I am a musician, writer, librettist, songwriter, composer and sound designer from Oxford, UK, now based in Berlin, Germany. Coming from a poetic folk song tradition, my work also draws from electronic and classical music, specialising in ethereal strings, complex electronic beats, dream-like piano chords and expressive lyrics. I am a queer Jewish artist interested in collaborating across cultures, languages and disciplines. In my songs, pieces and collaborative works I seek to create a space in which highly personal and deeply political stories can be told. My debut album 'Letters from the Border' was released in 2019 on Nonostar Records and received wide critical acclaim, praised for its orchestration and words; it was listed among Curve Ball Radio's top albums of 2019 and its title track was nominated for an International Songwriting Award. In 2022 I released the Studies EP in collaboration with multidisciplinary artist Andrea Huyoff. I am currently co-writing songs for a forthcoming solo record. I also wrote the libretto for Josephine Stephenson's opera 'Three Lunar Seas', which premiered at Grand Opera Avignon in 2023, addressing the climate crisis by retelling myths about the moon. In 2024 I co-wrote much of Alex Stolze’s instrumental album Raash ve Ruach (Neue Meister). I am also composing soundtracks and sound design for theatre and film installations and collaborating on new works, such as the Tokyo premiere of 'Kaguya: the daughter tree' (libretto by Ben Osborn, music by Josephine Stephenson) and related projects including 'Ulster American' at Schaubühne in 2024.

Ben Osborn

PRO

I am a musician, writer, librettist, songwriter, composer and sound designer from Oxford, UK, now based in Berlin, Germany. Coming from a poetic folk song tradition, my work also draws from electronic and classical music, specialising in ethereal strings, complex electronic beats, dream-like piano chords and expressive lyrics. I am a queer Jewish artist interested in collaborating across cultures, languages and disciplines. In my songs, pieces and collaborative works I seek to create a space in which highly personal and deeply political stories can be told. My debut album 'Letters from the Border' was released in 2019 on Nonostar Records and received wide critical acclaim, praised for its orchestration and words; it was listed among Curve Ball Radio's top albums of 2019 and its title track was nominated for an International Songwriting Award. In 2022 I released the Studies EP in collaboration with multidisciplinary artist Andrea Huyoff. I am currently co-writing songs for a forthcoming solo record. I also wrote the libretto for Josephine Stephenson's opera 'Three Lunar Seas', which premiered at Grand Opera Avignon in 2023, addressing the climate crisis by retelling myths about the moon. In 2024 I co-wrote much of Alex Stolze’s instrumental album Raash ve Ruach (Neue Meister). I am also composing soundtracks and sound design for theatre and film installations and collaborating on new works, such as the Tokyo premiere of 'Kaguya: the daughter tree' (libretto by Ben Osborn, music by Josephine Stephenson) and related projects including 'Ulster American' at Schaubühne in 2024.

Available to hire

I am a musician, writer, librettist, songwriter, composer and sound designer from Oxford, UK, now based in Berlin, Germany. Coming from a poetic folk song tradition, my work also draws from electronic and classical music, specialising in ethereal strings, complex electronic beats, dream-like piano chords and expressive lyrics. I am a queer Jewish artist interested in collaborating across cultures, languages and disciplines.

In my songs, pieces and collaborative works I seek to create a space in which highly personal and deeply political stories can be told. My debut album ‘Letters from the Border’ was released in 2019 on Nonostar Records and received wide critical acclaim, praised for its orchestration and words; it was listed among Curve Ball Radio’s top albums of 2019 and its title track was nominated for an International Songwriting Award. In 2022 I released the Studies EP in collaboration with multidisciplinary artist Andrea Huyoff. I am currently co-writing songs for a forthcoming solo record. I also wrote the libretto for Josephine Stephenson’s opera ‘Three Lunar Seas’, which premiered at Grand Opera Avignon in 2023, addressing the climate crisis by retelling myths about the moon. In 2024 I co-wrote much of Alex Stolze’s instrumental album Raash ve Ruach (Neue Meister). I am also composing soundtracks and sound design for theatre and film installations and collaborating on new works, such as the Tokyo premiere of ‘Kaguya: the daughter tree’ (libretto by Ben Osborn, music by Josephine Stephenson) and related projects including ‘Ulster American’ at Schaubühne in 2024.

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Language

English
Fluent
German
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Fluent

Work Experience

Co-founder, Organizer and Workshop Leader at Open Music Lab
January 1, 2016 - Present
Empowers disadvantaged communities to make their own music; provides safe, accessible spaces where cultural differences are celebrated.
Writer, Lyricist and Librettist at Freelance / Self-employed
January 1, 2010 - Present
Writes lyricist and librettos; collaborates across cultures and disciplines in music, theatre and literature.
Workshop Leader (Music, Theatre and Literature) at New School, Berlin
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2021
Alternative school for 11–13-year-olds with project-based learning focused on empowerment and creativity.
Campaign Officer at HOPE not hate
January 1, 2011 - January 1, 2012
Anti-fascism campaign work.
Campaign Officer at Goldsmiths / University and College Union
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2014
Campaign officer activity to support workers and union initiatives.
Co-writer (Instrumental Album) at Alex Stolze / Neue Meister
January 1, 2024 - Present
Contributed to the instrumental album Raash ve Ruach (2024).
Librettist at Josephine Stephenson's Opera 'Three Lunar Seas'
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023
Wrote the libretto; premiered at Grand Opera Avignon in 2023; addresses climate crisis via moon myths.
Composer and Sound Designer at Schaubühne
April 1, 2024 - Present
Soundtrack and sound design for 'Ulster American' (April 2024).

Education

BA (Hons.) English and American Literature at University of Warwick
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2010

Qualifications

Undergraduate Research Scholarship for Pedagogy and Performance
January 1, 2009 - December 2, 2025

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Software & Internet