In 2020, a music about loneliness struck a chord whereas the world shut down and folks have been isolating at house glued to TikTok. The proper storm of expertise and circumstance turned a music from a comparatively unknown artist from New Zealand into a global High 40 hit.
The aforementioned observe was BENEE and Gus Dapperton’s 2019 observe “Supalonely,” a cool off-beat dance observe about, properly, being a loser. Slamming collectively lyrics like “I am a tragic woman/on this huge world/It is a mad world” with a bouncy drum beat, a couple of “la la la las,” and a few funky guitar riffs, it’s straightforward to see how the music’s absurdity attracted TikTok listeners. Juxtaposing feeling like shit with easy-to-replicate dance strikes, this unhappy bop captured the palpable loneliness folks felt and have become a pandemic anthem.
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Two years and over a billion streams later, BENEE was one of many buzziest acts at ACL this 12 months. On stage, she bops round in a grey Catholic college skirt, with tattoos lining her legs, big sun shades, and a contagious smile. Her candy however sturdy voice wasps lyrics about “eager to see your gentle facet” then erupts into high-pitched squeals between tracks, a lot to the gang’s delighted confusion. Pleasure interlaces with zaniness, and he or she carries that very same chaotic quirkiness into the dialog.
In an unique interview with Various Press, the 22-year-old opened up about her tattoos, collaborations, anxieties on being labeled a one-hit surprise, her evolving songwriting strategies and a brand-new album coming early subsequent 12 months.
That is your final cease in your North American tour. Is that this your first competition?
Gov Ball was our first competition. That was this 12 months. Pre-COVID, we’ve performed right here a few instances. It was very lowkey. My first gig was College Night time in LAin 2018. That was actually cool.
How does it really feel to be ending this tour?
It’s fairly unhappy. Now we have a pair reveals in between, we’re going to assist the Marías in Houston. By no means been to Houston both.
I’m from Houston! So are Beyonce, Lizzo, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Actually? I really like Megan Thee Stallion. Plan B?
Ensure you attempt the meals when you’re there. Barbecue, Tex-Mex, ugh.
America has such good meals. Numerous shit meals however a number of good meals. Generally it’s proper. You gotta feed the soul.
You might have a brand new collaboration with Jeremy Zucker known as “I’m So Completely satisfied.” How did that come about?
We had talked somewhat on Instagram, [and] we’re additionally each with Republic, so our groups are the identical group. They’re at all times speaking about him to me, and I really like discovering different artists. He simply mainly reached out and was like, “I’ve this music. I’d love so that you can attempt one thing on it.” I recorded some stuff at house and on tour, I introduced my mic, recorded a verse, and despatched it again, and he was like “Oh, my gosh. Yay!” I ended up going to his studio once more in LA to complete it up. Then we bought to make a video collectively. He’s the sweetest factor ever.
He’s the king of songs that sound glad however are actually a fuck you to an ex. Did that resonate with you?
I really like this type of stuff. It’s simply sensible and cheeky. He’s bought such a fairly, light voice. It was so humorous after I heard how bitchy the lyrics are.
You’ve finished a bunch of different collabs this 12 months. Is there a specific motive why you’re leaning towards them?
It was undoubtedly a lowkey releasing 12 months for me. I’ve finished a ton of options with completely different sorts of artists, and I really like what they’re doing. I don’t know, they stacked up. I didn’t understand what number of I used to be doing and what number of can be launched. It was six of them or one thing.. Generally with my very own music, I might be very perfectionist. I’ll sit on a music for a 12 months as a result of there’s one thing fallacious however I can’t determine it out but. With a function, they’ve finished many of the work. There’s one thing about it not being all yours that makes it really feel somewhat bit extra enjoyable.
Your final EP Lychee is fireplace, and I’m obsessive about “Tender Aspect.” What’s your favourite music from it?
I like “Make You Sick.” I knew it wouldn’t be for everybody however I had a lot enjoyable making it. It was initially meant to be for a runway vogue present. It was 13 minutes and we chopped it down. It was actually experimental, I had a number of enjoyable making it, the entire sound. The entire challenge is only a stamp for what my life was like at the moment, which I feel is sweet. I did not wish to exit with an enormous bang. It’s like a diary entry, preserving my listeners up to date, however not being like, “Guys I’ve bought this music!”
What’s your songwriting course of like?
I at all times begin with lyrics, whether or not it’s only a paragraph of phrases or a melody. Thoughts you, just lately in a pair classes the lyrics have kinda confused me. It’s bizarre, I’ve been making an attempt out singing like Similish, then simply determining the lyrics after.
Getting the vibe and melody?
Precisely. I used to be pondering I didn’t like that however typically it’s somewhat extra free. You’re not making an attempt to suit phrases or syllables, you’re simply singing. I don’t know. Perhaps it’s as a result of I’m dyslexic. It actually simply goes music by music. I’ll do it in another way on the time if that’s simply the way it’s rolling.
As we speak on stage, you carried out two unreleased songs. The primary was titled “Inexperienced Honda.” What’s the story behind it?
It’s about my Honda Integra, that’s what impressed the music. I labored with two producers in LA. It was all ladies within the studio which was actually cool, I’ve by no means had that earlier than. The session actually began with, “I pull up in my inexperienced Honda to inform ya that I don’t need ya.” And I used to be like, wait, now we have to file that.” We made a music round that. I heard that and I used to be like “Oh, that may be a hook. I simply find it irresistible.” It wasn’t actually about something particularly, I simply sang it and it feels so right—telling somebody, “Fuck you, you’re a waste of time.” It’s fairly bitchy.
One of many lyrics is, “Your pals are boring and too straight.”
Yep. They’re all too boring and too straight.
I really feel that. You additionally carried out “Morning Routine.” One of many lyrics in it’s “Perhaps I’m a one-hit surprise.” Is that an actual worry of yours?
After I wrote the music final 12 months, [I’d]been sitting on it for a very long time. It’s solely just lately being performed. It’s introduced this entire new life to it that we actually love. Through the time that I wrote it, which was after the height of “Supalonely,” I had all these new followers. When it settled down, a number of them would depart and be like, “You’re a one-hit surprise.” I had a very sturdy base of people that have been listening pre-that so I do know that that’s not the case as a result of I do know I’ll at all times have them listening. However that at all times fucked me up as a result of I don’t wish to do the rest with my life. I can’t be a one-hit surprise. I’m going to do that ceaselessly, even when nobody listens.
It’s been over two years since your music blew up on TikTok and also you have been actually thrust into the worldwide highlight. What have you ever realized within the time since?
It is advisable hearken to individuals who care about you—that’s who your music is for. I’ve learn lots of and lots of of hate feedback, and so they damage each time, however you must simply understand that you simply’re out right here. And I’m out right here due to the folks. I’ve extra people who love one another than haters. And the haters are nonetheless giving me consideration and views, so thanks. Maintain commenting, babes. I’m not studying them anymore.
Interval. The rest you possibly can tease about new music?
It’s coming subsequent 12 months! High of subsequent 12 months. It’s going to be fucking cool.
