections you are able to make with others. Sure things like money can grant financial freedom and the ability to focus on ‘success’, but when you look back on your life – things like money will probably feel much less significant. I think something like making a positive impact on the world around you could be one of my definitions of success. Our new album ‘Divergence’ certainly feels like a success – for everyone that was involved!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nightwraithband.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightwraithband/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nightwraithband
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nightwraithband
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzwZgeoBZOkd1HgWqq5dGag
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nightwraithband
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4xM6FsTNQOl7OuzAZ0FgXm

Image Credits
Josh Massara