Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Benjii, who discusses his new single, “’I Won’t Die For You,†as well as his origins in music and goals for the future.
Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?
Benjii: I was pretty obsessed with Back to the Future as a kid, so I think watching Marty McFly is what had piqued my interest in picking up a guitar at first. I was about 11 or 12 when I got my first acoustic, and then off I went! It’s funny, I’m kind of the black sheep as both sides of my family have always been heavy on the sports (go sports) – not sure what happened there, but I’m glad I veered this way!
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Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Benjii: It’s a little backwards, but I daydream a lot and always think of these beautiful places and environments in the world. I’ll typically write music to fit these specific moods that I feel might work in these scenarios or environments, and then the theme or lyrical content will usually fall into place afterwards. Now I’ve never written a soundtrack for anything before, but I feel like it would sort of work in that same vein.
Review Fix: What inspires you?
Benjii: This kind of ties into the previous question there, but for some nerdy reason, it’s like…sensory details. Things like ambient sounds, textures, lighting, etc. Things that kind of let my mind escape, and make me want to put listeners there as well. That would cover the actual music aspect of it at least. For lyrics, there’s been a couple things I’ve been moved by these days. Of course, addiction and mental health has been a big one, since ‘I Won’t Die For You’ is totally based on some struggles I’ve been seeing with loved ones. Another big one for me is toxic masculinity. Now I mean, there’s nothing against doing manly things, but I feel like growing up in such a sporty and manly family I carried a bit of shame for being, shall we say, a little more sensitive? I eventually grew out of that, and was able to find empowerment in being who I am, but I feel like that’s been a topic that’s been influencing the music I’m writing right now.
Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
Benjii: Let’s say its like a turducken of alternative/pop/r&b. Like if The 1975, The Neighbourhood, and The Weeknd got trapped in a studio together.
Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?
Benjii: Truth be told, I’m not playing live at the moment, but will be launching a stage show in the spring/summer of 2020. The songs that are out right now are written and recorded a little more “concisely” than I would have them live. I’ve always been a sucker for dynamics and long intros, and unexpected solos – stuff like that to really bring new emotions to the music everyone’s already been listening to.
Review Fix: What was your biggest disappointment in the music industry and what do you think you’ve learned from it?
Benjii: Awh man, haven’t got this question before, but it’s a great one. I have a really hard time with how cliquey it all is. Like you reach out to someone trying to make a genuine relationship, or try to set something up, and you rarely even get a response (and the READ receipt though!). If you do happen to get a response, it’s nothing really concrete and then they disappear. I understand people are busy, and I am too, but I always make the effort to be genuine and respond to everyone who takes the time to reach out to me. I don’t know – it’s just the whole “who you know” bit, and it drives me nuts.
Review Fix: Why music?
Benjii: Without going into too much detail, my last band (Hawking) had rolled our tour van in the mountains on our way home from tour 6 years ago, and if you look at the after-math, we all should have totally died. Our instruments in the gear cage like literally exploded, and the van looked like it went through an industrial meat grinder. We had some serious injuries, but how is anyone okay to go back to a mundane life after something like that? Having a full-time music career is a dream I think I’ll always chase (sorry in advance to my girlfriend).
Review Fix: What inspired your latest single?
Benjii: There’s been some people in my life who I’m incredibly close with who have been dealing with some of the issues I sing about in the track. At first I was iffy to write about it because we’re coming into an era where every influencer has now become a mental health advocate, but I realized that that was a great thing, because these issues aren’t going anytime quick, and will continue to need support from as many people as possible.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2019?
Benjii: I’m done releasing new singles for the year, but I do have one or two surprises up my sleeve before the year is up.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Benjii: Writingwritingwriting. I’m really happy with the songs that have been released this year, but I think it’s time to give some of these early fans something a little more substantial to sink their teeth into. Next step will be an EP, and an accommodating live show. So stoked.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Benjii: I just want to say thanks to everyone who’s jumped onboard the bandwagon so early on! We’re only 6 months in now, and it’s been such a rush. It’s been amazing to see the support from new fans, press, and other artists so early on, and I’m really stoked to just keep writing and putting out more music for everyone.
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