Though singer/songwriter Ben Godwin spent the early part of his career playing in hard rock bands in Glasgow, Scotland, he eventually decided that the acoustic anti-folk format was how he wanted to display himself and his craft. In 2002 he released the EP Four Songs, followed by =shinyshiny= in 2004 and Lighter Than the Atom in 2005. That same year, Godwin decided to move to New York City, where, in addition to writing songs, performing, and producing albums for others, he worked at LIFEbeat, a non-profit that promoted HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness through music. In 2007, inspired by the city as well as by singers like Tom Waits and Jeff Buckley, Godwin released his full-length debut, Skin and Bone, on his own label, Karmafarm.