Ben Hillier

The producer behind Depeche Mode's 2013 single "Heaven" from the album Delta Machine.

Ben Hillier is the producer of Depeche Mode's thirteenth studio album, Delta Machine (2013), and specifically produced the lead single "Heaven." He worked on the song alongside the band, with Martin Gore writing the track and Dave Gahan providing vocals. Hillier's production credits on the single are confirmed by the source, which lists him as the producer for "Heaven."

Quick Facts

Role: Producer
Key work: Delta Machine

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Ben Hillier produced "Heaven," the lead single from Depeche Mode's thirteenth studio album Delta Machine, released in 2013. The song was written by Martin Gore, and Hillier's production role is explicitly credited in the source. The track was world-premiered on KROQ's morning show Kevin and Bean on 30 January 2013, and released digitally in most territories on 31 January 2013, with a physical release on 1 February. In the United Kingdom, it was released digitally on 17 March 2013 and physically the following day. The B-side "All That's Mine" was written by Dave Gahan and Kurt Uenala, with additional programming and vocal recording by Uenala. Hillier worked alongside engineers including Rob Kirwan (mix engineering), Ferg Peterkin (engineering), and Bunt Stafford-Clark (mastering), as well as Christoffer Berg (programming) and Flood (mixing). The music video for "Heaven" was directed by Timothy Saccenti and filmed in November 2012 at the Marigny Opera House in New Orleans, premiering on VEVO on 1 February 2013.

Reader's Guide

Ben Hillier's role as producer on "Heaven" is documented in the source, which lists him under 'Credits and personnel' for the single. The credits also include Christoffer Berg (programming), Anton Corbijn (design, photography), Flood (mixing), Rob Kirwan (mix engineering), Ferg Peterkin (engineering), Bunt Stafford-Clark (mastering), and Kurt Uenala (additional programming, vocal recording). The track listing notes that all tracks are written by Martin L. Gore except where noted, and that this is the first Depeche Mode single since 1982 to drop the 'BONG' prefix.

Did You Know?

The music video for "Heaven" was filmed in November 2012 at the Marigny Opera House, a former Catholic church in New Orleans's Faubourg Marigny.
In June 2013, the single was certified gold by FIMI for downloads exceeding 15,000 units in Italy.
"Heaven" was the first initial single from a Depeche Mode album to fail to reach the UK Top 40, peaking at #60.