Meet Ben Kaplan

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ben Kaplan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ben , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

It’s mostly about building your confidence, knowing that you feel whole with your decision, and trusting the path you chose. I think this is how many people’s journeys start when they are pursuing a dream that is outside the normal spectrum of what people define as a “real job”. When I decided to become a musical artist, I got a lot of comments from confused friends and family, and from people who tried to immediately push me back because they thought I was yet another delusional person who thinks he is going to have his big break. I believe my starting point was basically learning how to convince other people to believe in me almost as much as I do – and to do that, I had to be my biggest supporter.

It basically takes a lot of mental work. I personally had to block a lot of criticism and take time to develop and build my confidence. I think some people might believe that isolating yourself from criticism isn’t a solution, and I agree that it shouldn’t be a long-term solution, but sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to build your confidence so you can deal with the criticism. For me, it was taking the time to learn and build some knowledge so I would know what I need to face and be more realistic about how much it takes to get to where I want to go, and gradually exposing myself to that criticism so I can build my resilience slowly and not let it break me.

Also, the fact that I was completely settled with the realization that I don’t want to do anything else helped me understand that I want to go all-in with this, and that I need to make drastic changes in my life if I want to have a shot. That meant changing my environment, doing things that are out of my comfort zone, and becoming completely independent financially, a goal that required multiple jobs and less social life – but it’s all worth it as long as it’s done to pursue my dream.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My name is Ben Kaplan, and I am a singer-songwriter based in LA, originally from Tel Aviv, Israel.

For me, music is not just a passion; it is a profound emotional and creative outlet that drives my personal process. When I committed to creating music, I did so because I wanted to be true to who I am and what I want to do, even if my work doesn’t resonate with everyone. Since then, I feel as though I have become more complete with myself, finally living the life I want to live.

I prioritize authenticity and honesty in my music, which means the lyrics are often very raw and emotional. However, I manage to deliver these deep feelings with captivating melodies that make the message accessible and less like an unrestrained outpouring of emotion.

The style I am creating currently leans toward singer-songwriter pop, with influences from other genres that give it a somewhat alternative sound. I love storytelling, and I see my entire musical catalog just like a book series: each chapter, whether it’s an EP or an LP, is a different project with its own theme about a distinct period in my life.

One of the most special parts of this creative process is that it allows me to reflect on different periods in my life. I get to see the connecting thread between diverse experiences and express that personal growth musically. This journey of going back and forth between the past and the present, while thinking about the future, is truly rewarding.

The thing I care about the most is creating a genuine connection with other people through my music. I was always heavily influenced by music myself, which was one of the main reasons I chose to pursue it. I cannot fully express how much it means to me to hear someone say they truly connected with my music or that it helped them in some way. It’s a gift that moves me to my core to know that I am able to make an impact on others through my art, just as music has impacted me.

I recently released my debut single, “Holiday For Sale” – a melancholic power ballad dedicated to people who are unable to celebrate the holiday season because they are navigating heartbreak or the loss of a loved one. The song is based on a real family story: my grandfather, after the passing of my aunt Vered, declared he would not celebrate any happy event because he had no reason to be happy. I wanted this song to be an outlet for those who cannot relate to the festive, cheerful holiday music. You can find “Holiday For Sale” on all streaming platforms, and the music video is available on YouTube.

I am currently working on my first project. At this point, I have not decided if it will be an EP or a full album due to financial considerations, but one thing is certain: It’s going to happen in 2026! My next single is ready, and I will be announcing its release date soon.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think the three qualities or skills that have helped me the most are:

1. Being True to Yourself / Knowing Your Core Values:
We live in a world with a lot of background noise where everyone is heavily influenced by others. I believe that knowing your core values, what you stand for, and the ultimate purpose behind what you do is an inner compass that guides you to where you need to be in life. It helps you clearly define your path and identify the people you want to be a part of it.

2. Hard Work, Persistence, and Resilience:
I group these three together because they are so interconnected that they feel like one essential quality. I think this is a rule of thumb for anything you want to do in life if you aim to be the best version of yourself. I can best explain it through my experience in music.

As an artist, hard work means putting in the hours to work toward your goal. This doesn’t necessarily mean being involved directly with music all the time. For the past four years, I’ve spent around 80% of my day working in jobs unrelated to music so I can financially support my goals and slowly build my path to making music my main source of income. This requires a tremendous amount of persistence and commitment to the process, which can easily lead to burnout if you don’t learn how to balance working non-related jobs, developing yourself professionally towards your goal, and taking a break from time to time. This leads me to resilience, which is what you slowly develop as you keep hitting what you think is your limit point. Eventually, you realize you are stronger than you thought, especially when you are passionate about your mission and have that inner compass to guide you.

3. Learning How to Deal with Criticism:
I can honestly say that I was, and sometimes still am, terrified of criticism, primarily because I used to be heavily influenced by what others said about me. I now see that taking criticism is one of the most important qualities for personal growth. I have gradually learned to develop this skill by first knowing when to listen to myself more than others, and vice versa.

It is especially important to be selective about whose advice you take. While you can sometimes get good advice from strangers, everyone has an opinion. Since you can’t really listen to everyone simultaneously, it’s important to have a small group of trusted people whose advice you truly value, knowing their criticism is coming to benefit your personal growth and not to belittle you.

My Best Advice:
In addition to everything I’ve already shared, my best advice for people just starting on their journey is to always remember the “why?”

If they know the core reason they began the journey and why it is so important to them, they will naturally figure out the “how” and the “what the next steps are”. The “Why” is essentially the inner compass that will guide them and remind them why they need to keep going when they feel burnt out.

Also, knowing how to give yourself a break from time to time and getting some fresh air is super important for your mental health. Always try to do the best you can to prioritize your mental health!

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

Believing in me and supporting me. It took me time to understand how important that is and how I can’t take it for granted. Support is not valued primarily by financial investment. My parents are my biggest supporters; they help to lift me up with a pep talk during tough times when I need it, and honestly, that’s worth way more to me than any financial investment I could have gotten.

Sometimes it takes time to build that support system, and it isn’t always easy. But like any connection you form with other people in your life, I believe my parents and I were able to create a level of trust between us so I know they can be my biggest critics and my biggest supporters at the same time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benkaplanmusic/ (@benkaplanmusic)
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581354969463 (Ben Kaplan Music)
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benkaplan149/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@benkaplanmusic (@benkaplanmusic)
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ben-kaplan-124352371
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benkaplanmusic (@benkaplanmusic)

  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ben-kaplan/1713756177

Image Credits

Images in black coat – Shun Itaba
Images in white shirt (including cover art with blue background) – Koutn James
Image of white shirt next to dinner table – part of “Holiday For Sale” official music video, shot by Edaan Moskowitz (The Alexander Productions)