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07/28/2025

Bendre the Giant founders Ben Estrada and Delos Erickson talk origins, journey, and becoming one's self on stage

By PAUL K WARD // BendreTheGiant is the PDX band led by Ben Estrada, a formidably tall and talented singer originally from the northwestest Washington part of the Pacific Northwest. Encouraged to move to Oregon by longtime friend and musician, Delos Erickson, the two have create a band of special talents and vision.

Ben and the band have a new album dropping next month. Listen to find out more. 

With a name evoking the strongman featured in The Princess Bride (Andre the Giant), Bendre the Giant is the brainchild of impressively sized Ben Estrada. After forming the first phase of his musical output and vision working in rudimentary software, Ben, a drummer, gained skills as a keyboard player, singers, and songwriter (although he admits in an early song that, essentially, lyrics were not his strong suit.)

He's brought on board a talented and educated composer, Delos Erickson, to build a strong camaraderie. Delos brings his genre taste to arrangements, leveraging a master’s degree in music from University of Oregon and a life of performing and arranging.

Recorded at my studio in Roseway, studioblue, the conversation ranges widely from their musical path, to why young musicians of their generation are potentially advantaged by how the music business broadens access to genres and global partners. 

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