Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: Of Course! So, I’ve been performing since the age of about three. I was in church with my grandparents when a young brigade of girls were performing a choreographed routine using one of the church’s staple instruments, the timbrel. I wasn’t part of the brigade, the instrument was known to be played by females, but I grabbed my grandmother’s timbrel she happened to bring with her that day, and I went and joined them. With no idea what I was doing, I got up and did the best that I could to follow along. After then, I joined the junior brigade, I was one of the first males (at least to my congregation’s knowledge) to do so. I’m sure there were many before me elsewhere, but that’s what they used to tell me. From there I went on to learn through many instruments growing up, writing songs and studying music. Growing up I always loved watching, singing and dancing along to music videos, learning the choreography or creating my own scenes to my own songs. I played a lot of video games as well, or my Dad would take me to the movies a lot as a kid, he used to be a film projectionist, so we always had a way to go see a film or two. It was always so fun getting immersed in these stories of all kinds that you could play through or watch, this is where my love for Science Fiction really bloomed. I didn’t really spend a lot of time with other kids, I had a few friends, but I wouldn’t really see them much outside of school, so that’s generally how I would spend my free time. I would often get lost in the world of fiction and fantasy
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Benathon”
A: When it comes to growing my fanbase, I’m now at a point where it’s time to relentlessly start promoting myself in various formats via Social Media, Live Performances, Appearances and more. But I want to make sure that everything still stays in line with my identity and evolution as an artist, telling the right stories and making sure that anyone who comes across me has the right amount of intrigue for them to dive in further to the entity and artistry that is ‘Benathon’. For those who are about to come across me, come with me. Let’s go on adventures together and journey through life. There’s so many questions and we don’t know all the answers, but let’s go and figure it out along the way as we venture through the universe and time.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: It’s really hard to narrow it down to just one! I draw a lot of inspiration from so many artists in many different ways. For instance you have Pop stars and music icons like Lady Gaga, The Eurhythmics, David Bowie, Britney Spears, Belinda Carlisle, Kate Bush, and many, many more. I also find inspiration within aesthetic styles/art styles, movies, TV Shows, and the overall idea of fantasy and escapism. Science Fiction is another big inspiration for me. Creating ‘Under The Moon’, Luc Besson’s ‘The Fifth Element’, as well as ‘Futurama’ were key places I drew inspiration. Intertwining the ideas of the fish out of water character with the character of this perfect and pure being who is ‘the key’. I used these ideas to tell the tale of the creation of these ‘perfect’ stars and entertainment products in the way that the industry of Hollywood would do so, which was also a way of sharing my dreams and aspirations. Inspiration comes from many places. At the moment, I’m very intrigued by dreams of all kinds and the dreamlike aesthetic, cyberpunk, atompunk, the visual works of Al Feldstein, comic books, fashion, and diving even further into Pop music. When you really have to narrow it down, my biggest inspirations would have to be Pop Music, Science Fiction and Fantasy as blanket terms.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Out Of Reach.”?
A: I can tell you about both. The story follows the protagonist, me in the instance of the song, lamenting on the thought of someone who feels so far from their reach and the memories we once shared. I was once so close to having them, but even though they were physically in my presence, they were still so far away. That sensation of distance sparked a fire within me to fight, the desire to fight for what I believed to be right. To fight for what ignited that spark in my soul and to not let it go. To fight for myself and what I love. The overall message is about turning what feels like defeat into hope, taking what sounds like moments of hopelessness in the chorus, and using it as fuel to chase whatever it is that ignites you. It’s all about resilience, hence the song’s positioning on ‘Under The Moon’ amongst all the other tracks. It serves as the peak climax to the overall journey and story told on the EP.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Adventurous
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Out Of Reach”?
A: A few challenges came up during the writing process, not so much in the recording or production processes though. I had the initial opening hook line for the chorus darting around in my notes for a short while, but I wasn’t entirely sure what angle I wanted to use when it came to the direction of the song’s story, so for a while it was just a little seedling in my head saying, “I want you, I know you’re Out Of Reach”. That often comes up in my songwriting processes, I’ll have an idea, but the overall premise of a song won’t always come to me straight away with that idea. I could be completely sold on the fact that I want to use a particular lyric, but not know the whole context, or I could know the exact story I want to tell and not know how I want to write it down straight away. I would work it in with different lyrics, rhythmic phrasing, and all sorts of different tweaks until I know that any song I work on fits where it needs to go, and that even continued on during the building of the overall EP ‘Under The Moon’, deciding the track list order and how I wanted the songs to flow. So there were definitely some challenges during the writing process for ‘Out Of Reach’.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: My message is to give people a sense of safety, belonging, connection, and solace. Music to me, and I believe a lot of people will understand and relate to, is a universal language, where you can link with a song, a lyric, a beat, an instrument, even just one note that strikes a chord with the listener. I’m a firm believer that I don’t care if a person can’t stand me by opinion, but if my songs can connect with a person and give them a sense of being seen/heard in any way, no matter how small, then I’ve done my job, and I’ve done it well.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: I have a few, there’s so many talented acts and legacies around that it would be so interesting to see how I could collaborate with them. I would say my top 5 would have to be Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Garibay, Kylie Minogue and Slayyyter.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: DO NOT GIVE UP! And the same goes with any dream or passion that anyone wishes to pursue. If it sparks a fire within your soul and it gives you a sense of fulfillment. GO FOR IT! There are so many ways to pursue a career in the industry these days, and you don’t have to follow any specific way to do anything. If you do what you feel is right for you and the message/image you wish to convey, they right audiences will come to you. So go for it my future superstars! Know that you’ll have my support, even if you have no idea who I am. Another key piece of advice is, contrary to popular belief, don’t ignore the haters. When I say that, I mean for you to not let them get under your skin, but if people are hating on you for simply being your authentic self and putting out your art, let it fuel your fire, because clearly you’re doing something right.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Chasing your dreams isn’t easy, but you will get stronger at tackling the hurdles that come your way which will make things get easier. Keep working hard, but don’t forget to rest and play when needed. And most importantly, keep trying to find the fun in what you love every single day. The fun is where the magic happens.
