Benny Sings
22 videos • 3,777 views • by Dox Amsterdam A quick scan of the work of Benny Sings, the instrumentalist/componist: Champagne People (2003): "The first album was the conception of my style. I was making hiphop beats and started singing to them. We stripped the music but kept some of its detail." Champagne People got raving reviews ("A revelation!", "Uniquely authentic") and subsequently Benny Sings featured at the big Dutch summer festivals such as Lowlands and De Uitmarkt. In January 2004 the debut album won the Dutch Essent Award for young music talent, and outside the Netherlands it was released on vinyl by Kindred Spirits/Rush hour. The second album was I Love You: Benny Sings Live at the Bimhuis (2005). Benny: "I wanted to create pure pop. So I studied Burt Bacharach among others. I wanted to create round and catchy songs. Music without rebellion." I Love You: Live at the Bimhuis was released worldwide via the German label Sonar Kollektiv. Gigs in Germany followed at Popkomm and as the support act to the successful hiphop band Fettes Brot. In the meantime the French and British critics welcomed the album as well. The reputable BBC DJ Gilles Peterson invited Benny sings for a live gig in his radio show. In France the song Little Donna became a cult hit at Radio Nova. Subsequently Benny sings played in the Radio Nova live show broadcast from a packed club La Scène in Paris. The album Euh (2006) was a field trip to the Rednose Distrikt nights with DJs Aardvarck and Steven de Peven. Benny: "The Rednose Distrikt nights were long nights of hardcore music study. Drink beer for breakfast, put clean socks on and then go on making more beats."Gilles Peterson selected the track Miss Moral for the compilation album of his new label Brownwood Recordings. Benny: "Benny Sings..At home turned into an album with an edge. It's still happy music but a kind of moody happy." Benny Sings at Home contains Benny's unique lazy dance feel, the optimistic harmonies and the small sound effects like pop ups. In short: typical Benny stuff but it's Benny with more life experience. Benny: "By the time I finished the album it was already clear to me what the object of study will be for the next album and for the one after too." But first he will be producing Giovanca's debut album. This talented female singer (also Benny's backing vocal) is one of the stars in the Mighty 8 project of the Dutch Pop Institute. In the meantime Benny's hair doesn't stop growing either.