INTRO BY MADDEN LEVIN
INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY
PHOTO COURTESY OF BENTA
From a man with a hidden face, comes incredible music. With his newest single, Road with Seven Lanes, out now, we spoke with him about what sparked his love for music and what he is all about. We think it's particularly interesting how he wrote the previously mentioned single, but I won't spoil that for you! Make sure to keep an eye out for BENTA as he moves along with his musical journey.
How did you get your start in music?
BENTA: "I’ve been making music for as long as I can remember. I first started playing seriously when I got into the Suzuki violin program at my school at nine years old. Then I started a rock band at twelve, and we were signed at 15 to a label and management deal. I was writing and producing all of the music for the band in the home studio I built in my parents’ basement. Writing tunes and recording and producing them is not only something I love to do, it’s something I need to do to keep balanced."
How would you describe your music in three words?
BENTA: "Dark, melodic, percussive."
What is your favorite part about creating music – the writing, recording, performing, or something else?
BENTA: "There’s nothing I love more than performance. Being on stage and sharing the work with an audience. When I write, when I produce, I’m always envisioning the tracks in a live environment."
You recently released your new single Road with Seven Lanes – can you tell us a little about it? What was the inspiration behind the song?
BENTA: "I wrote the track in a U-Haul truck, while helping somebody move. I was returning the truck to the U-Haul garage and that beat and melody just came to me, spontaneously, like all good ones typically do. Lyrically, the track is all about moving and motion in life. And particularly, in the modern world, how people might be physically disconnected, but able to be so close and intimate due to modern technological marvels.
Of all your songs, which would you say best represents you as an artist?
BENTA: “The Radio from my debut EP, Noir. I’m actually a sucker for a simple ballad, with simple chords and a memorable melody. Particularly with that track, I love the sense of depth in the piece, while it maintains a super sparse and minimal production palate."
If you could collaborate with anybody on a song, who would it be and why?
BENTA: "At the moment, it’d probably be Sohn or Timbaland on the production side. Respect both of those dudes so much. Each pushing the envelope of sound in such interesting ways for years. Artistically, I’d love to work with London Grammar or do something dark with Lorde. Love an intriguing, haunting female vocal..."
Is there anything we can expect from you in the near future?
BENTA: "Yes! Road With Seven Lanes was just released as the lead single from my upcoming EP, Seeks. So we’ve got a video and remixes coming on the backs of the release shortly, followed by the EP. I’m also beginning to play out more in support of the new material. Lastly, I’ve been producing for other really cool artists a bunch more lately, so later this summer and into the fall you’ll see a bunch of Benta remixes and original tracks that I’ve done for and with others!"