By Atalie Day Brown

Locally raised musician Benny Marchant released his first full-length album “Cold Weather” last summer and will be touring the East Coast, including a stop at in Baltimore, beginning this month. From his Italian honeymoon getaway, Marchant gave a phone interview with The Voice, discussing “Cold Weather,” his passion for music, on working with the great Joe Chiccarelli, and what he misses most about Severna Park.

Benny Marchant started his musical career by making the move from hometown Severna Park to the country music capital of Nashville in 2005. Marchant wanted to seriously begin pursuing his dream of becoming a full time musician and hone his talents as a songwriter. Although he stayed in Nashville for almost two years, Marchant states he felt that “it was hard to perform live in big venues” and gain a wider audience, so he decided it was time to make another change and move to Los Angeles.

It is in Los Angeles that Marchant feels his musical career has truly begun to develop into something more concrete and viable. “L.A. has been great to me,” Marchant states.

Welcomed into LA venues, Marchant has thus been able to converse and conceptualize with other like-minded musicians. He formed an alt-rock band in 2007 called The Kings Royal along with well known Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen. This progressed into a nationwide US tour with the well-known band Candlebox in 2008.

Marchant’s first solo EP, “Conversations Missed,” was released to the public in 2010 and was received with great esteem by his fans and critics. “Conversations Missed” is a blend of folk-rock music with a slight hint of country; his lyrics are honest, heartfelt and vulnerable. When asked where his creative inspirations come from Marchant says “Life and love really inspire me.”

Benny Marchant’s solo EP and LP have been produced by the greatly sought after LA-based producer Joe Chiccarelli. Chiccarelli has worked with such artists as Radiohead, the White Stripes and Elton John, and collaborated with Marchant at the Sunset Studio in LA.

Marchant speaks of his mentor as a “fantastic, amazing engineer,” and add, “He’s a genius when putting together sounds.”

Chiccarelli met with Marchant before their studio time to discuss Benny’s songs and which ones Chiccarelli felt he could help to refine and tweak. Although Marchant has stayed true to his musical aesthetic, there is a noticeable growth from “Conversations Missed” to his newest album “Cold Weather.” Marchant’s ballad, “A Better Way” can be heard in the 2011 feature film, “Soul Surfer.”

When asked what advice he would have given to the teen version of himself, Marchant stated “Find out what you can do in music; you can be a songwriter, producer, vocalist, bass player; there are so many different things you can do with music.” He admits, “I should have focused on one thing…and perfected it.” In short, he says his advice would have been, “Try to find your true passion.” This sentiment is reflected in Marchant’s own music. “Cold Weather” is passionate and more perfected than his other albums.

Marchant returns to the area this month as a part of his national tour for a performance at the 8 x 10 Club in Baltimore on Feb.15. When asked what he misses most about living here, he chuckles and says, “Honestly? The weather and the change of the seasons.”