BENEE is really cool. What makes that particularly impressive is the 20-year-old New Zealander seems entirely uninterested in what’s cool and what isn’t.
Authenticity is a quality which artists sometimes misconstrue and place too much importance on, often being needlessly ‘edgy’ for the sake of it.
What makes BENEE’s debut album ‘Hey u x’ so impressive is that her unique style and sound aren’t forced, but instead come off as entirely effortless.
After spending 45 minutes listening to the young Kiwi strut her stuff on her debut record you’re left in no doubt that BENEE’s authenticity is genuine and crucially, it all comes naturally.
For those who have been following BENEE’s career, this will come as no surprise.
Last year she burst onto the scene with two excellent EPs ‘Fire on Marzz’ and ‘Stella and Steve’ showcasing her ability to write a wide range of tunes.
The later produced Tik-Tok mega-hit ‘Supalonely’ which shot the young singer-songwriter to superstardom in a matter of days with its ballsy lyrics, catchy chorus and funky bass.
A string of other successful singles including ‘Soaked’, ‘Glitter’ and ‘Find an Island’ meant anticipation for her debut record was high.
Right off the bat ‘Hey u x’ disarms the listener with how approachable it is as an album, even the title is alluring and invites you into what feels like an intimate space.
It’s a credit to BENEE that the album manages to feel so personal despite the fact it has eight different feature spots throughout its 13 tracks.
The record begins with the sombre ‘Happen to Me’ which slowly entices the listener over four minutes and firmly has you on BENEE’s side by the end of track one.
“Hope I don’t die inside a plane, I’d like to die a better way.”
While not an obvious album opener in the traditional sense it does an effective job of setting the stage for some of the more upbeat and energised songs to follow.
Second track ‘Same Effect’ is more recognisable as a BENEE tune.
Shimmering reverb induced guitar chords and a penetrating bassline set the scene for a wistful pop song that perfectly encompasses BENEE’s melancholy charm while still keeping the listener tapping along.
The album then moves on to one of its stranger tracks ‘Sheesh feat. Grimes’ which wouldn’t feel out of place at a rave.
A demonstration of BENEE’s range and her understanding of a variety of genres the tune grew on me over time with Grimes beguiling vocals only adding to the tracks strange allure.
After the obligatory inclusion of the now world-famous ‘Supalonely feat. Gus Dapperton’ the album then moves onto another single ‘Snail.’
The track feels slightly more at home as part of a record than it did as a stand-alone single.
Weird in the extreme the music video goes some way to explaining BENEE’s lockdown addled mind when she wrote this synth induced pop tune.
“I’m like a snail, you’re a guy, kinda mad, I can’t fly.”
One of the albums strongest tracks both musically and lyrically then follows in the form of ‘Plain feat. Lily Allen and Flo Milli’.
BENNE is sometimes mistakenly described as ‘sweet’ but if you scratch below the surface there’s always been a ruthfulness to the young writers’ lyrics and demeanour.
“What a shame, your girl’s so plain, she’s got nothing on me.”
Her confidence is entirely earned, and by the end of the track you absolutely believe this fictional girl has nothing on BENEE, how could she?
Featuring a blistering verse from Flo Milli and an invigorating contribution from Lily Allen the track is revelling in bravado.
Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but I think it’s poignant that Allen, who has been one of the most consistent and intriguing artists of her generation, passes the baton to BENEE here.
Her endorsement is ringing and shows just how well thought of BENEE is within the industry.
The album then takes it up a notch with single and strongest tune on the record ‘KOOL’.
Everything about this screams BENEE in the best possible way.
The reworked distorted guitars, confident melody delivery and syncopated chorus all come together brilliantly.
The Sims inspired music video also adds to the aesthetic and is definitely worth a watch.
As the album moves towards its conclusion you definitely get the sense it was slightly front-loaded.
That’s no disrespect to the tracks on the end of the record, they just lack some of the bite of their earlier counterparts.
One standout, however, is ‘Night Garden feat. Kenny Beats and Bakar’ which leans into BENEE’s strange stylings to great effect.
The drums pull the song along into a weird trippy space where BENEE describes a creepy garden at night with the help of Bakar who adds to the track with his own unique delivery.
“But the sun’s coming up, that’s my kryptonite, I wonder, is she coming back to the crib tonight?”
As the album winds down to final track ‘C U’ you’re left feeling invigorated having spent some time in the company of BENEE.
Her affluent songwriting has always provided a foil to general sadness, it can’t help but cheer you up.
Overall ‘Hey u x’ is a strong debut from one of the most exciting singer-songwriters around.
It’s a credit to BENEE and producer Josh Fountain that the album sounds as much like BENEE as it should.
They haven’t tried to reinvent the wheel when it comes to BENNE’s songwriting, and in doing so have crafted a record with a real personality and sense of intimacy.
It’s almost as if BENEE made the album just for you.
Featured image by Harry Were
