Premiere: Get to know Benfield and his driving debut single, How Can I Forget

Sydney-based artist Benfield has plenty to draw on when it comes to inspiration for his particular brand of alt/indie-pop sounds. From living a year in solitude, plenty of travel, a hectic motorbike accident in Croatia and hanging with Antarctic explorer Sydney Kirby, there's plenty to mine. First single How Can I Forget comes out of a place of loneliness, tapping into a feeling of isolation but coming up with a driving piece of indie-rock that has some get-up-and-go about it. Alongside premiering it today, we sent him a few questions to find out a little more - check it all out below:

Tell us about about yourself?

I think I’m an introverted extrovert. I grew up in the mountains on the Sunshine coast, Queensland and always loved the outdoors, playing sport and running amuck on the property. When I moved to Brisbane for early high school, I started playing guitar; many nights throughout my teen years I spent by myself in my room singing, writing songs with the guitar. Especially during the divorce of my parents, it was really an emotional vent for me.

After I finished Uni, I moved back to the mountains where I started playing more music. I was housesitting a beautiful property on 40 acres living solo for a year. Then I moved to Bondi, straight into the business of Sydney life and started playing in small venues around Sydney. I’ve always loved playing to a live audience, however I’ve recently just been writing and recording songs. So I’m really looking forward to playing some gigs alongside the EP this year.

What kinda tunes we talkin’?

I’d say some sort of alternative pop electronic songs.

Production/writing process:

I write sketches of songs playing my guitar. Most of the time they just start with a hook or sometimes the whole feeling of a song just comes. Normally I record them quickly so they don’t just disappear. Other times the melody just sticks and ill keep coming back to it and build upon it. Once I’ve played the song for a few days and I still like it, I will tidy the song up and write down any lyrics that happen to come by then.

I’ve been working with Luke Bertoz, who does all the production of the songs. He listens to the tunes. We come together and discuss ideas and begin recording the basics of the song. From there we play with all the ideas for where the track is to head. Quite apart from being a legend, he is super good at what he does, it’s so good to work together and share the experience as the track develops.

Can you tell us about your new single, How Can I Forget?

I wrote this song a while ago in a period where I was feeling pretty stuck in a rut. The relationship I was in had just ended and the work I was doing at the time was feeling very menial. Time slowed down... And I remember coming home one evening and sitting in my room, which felt like a dark cold place at the time with its thick brick walls. I just sat with my guitar in the poorly lit space and this song just happened.

Any shows coming up?

I’ll have a few shows coming up with Luke and the band over the next few months.

What’s the rest of the year have in store?

The EP is coming out this year so pretty pumped about that. Playing more live gigs, which I’m also really looking forward to. I’m always writing new music and I’m planning on recording more this year as well.

Where can we hear more of your music?

All of the online stores, Spotify, Apple etc. and Unearthed.

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